Ask Angie: The legging/skin/boot gap - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

Ask Angie: The legging/skin/boot gap

Claudia

Veteran

Angie,

I've noticed the various length of leggings (just below the knee, capri, and ankle lengths) being worn under skirts, dresses and tunic dresses styled along with the year round wearing of boots and booties on clothing apparel sites (see ESPRIT.com dresses page) and in your photos from the recent trip to Europe (see Milan Street Style).

I actually like this funky look of boot/bootie-skin-legging-garment, especially in those Milan photos, but in your opinion is it usually best kept a more junior and younger woman look?

I'd also like to respectfully nudge you to do more on age appropriate dressing trends, styling, etc. and maybe even come up with a way of keying things in the YLF store for age appropriateness like you already do for style persona, and when you blog about a item, look or trend. Some things are probably pretty obvious, but age appropriateness for me at age 48 is a question I always consider for myself. I think some of your older readers might feel the same. Thank you for considering this!

Maybe other members have a feeling about this request -- negative or positive?

Dressing

30 replies

Latest reply was from Claudia

Louise

Veteran

I'm not Angie but leggings can be successfully worn by all ages San wears them beautifully. I think nearly all 'trends can be adapted for older women again check out san's piccies she rocks BF blazers, skinnies...... x

Claudia

Veteran

Thanks Louise, but do you also think so with the "skin gap" I am referring to, which is less streamlined and a bit more funky/youthful?

Louise

Veteran

I think it depends how confident you are about your legs? A gap at the ankle might be easier to pull off than at the knee but I don't see why either shouldn't work you could always post a piccie of you wearing it for more accurate advice x

Louise

Veteran

An A-line knee length skirt with knee high boots (meaning a small skin gap) would probably look great it's such a classic combo x

Claudia

Veteran

I think I may have not been clear enough about what I meant with the way I originally worded my question: I am talking about wearing boots or booties with skin showing below a legging layer like in the style examples I mentioned.

I agree that wearing a knee-ish length skirt or dress with boots and bare legs would be fine -- as well as wearing leggings with non-boot footware. It's the idea of boots and booties with skin showing below the legging that has me wondering.

Louise

Veteran

Aha sorry my fault i didn't read the post properly *oops* to redeem myself here's a link where forum members posted their leggings looks x
http://youlookfab.com/2009/07/.....-leggings/

Queen Mum

Veteran

Claudia- I'm not sure that boots or booties with leggings would be the best look. You never know until you give it a whirl, but I'm thinking that would leave too many cuts on the leg line. I would think that leggings look best with ballet flats or sandals (or even a heeled sandal or wedge pump) but not boots.

Claudia

Veteran

Angie's blog with the street photos from Milan: http://youlookfab.com/2010/04/.....-alluring/

Examples are first row, third photo from left; and 4th row, third photo from left.

Queen Mum

Veteran

hmm, I like the one with the longer leggings and the booties.... and seems a bit sophisticated so those of us in our 40's might be able to pull it off.

The one with the taller boots and cropped leggings I'm guessing wouldn't be as fab on the over 40 crowd.

but like I said, you never know "till you give it a go.

Anonymous

As far as skin showing between the bottom of the ankle length legging, and the top of he bootie, I'm not sure I would prefer to see the skin. Would you mind posting a link to a picture of this?
Thanks

Claudia

Veteran

For some reason I am not able to link directly to the ESPRIT casual dresses, but if you go here http://www.espritshop.com/?mc=.....=splitpage and click on "women" and then click on dresses you'll see many examples of what I am talking about on this page if you scroll down. Some of these are very "junior" but others maybe not?

Claudia

Veteran

San, the link is a few posts up -- it's Angie's Milan blog post.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I think all of the Milan pic outfits, with the exception of the cutoff mini, the micromini, and the super-tight clams would be totally fine on a woman of any age, provided she had the right body type. I'm always confused by women who get super sensitive about their age and looking appropriate. In my mind this is only a function of your body's shape and proportions. Wear clothes that flatter. Period.

Anonymous

One word I always keep in mind as an older woman (55) is the word sophisticated. There are ways to do this look in a sophisticated way, as in the Milan post.

I'm sure your height would have something to do with the proportions too, but I do like this look on the gal in Milan. I would be sure to be appropriate about the leggings being an accessorie and not pants.

I also liked the look worn on the gals on the Esprit site. They look more casual, and I would try to make sure the sum of the total said sophisticated.

I have these sandals which go up to my ankle.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....5&P=1
I have intensions of wearing them with leggings and that would leave skin showing. I may wear them with jeggings instead for more of a covered feeling.

This leaves me with a question on weather I am fooling myself when I think jeggings are pants? Anyone know the answer?

Thanks for bringing up a great thread here Claudia.

