Poll: Do You Wear Leggings as Pants? - YouLookFab Forum

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Poll: Do You Wear Leggings as Pants?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Molly asked a question about leggings and it's a good discussion:

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....replies=34

In the '80s and about 11 years ago when leggings came back into fashion, they were like HOSIERY, and that's when I don't think you should wear them like pants. They were more like an accessory - like hosiery is - and I believe they should have been worn that way.

Over the years, leggings-jeggings-leggings (the items morph into each other), are a LOT more substantial. Sometimes thicker than pants. AND with the ever so popular Athleisure Trend in the US and Canada, wearing leggings as pants is a 100% acceptable look. It is not a faux pas at all. I'll go as far as saying that Athleisure is part of US culture. I see leggings worn as pants many, many, many times a day with ALL sorts of tops - especially on women up to the age of 30. It is THE bottom on women at the airport.

I wore leggings in the '80s and as recently as 9 years ago as an accessory under dresses/skirts when they were the hosiery kind. They were a way to keep warm and add interest to an outfit. And my '80s loving self loved it. See VERY OLD pics. I would do it again because I love hosiery.

Apart from the '80s look, I do not wear current and thick leggings as casual attire because Athleisure is not my thing.

ETA: After below's discussion, we have THREE ways you can wear leggings:

1. As Pants - butt and more is uncovered.
2. As Leggings - butt and some or all of the thighs are covered
3. As Hosiery - with another bottom like a skirt, long dress, shorts or pants.

How do you wear leggings?

I like to wear leggings as hosiery.

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Dressing

121 replies

Latest reply was from

Sara L.

Veteran

No, I don't wear my leggings as pants. However, you're so right about them being the pants of choice for women in the airport. I like mine with long tunics. I'll wear them as pants to work out but I don't wear them all day - I change when I'm done working out.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sara L, I just saw you wear leggings as pants in your recent WIW The ones you tucked into tall boots.

Katerina

Veteran

No, I don´t wear leggings as pants. I am not that fond of the look, actually ...
I don´t really wear leggings at all at the moment, but I could imagine wearing a more substantial pair under a shirt dress, instead of the usual slim trousers.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is a really good point, Angie. The fabrication makes a huge difference.

I tend not to wear leggings, period, except for the gym. But I do wear "jeggings" occasionally, i.e. non-denim ponte type pants with jean details that fit as snug as a legging -- and yes, I will wear them as pants. Usually tucked into tall boots, and sometimes but not always with a bum-covering sweater or top.

I will wear skinnies (denim) as pants, too, though I prefer my denim to be on the structured and less stretchy side.

I think it has to do with setting and styling as well as fabrication. It's one thing to wear leggings on a trip to the grocery store on one's way home from gym class, and another to wear them to a board meeting or a funeral.

anchie

Veteran

I don’t own leggings, never did. But my daughter wears them all the time. I am always telling her to wear the longer top with them, but she is fighting me on that, saying that everyone else is wearing them as pants. Relieved to learn that it is ok now.

Anonymous

Yes, but they must be 100% opaque and with a bum covering top. I have ones by Loft and Nydj that are thicker and warmer than regular trousers. And when its bitter cold out, i dont like dealing with buttons and zippers.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Anchie, your daughter is right

Suz, good explanations as always. Jeggings are great to tuck into tall boots and I understand the appeal.

Katerina, I'm nodding along.....

Suntiger, a practical solution.

taylor

Veteran

Nope, never.
I have black Ponte knit pants that are thick and I always cover the tush. I have denim leggging/jeggings , but again as you stated the fabric is substantial.
I wear leggings as loungewear.

nemosmom

Veteran

I personally don't wear leggings as pants outside the gym. Even then, I will throw on a pair of joggers over them and a topper that covers my upper body when entering/leaving the gym. I was a ballet dancer in a former life and lived in leotards and tights as my daily uniform. I treat leggings the same as tights - gotta have a looser pant over them.

I can appreciate a tunic or long cardigan with leggings on others, but it's not my thing; it feels like maternity wear when I wear it.

My airport pants are usually joggers or a comfy pair of jeans.

shiny

Veteran

I wear the 5-pocket ponte knit leggings as pants. And the Old Navy rockstar 24/7 skinny "jeans" as pants. Both are my "go to" bottoms and worn constantly. To my eye, they look like pants, not leggings, as they have pockets and are thicker than what I consider leggings.

