The Ruff Lust in Leather herringbone collar is one of the more beautiful collars available. The particular model I received was the white on black. The white was a rather brilliant white, which contrasted nicely against the deep black leather. The company promotes their Ruff Lust line specifically towards females, and I would agree; this is collar has a definite feminine feel. I received many compliments on the look, and while herringbone is not one of my favourite textures, the colour contrast removed that quibble.

My first wearing was to a dungeon party where in attendance were two locals who do leather work. Both agreed that the construction on the collar was solid, from the quality of the deer hide leather to the stitching. The one surprise on the design was the absence of a lead ring near the buckle, which could make leading the wearer tricky. It would work best with the wearer standing rather than on all fours.

As beautiful as the herringbone design is, it does add some thickness to the majority of the collar. This makes shaping a challenge. On initial wearing, the collar took on more of an oval shape. In attempting to shape the collar, I discovered a strip of flexible, thin plastic that the herringbone lacing is wrapped around on both sides. The tip popped out towards the D-Ring. Luckily, it was relatively easy to tuck it back in.

For personal comfort, this collar needs a lot of conditioning as the leather is quite stiff. Part of that is due to the thickness the herringbone adds, but placing the strap into the buckle made taking it on and off tricky. The interior of the collar is lined with black suede, which does feel a bit rough against the neck. In consulting with my leather working friends, application of lanolin or mink oil over time should help soften the leather as well as soak into the suede lining to make it softer. I’ve used one application of the renewal lotion I use on my leather pants, which contains mink oil and vitamin E.

I would recommend this collar for looks and quality of construction, especially at its price. For the sheer beauty of the piece, it will be worth the time and effort to condition the leather to your comfort level.