Louise

Veteran

Personally i treat jeggings as leggings, but i do have uper thigh issues and wouldn't feel comfortable in anything thinner than trousers x

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Sorry, I guess my post sounds harsh. This is an excellent discussion point. Of course there are certain age-approriate things. But, remember that there are also things that look good on "older" women that don't look so fab on younger women. Like tweed suits. And large diamonds. (-:

My mother is super-paranoid about looking "too young" and it totally holds her back from wearing what she really loves, which I think is sad.

I don't think that being "older" (48 is not old, BTW (-:) means you cannot push the fashion envelope. I think what I meant by my previous post is that the best thing is just to be comfortable in your own skin. If you feel like you're dressing in a "young woman" costume then it's probably not an age approriate look. I guess I'm in agreement with San, who probably has a more legit veiwpoint. When you look in the mirror and walk down the street do you feel good about what you've got on?

Claudia

Veteran

I am interested to see what Angie has to say about it, I think this may be an emerging trend and I really do like it as I see it here, but I haven't seen anyone in person/real life styling leggings and boots/booties like this.

Marlene1

Like Claudia, I'm interested in this topic. And like Claudia, I'd always like to read Angie's take on making trends age-appropriate.

fathenry

Veteran

Good question, Claudia thank you for the post with the examples. I was wondering this last weekend, so I went with opaque tights instead, for a longer leg line.

Kate

Veteran

I think it also depends on the season. When it's warm outside, especially with sandals or pumps, the gap looks natural and great! But in the winter with boots and a jacket, I think the gap looks cold! If I'm wearing leggings for warmth, rather than modesty, I don't want any of my skin exposed.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Claudia, the key word is HOW you wear the look. If you add a level of sophistication to the ensemble you're describing - then sure! You can wear it at age 48. Remember that Vera Wang is almost 62 and rocks this look.

A lot will depend on the style of the bootie itself and the rest of the elements of the ensemble. It's a whole picture thing if that makes sense.

I don't quite understand what exactly it is that you are nudging about my dear, Claudia. If you'd like to elaborate I am always happy to listen and learn :0)

Claudia

Veteran

About the nudge for more info/input on age appropriate styling, what I mean is something along the lines of what you do when discussing an item in the YLF store: that you'll sometimes include a mention if it flatters "curvey" or "plus size clients", etc., when it makes sense to do so, especially with a unique item or style trend in just making a suggestion that it would work well on all age groups -- like you did with the moto jacket blog.

Another idea might have been a blog post with photos showcasing the street style of older/mature women in Milan or Amsterdam that struck you as especially chic and stylish from your trip or from future trips.

Or maybe like you did with the MOTG outfits, some hot-grandma-on-the-go type ideas.

These are just some of my thoughts because it's easy to appreciate and admire the latest looks on a teenage gazelle in Elle or Vogue, but sometimes it would be helpful to have some age commentary and tips on translating these for an older woman from a stylist to go along with it.

Thanks for listening!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ah! It's a pity that you can't see the faces of the street style (for legal implications, we have to blur them). But so many of the ladies pictured are well past their 40's and in their 50's and 60's.

Claudia, most of my posts span to the 40 to 60 age group. It's very rare that I say you need youth on your side to wear an item, so take it as a given that you can sport the look - as long as it's put together in a sophisticated way.

I recently shouted out to all the over 50 year olds on this forum, complimenting them on their flawlessly hip and age appropriate styles. They are some of the funkiest and most daring dressers on this forum! Did you by any chance see that thread?

Claudia

Veteran

And a very big Ah! from me. This is great to know, I really wasn't aware of that.

I will look for that thread.

Louise

Veteran

Claudia here's the link to that post x
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....rs-over-50

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Claudia, I understand your concern about this look, at 32, I sometimes consider if leggings are age appropriate. I always feel more sophisticated in black leggings, I find grey too casual. I do wear ankle length leggings with booties on a regular basis and believe this look quite similar to hosiery so no age appropriate issues there.

In terms of the skirt + Knee length leggings + knee high boots look, I personally would not wear this because to my eye it cuts the leg line off in to many places.

I just thought I would link to this website for you that often uses models of all ages and different body shapes to highlight trends
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/index.html

After Angie's response do you think you will try the look?

Claudia

Veteran

Thanks so much Louise for hunting up that link for me. It is these ladies that eagerly keep me coming back to the forum and whose posts in particular I actively seek out. I aspire to their level of sophisticated style.

R&J, I am definitely going to give this look a try. It really appeals to me.

It was actually San's killer look with that ESPRIT denim tunic dress (a YLF store find) that played a part in getting my interest, along with the Milan photos. I ended up ordering another denim dress from the ESPRIT site when the one San has was sold out. I absolutely adore the dress, which is something I wouldn't have looked at prior to having my eyes opened here.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

That's fabulous, Claudia! I really hope that the denim dress works out. It's a splendid easy item under leggings and fab shoes - with a belt perhaps. I have just suggested that look to my 69 year old client who drips with style. And she's excited to try the look.

Our over 50 year olds here inspire me no end.

Carole

Veteran

Claudia-Which dress did you order? Can you link the picture?

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