For loungewear my uniform is patterned cotton leggings, tank top, and fleece circle cardigan that does cover the rear and hits at mid-thigh. I would not wear this out of the house. I have from time to time worn the cotton leggings out of the house, but with a tunic length top or sweater or dress.

When I travel I see lots of fit young women wearing the same cotton leggings I own, with shorter tops. Thing is when you are in close quarters on a plane, you notice stuff... including jiggle. Lots of jiggle. Because light weight cotton leggings are so thin, they don't control the jiggle..... not like the ponte knit pants and ON rockstar jeggings (let's be honest, rockstar jeans are jeggings...with 5 working pockets...)

I did recently purchase, but have yet to wear, a pair of AT leggings that are in a very thick and warm material. Thick enough there's no jiggle. My gut still says they need a tunic length top, but every time I put them on and do a styling session, my eye says they look better with a top or jacket that hits at high hip or is half tucked. I battle with myself whether I can wear them out of the house this way. I am mid-50s. Can I get away with this? Could I wear them to work? (They are meant to be workwear! That's how they were shown on the site!) As an inverted triangle, my hips and thighs are narrow and my legs are skinny... perhaps that makes them acceptable? I love how warm they are, warmer than any other pants I own...

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Just because you CAN (and everyone is), doesn't mean you SHOULD.

My daughters wear them as well, but I still hold strong that if they are thin, made of athletic fabric, have a gusset... then the bum needs to be covered.

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Diana

Veteran

I don't but I'm not really against it. It's just that I don't currently own any leggings that aren't on the thin side (because I generally wear them as tights alternatives with boots and dresses, and I find the thinner ones to be more comfortable and to look more like tights). I think as long as they're opaque and thick, it's fine to wear leggings as pants.

I do have a couple of pairs of ultra-stretchy skinnies that might be considered jeggings, and I wear those as pants all the time.

Carla

I do. I wear the thick fabric ponte ones that hold me in, with tall boots and a chunky knit in winter and make sure to cover my behind not sure if I’m too old for that... Maybe I should re-consider? ... but it’s comfy and my style is casual.

Sara L.

Veteran

But, Angie, my tunic was really long! I guess I don't think of them as pants if you can't see my bum. But my definition could use work since that tunic isn't long enough to be a dress.

delurked

Veteran

I think this is a poll that may get more naysayers than hand raisers. I would wear ponte jeggings and such as pants, though my preference for that is with longer top and tall boots to mitigate the legging look somewhat. I’m guessing more yes’s than are being reflected here. I personally don’t care for thin cotton leggings with short tops. Most people shouldn’t reveal that much, IMO. Or at least, I don’t want to reveal that much.

Alicewonderland

Veteran

Yes I wear jeggings, but nope on leggings as pants. It’s vauguely related to the fear I have of coming out of the bathroom with my skirt tucked in by waistband and my butt showing.

Helena

Veteran

I like Elizabeth's gusset rule! I would add that if I can see the print on your undies through them, they are not pants!

I have leggings for working out, and leggings for lounging around the house. They both are thicker fabric, and neither leaves the house, except on rare occasion, AND I cover my bum in the lounge ones as a matter or personal comfort (the workout ones, I don't care - no one's watching me work out!)

But, I do wear skinny jeans and pants, so if the leggings are a substantial fabrication, I can't really see claim there's a significant difference. Molly's thread made me realize I need to lighten up on my daughter's legging-wearing.

kkards

Veteran

can I say i'm not sure...

I do wear leggings, but when I wear them, I always wear a top that comes to at least mid thigh. I wear super skinny jeans on occasion, not sure if they are really jeans or if they are jeggings.

so, if this wearing them as pants? I think of wearing them as pants as wearing them with a top that doesn't cover...but i'm ok either way

LaPed

Veteran

As gear, yes. In cool weather, I run and hike in leggings ("tights" in gear-speak!) and never worry about how long my top or jacket is. These are thick, fleecy "winter weight" running tights with a high waist, so they are very substantial -- more so than some of the skinny jeans I see people wearing!

I sometimes wear good thick leggings to yoga classes or other movement-oriented classes/workshops (contact improv, etc) but honestly I still prefer the looser-fitting bootcut or straight-leg pants that everyone used to wear -- or even better, harem pant styles! Better range of motion and less self-consciousness. Many of the yoga teachers I know prefer to wear loose-fitting joggers or harem pants when they teach...

I agree that leggings are everywhere for casual use, to the point that they can even be a status symbol. Lululemon/Sweaty Betty/etc is definitely the "pant" of choice among my cohort (moms of young children) for anything other than work/dressy events.

