I have a confession freaders, I switched teams.
Up until recently, I was vehemently on the “anti-leggings as pants” team. Until I started reading this blog. This blog? Gave me a renewed appreciation of all things leggings – now granted I don’t own $78 Lululemon leggings (but I will! Soon! Thank you state of virginia!) I own cheap little $5 ones from Forever 21 (but I upgraded! To $15 ones from Macy’s!) but the comfort level was pretty high and I…am a big fan.
So I’m using that blog, and some polyvore-age to inspire myself to wear leggings. As pants. More often.
Rules for wearing leggings as pants:
1. Thou shalt not wear see through/sheer leggings
2. Thou shalt not allow camel toe
3. Thou shalt not allow panty lines
4. Thou shalt not allow wedgies
5. Thou shalt add color!
6. Boots. Or flats. Boots but preferably not Uggs. (as much as I love mine)
YES!
{image via Lululemon blog}
NO!!!
{image via google search}
Note the differences. You’ll see me wearing leggings as pants on days when I don’t really need to leave the house, or on days when I do have to leave the house but not to do anything but maybe go to the gym or run errands. Definitely not for Junior League events, Alumni events or job interviews/tutoring days. You will always see my ass covered, you will never see sheer leggings or metallic leggings (WHY!? WHYYYY????.
But aside from the fact that I realized my leggings were slightly more sheer than I would have liked (I expected more from you Forever 21!!!), I was rather comfortable (they were also a little more low cut than i would have liked but i had a sweater covering my bum so that made it better) and you know what? I’d wear it again. That’s why I used a gift card to spend $15 on leggings today.
Hubs you should read this: for valentine’s day? All I want is this, this, and this. {and of course my garmin, and new sneaks. but those are coming next month anyhow for marathon training.} Yes I know that’s all extravagant – I’m exaggerating clearly. I know we can not afford all that, but still, sometimes, it’s fun to want. Isn’t it?
What say you all freaders on this debate – leggings as pants or not…?
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I am pro-leggings all the way! Glad to see that you’ve switched over to the dark side.
And all of your rules are definite must-follows. Nothing worse than seeing the outline of things we don’t want to see!
I think anyone who wears leggings as non-pants eventually switches teams – there comes a day when you are out of long shirts and the idea of wearing anything but tights seems depressing.
Tights are the new sweatpants and I LOVE IT!
I was so anti-legging.
And now I’m on the other team.
But I feel bad for the blog Leggings Are Not Pants because they link to my blog… and I am a traitor.
i’m still on the fence. i used to wear so much spandex in college for rowing that i love it, but i will only wear leggings around the house because i just can’t wear them in public. but they are so comfy!
I don’t do leggings unless it’s under a dress. It’s great for winter in place of tights if it’s really cold. I don’t even do a long shirt with them mainly because of your “Don’t” rules:) I’d like to get more in colors just for fun!
It’s all about common sense. Obviously that picture of the girl in the blue-ish leggings is lacking in that department. I feel that opacity/thickness is key – as long as leggings are thick/dark enough, it hides the fitting-like-a-glove quality that usually sends leggings down the road to disaster. My rule is that as long as my shirt covers the majority of my butt, I’ll wear leggings as pants.
i’ve always admired people who could pull off the leggings as pants look (while following the rules, of course), but i felt i never could. now that i’ve lost some weight/moved it around a bit, i’m much more confident, and love wearing my leggings! i recently purchased “jeggings” (jean leggings: http://bit.ly/ajLCUP) and i’m LOVING them. my only wish is that i’d gotten a size smaller, because they stretch out so easily!
i totally agree with you that there are certain instances where leggings as pants are totally acceptable, not in all cases but in some. and man they are comfy, i mean really comfy.
I wear jeggings. They are leggings that look like jeans- they even have zipper and button!
They are great because I hate hate HATE it when you tuck your pants into your boots and the pants are all baggy. I feel like a pirate. Arrrg.
The jegggings are the perfect answer because they look like jeans, but tuck nicely into your boots! And they are beyoooond comfortable to wear.
LB
Definitely on the yes to leggings side.
I don’t know how I ever wore jeans now.
Haha, I am SO guilty. I always wear leggings and some days I feel totally ridiculous but other days I am so comfy.
Big leggings as pants fan but a) the shirt with it must cover the a** and I only wear black ones so I don’t have a moment like the second photo. I love the $25 Hue leggings from Nordstrom. LOVE THEM
Leggings rule. I’m wearing some right now. Today they were under a long tunic type dress, but yeah, I’ll wear them with something a bit shorter, too. Just depends on how it’s done and for what type of day.
I am all for leggings as pants if they follow those rules. And if my shirt/top is extra long so I won’t feel exposed. Leggings are so freaking comfortable and wonderful for these winter months when my clothes don’t fit the way they should just yet…
well, crap, i totally switched teams too! a few days ago i bought jeggings. i have been wearing them non-stop. love them.
I LOVE leggings, but I confess I’m shy about wearing them in public! My husband bought me some killer black suede boots with buckles, I love wearing them with leggings to show them off. I keep looking for looooong, non-clingy sweaters to make sure my behind and upper thighs are properly covered!!
I like the leggings with stirrups so you don’t get the “puffy knee” effect!
I’ve done it once or twice, but I’m generally a no-leggings-as-pants kind of gal. I love leggings with skirts and dresses— but I do wear Uggs with my leggings, even though it goes against The Rules! Oh well.
I am still so torn. I think some people can pull them off. I just have to give it a try in front of some honest friends and see if I can too.
I love your rules for wearing leggings! Esp “thou shall not have cameltoe” lol! I have never seen someone with that problem (thankfully) but I have seen panty line and wedgie leggings.