Not-your-eighties Leggings
Sunday, October 25th, 2009
“I love leggings. How can I wear them without looking like I’m stuck in the eighties?”
Leggings are great. They are very versatile, can be worn with almost anything, and can easily update something that you already own (smart fashion is key!). Worn correctly, they can appear to slim and elongate the gams and to appear taller and/ or slimmer is usually not a bad thing!
My response to this question/comment was longer than the comment box permitted so I decided to upload it as a post instead.
If you are having any difficultly with rocking your leggings, and want to dodge looking like you are stuck in the eighties, here are some of my tips:
DO:
1. Pair plain dark/neutral coloured leggings (black/ navy/ green/ wine/ brown/ grey…) with summer frocks and chick smart heels to transition a day look into a night one. This also applies to tunics and long jackets.
Related: As a twist on the classic monotone office look, do wear opaque stockings in the same colours mentioned above with traditional office suits/ attire to give a subtle update to your look. These need not match perfectly with the suits, however do match complementary colours. For example pair dark green opaque opaque tights with a camel coloured suit, and dark brown heels, or perhaps a wine one with a navy skirt and dark grey pumps if your personality will allow it.
2. Rock brightly coloured (including Fall ’09 neons for the more adventurous among us, though this is really better suited as a club look) or subtly patterned (read small grey/black herringbone print) with an otherwise simple and classic look, like all black everything, to shake things up a bit.
Understand that here your legs are the focal point so if you aren’t quite there yet with accepting your legs as they are, you can opt to wear leggings in more a more neutral tone, like black. (See ‘D’o #1)
Also, because you don’t want to look like you are competing with yourself, do keep accessories minimal, makeup natural, and cleavage under wraps.
3. Pair leggings with whole shoes like dressy flats, peep toe pumps, stiletto pumps, booties, boots etc, rather than with delicate strappy evening shoes. If you are going with a strappy look, do opt for shoes with thicker straps.
4. Understand that lighter coloured leggings (white/ yellow/ neon etc) do draw attention to your legs/ lower half and, much like lighter coloured (and skinny) pants, will accentuate any potential ‘flaws’ you may have in this area… like cellulite. They will also make your butt look larger. Unless this is the look that you are going for, cease and desist. Darker coloured leggings allow for a sleeker more slimming effect.
5. Do ensure that leggings fit properly, especially in the knee area (no bagginess) and, for those rocking the leggings with the long jacket and long-ish tee, the crotch area (no camel toe!).
AVOID:
~ Pairing leggings with:
~ White trainers, unless of course you are exercising in them
~ Short tops/ navel breakers. Cover your rear.
~ Delicate evening shoes
~ Any throwback eighties trend including, but not limited to, balloon sleeves or hems, scrunchie leg warmers, strong shoulder pads, neon anything (unless it’s the leggings themselves), acid-wash anything, one-shouldered oversized sweaters, teased hair.
~ Combining patterned leggings with patterned clothing. Way too much can go wrong.
~ Wearing ‘capri’ leggings/ tights – those that cut at the knee, or just below them, especially with flats. They abruptly cut off a streamlined look, making you look shorter than you really are.
~ Two toned leggings – stripes, polka dots for example, as this makes it very difficult for people to take you seriously.
~ Color block leggings (one leg a different colour than the next). Too clownish.
I have seen colour block leggings where the front half of the legs are one colour and the back half of the legs are a different colour. This is a little tricky but if one colour is the color of your skirt, for example a black pencil skirt with a two-toned black and wine tights/ leggings with black pumps it can work, so long as the blacks match. The idea is if you are walking the line of the clown look on the leggings keep the rest of your look tailored/sophisticated to balance it. If you are unsure of what I am talking about just skip this look altogether.
Thanks for the question!
I hope this helps.
.
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I loved leggings in the 80′s but i’ve stayed away from them so far. Now I feel confident to put my toes in……… gently.
[Reply]
Supernova Reply:
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:06 am
Thanks for sharing suzii-Marie. It is possible to wear leggings even though we may have worn them as a trend before. Only now we can use them as an accessory rather than as the main piece, keeping them understated and to the point, and most of all keeping our butt covered!
[Reply]
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[Reply]
Hi, I applaud your blog for informing people, very interesting article, keep up it coming
[Reply]
Thanks much! Will certainly try
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