I do also use leggings as a layer under dresses, as Angie shows above. I have a pair from Athleta with moto-style seams that work really well under skirts and dresses. Much warmer than tights, and less fragile as well!

Gap Metro High Waisted Legging

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Kathie

Veteran

I have two pairs of leggings, that I bought to wear under a tunic length dress. Turns out, I'm just not a huge fan of leggings in general, though I love tights and sheers. I do wear them as lounge wear around the house, and as an extra layer for skiing or cold weather yard work. But, it's clear that I prefer jeans for my casual wear, and shorts + tee for the gym, so beyond the two pairs I already have, I'm not expanding that part of my wardrobe. And, I don't wear leggings as pants outside the house.

Christina F.

Veteran

I wear ponte leggings as pants but usually cover my bum. I have too much junk in the trunk, and most of my leggings have shown that a little too much for me to be comfortable.

ETA I think my feelings about them on me color this issue for me.

As for the airport, lordy, people definitely should be as comfy as possible. I wear jeans that are as comfy as possible around the belly, but that's to save the weight of packing them.

Synne

Veteran

How fun to see old pics of you, Angie! You look great as always. I've only recently found your blog and this community. Interesting to see how you styled your outfit, it looks very current for the time and still very you. Maybe you would share more throwbacks in the future? I have stopped wearing leggings as pants, but must admit I did ten years ago when I was in my early twenties.

Molly

Angie thank you for making this a topic! I’m gaining so so so much info and it’s a huge help! I think I will be wearing leggings as pants but with a longer shirt and I love the knee high boots look with them. I just have so many girls around campus that wear them as pants but I also don’t want to wear them if they are showing everything u know?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I am with kkards. I don't believe that I wear them as pants because my butt is always covered. I only have 2 pairs of true leggings which are thinner and one of those is only for gardening or cleaning with a long T-shirt- and wouldn't be worn off this property. The other pair gets worn with shorter butt covering tunics- shorter than I would wear with hosiery but at least mid-thigh: like Sara L. My other 2 heavily worn winter items are ponte pants- much thicker, but elasticised and I still cover my butt. I just don't think the view of my 57 year old rather jiggly rear end is at all professional or attractive. But leggings and ponte pants are just the most comfortable things. And I was in my 20s in the 80s, 30s in the 90s so am very happy in such items.
My 2 daughters in their 20s wear athleisure ones as pants all the time. I disapproved at first but I have come around. I agree with Angie that it's generational. Also their butts look better!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for the detailed comments. I’ll chime in again later - got to run.

Sara L and others, these days, if you wear leggings with ANY length top as the only pair of bottoms in the casual non-working out outfit - they are pants. If you wear them with a skirt, pants, shorts or longer dress - it’s different. Does that make sense? It's not a criticism, and sorry if it came across that way. You rocked those patterned leggings!

Elizabeth, you crack me up, and I like your gusset rule too.

Anonymous

God no. Anytime I wear a ponte pant or an athletic legging, my butt and crotch are covered, as they should be. I wear actual leggings far, far less than I used to now anyways.

And I don't care how thin or muscular and athletic your body is .....I don't want to see anything that revealing outside of a gym. Yes, my 22 y/o does this, but I've had to stop thinking about it . Whatever floats your boat , I guess.

SarahD8

Veteran

It definitely depends on your definition of "pants." Are pants "the only item you wear on your bottom half" or are they defined as "a pair of bottoms that may be worn in a casual outfit showing the bum and/or waistband."

I do wear leggings without other bottoms over them, so by your definition Angie, yes I do wear leggings as pants.

However I consider myself a strong adherent of the "Leggings Are Not Pants" principle, by which I mean that leggings shouldn't be worn without a bum-covering top. That's how most of the folks I know would understand the statement.

I do see people wearing leggings without a bum-covering top and that is what looks off/objectionable to me (unless you are working out).

So I guess either way we agree about the importance of covering the bum!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I agree with SarahD8. I feel your new definition, Angie, as you are suggesting Sara L and myself and LisaP are wearing them, is not what most people understand. So I wonder if you should change the definition to the commonly understood "Leggings Are Not Pants" principle? After work I may be able to look up the hilarious YouTube video.
I hesitate to disagree with you Angie since you are THE guru around here!

SarahD8

Veteran

This has me thinking about how my husband refers to the hosiery I call tights as "leggings." Now those are definitely not pants!!!!

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