avoiding leggings-as-pants

JennyK (NC)

I've been inventorying my closet - I have more useable shoes than I'd thought! I still have gaps there though. Culling the clothes too. I hope to post some pictures soon!

My question today is: How long must a top be to avoid leggings-as-pants? Is it ok if a bit of the bottom curve of your bum shows or does it need to go past that?

Jenny

13 years ago

Dressing

8 replies

Latest reply was from lynne

(website)

Veteran

I would think this is pushing it. For me, it's such a terrible length (right at my widest point) that I try and have none of my tops stop there. I guess the only way to know is to see it.

13 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I'd say it depends on your bum - imo the front is the important part to cover & if a top just covers your bum it may not be long enough to cover the dreaded camel toe.

13 years ago

amiable

Veteran

I think it depends on your figure. I have narrow hips for my height, and when I asked a similar question, ( http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....gins-try-2 ) several people suggested that finger-tip length was better, but Angie preferred the top that ended just at the curve of my bum for it's proportions.

So some of it is definitely in the eye, and a lot of it depends on the proportions of your body too. So, I'm no help.

13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think it depends on not only the top but the leggings. I've seen tight, semi-opaque, panty-hose-like "leggings" as pants and I cringe. But if they're substantial leggings (more like jeggings) and we can't see panty lines, you may be OK. Maybe.

Also, a top that barely skims the bum when you're standing still is one thing -- but once you move around, does it hike up?

13 years ago

Jules

Veteran

Looking at amiable's link, in particular #4 which is great, I'm wondering if it also has to do with overall styling. When I see a (typically quite young) woman in tshirt, jacket, leggings and bad footwear I might think "oh honey you forgot your pants". But when the outfit is fleshed out with nice boots, scarf, cardigan etc, the leggings might as well be skinny jeans - they recede a bit. Of course you're going to want to have good fit etc for your body anyway - just as you would with jeans, really.

13 years ago

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I posted my outfit for the day and got mixed reviews on the length of my sweater with leggings. I think there really are two schools of thought regarding this issue,. My rear end is covered here...
http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brown-green

13 years ago

JennyK (NC)

Active Member

Interesting! I'll have to post a pic of the particular sweater I'm debating on. Today I wore it with skinny jeans, but I prefer it with thick pant-like leggings. I am an hourglass but not afraid of the width of my hips. I'm not 22 anymore and don't have a 22-year-old rear, but I think it doesn't look half bad when just peeking out. I don't wear those sort of semi-opaque leggings. I haven't noticed a camel-toe issue and I only wear thongs, so panty lines are never an issue!

This particular sweater does cover most of my rear when I first put it on but does have a tendency to creep. I find that I'm always hiking up my jeans and yanking down my sweater. ugh. (all of my jeans tend to slip down my hips!)

13 years ago

lynne

Veteran

My rule is this; if there is any butt visible they are (or need to be) pants. Just legs showing, they're leggings.

13 years ago

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