leggings under skirts in the summer? - YouLookFab Forum

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leggings under skirts in the summer?

JennyK (NC)

I'm starting my wardrobe makeover quest. My bombshell/body con style persona says "skirts!" but my actual life says "stuff you can crawl around the floor in!" I've been thinking a good compromise might be knit or tight-ish but easy-to-move-in skirts with leggings. Will that look funny in the summer? What do you suggest as far as length and color and brand for under-skirt leggings? I'm thinking I would stick with skirts at just above the knee, maybe a tiny bit shorter, but not a mini. AJ suggested this skirt for me and I love the look of it. Could I wear some kind of leggings under this?

http://www.target.com/p/mossim.....edium_1_36

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Louise

Veteran

Yay to leggings with skirts in summer. I work with children so totally get the wanting to be a bit more covered. In summer I wear cropped leggings. I personally perfer leggings with casual-er skirts x

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think leggings under skirts look best when the skirt has a little flare or drape to it -- I'm not sure if the pencil style of that one would be great with leggings. The leggings would possibly stick to it, for one thing.

Kalli

How about this option, when I feel my skirts are too short and I wear shorts underneath, not leggings. Nothing is worse than watching a girl try to adjust a too short skirt/dress.

Rinoa

I was wondering, what shoes do you wear if you do a skirt + leggings look in the summer?

Echo

Veteran

I agree with Janet in that I think leggings look best under a summer skirt when the skirt has a little more room in it. A body-con or pencil style doesn't lend itself to the casual nature of leggings, IMO. But the flouncier skirts that are supposed to be "in" this spring and summer would be great with leggings.

Thistle

Veteran

I second Janet and Echo. I saw a cute mom at the park. She had on a flared skirt, cropped leggings and keds.

JennyK (NC)

When you say "cropped" what length do you mean?

Thistle

Veteran

They were between her knee and ankle.

MNsara

Veteran

Jenny - I think that particular style of skirt would probably look best on its own. Maybe save that for days you don't 'plan' to be down on the floor with the boys.

If I remember right, you have nice height, so you could wear cropped ( or full length)leggings under too-short summer dresses, and under mid-thigh tunic tops. Just watch out for cotton tops/dresses over cotton leggings - a recipe for clinging.

In past years, Penneys has had a large selection of polyester/spandex dresses for summer that run a bit short and are machine washable.

Ignore those boots in the pics -- those are SUMMER outfits!

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TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Totally agree that skirt with leggings look best when the skirt has some volume. To answer what shoes, I love this look with ballet flats or pointed flats. There are so many varieties of flats and oxfords right now that would options are numerous...

Sarah A

Veteran

Fav Angie post on leggings:

http://youlookfab.com/2009/07/.....-leggings/

qfbrenda

Veteran

Here's this post as well: http://youlookfab.com/2010/04/.....-outfit-4/

The pic in that post goes against what everyone has been saying about a flared skirt, but Angie points out good tips like balancing the black of leggings with something black up top as well.

Louise

Veteran

Jenny my cropped leggings are knee length. One is middle of the knee and the other is just below.
To answer the shoes question I wear sandals, ballet flats, oxfords....... X

Deborah

Veteran

Well I really like leggings under a pencil skirt.

Case in point... :). See pic

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krishnidoux

Veteran

Yay for leggings under skirts, but nay with the skirt shown. It works best with shorter skirts, flare, draped or body con. If the skirt is too long, your legs will appear very short.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

I am worried about practicality here - does your username mean you're in North Carolina? I think leggings + skirt would be too hot once it gets over 80, which is not that far away.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I wear leggings with skirts in the summer to chase the kids, but usually under a dress. I'm just not comfortable in a bodycon dress or skirt for MOTG.

Diana

Veteran

I actually think leggings look fab under slim skirts as long as the skirt isn't too tight. (The pic of Angie above is a perfect example.) It doesn't have to be a pencil (since that would be kind of restrictive for MOTG, right?), but could also be a tulip skirt or straight skirt. I actually think leggings + short flared skirt can easily become kind of juvenile looking unless you are very careful about accessories, colors, etc.

I like cropped (like clamdigger length) cotton leggings. I get mine at H&M for around $10 a pair.

Another look I really like is cropped leggings + tunic-style shirtdress (the kind with a straight-ish, not flared, bottom).

JennyK (NC)

It looks like the opinion on this varies a lot! What I am *not* looking for is the "I put on bike shorts under my skirt in case it gets hiked up" look. I want whatever is under it to be part of the outfit.

I'm still feeling in my mind that the right cropped leggings under a stretchy skirt maybe-possibly-could-potentially look right but I'd have to try it. The flouncy skirt with leggings is definitely a good choice but doesn't fit my style that much. I'd have to experiment with it some.

I appreciate the links to the blog posts Sarah and Brenda. That helped a lot. I see that Angie favors black leggings but I just have it stuck in my head that Spring and Summer call for lighter colors - heather gray or maybe even white (but very opaque white, please!)

Deborah, I like that pic of Angie. She has bookended the leggings and the outfit really shows off the skirt.

Cinnamon - Yep, I live in Raleigh, NC, and it does get hot here. I'm uncomfortable showing my legs above the knee though, so I'd be wearing clam diggers or jeans all summer anyway.

Diana - I know you said you get leggings at H&M. How is the quality? I want really substantial leggings that are completely opaque. There is nothing worse to me than skin showing through. :-/ I also like the idea of a little bit of tailored detail at the bottom, like a little split.

Diana

Veteran

I think the H&M leggings are fairly opaque, although it's probably best to size up. (I think mine are maybe not super opaque at the butt, where they stretch the most, but then again I always cover my entire butt in leggings. They are really basic, with no decoration or detail though.

One huge reason I buy the H&M leggings is that they are cotton (with spandex for stretch obviously) and not poly/microfiber/etc (which I find too hot and itchy in summer). I think cotton is generally less shiny and a little thicker anyway, just by virtue of the fiber content. A lot of stores don't sell cotton leggings (especially in a cropped length) so I don't honestly have a huge amount of choices. I can tell you that the Target ones suck though!

IF you can handle poly in summer, your choices become exponentially greater.

ETA: The leggings I buy at H&M are in the regular clothes section, NOT the hosiery section. I'm pretty sure the hosiery ones are really thin.

rachylou

Veteran

Yay! Super cute look in my book.