When leggings CAN BE worn as pants - YouLookFab Forum

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When leggings CAN BE worn as pants

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

This post is just for fun (and now you all know I have time to kill :P)

I am a firm believer of "Leggings are NOT pants" school of thought. I don't think they can be worn as pants. Not even the thick ponte leggings that are completely opaque. But that's probably because I'm not 21 and I'm not supermodel thin and I'm also not 5'10"

I was doing some online research for work when I came across this picture of Gigi Hadid totally rocking leggings as pants (#1). She looks great, right?! I decided to explore the topic further to see how Gigi wears her leggings and she's proved me wrong. She can even tuck into her leggings (#5) and not look obscene!

So *some* women CAN wear leggings as pants. The kinds who are super model thin, fit, tall and still in their early 20s.

Pretty fascinating!

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Dressing

57 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

catgirl

Veteran

I don't see photos of the back view, but I agree - models exist to be the exception to the rule!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yup. Sigh...

My stepson's stepdaughter (how's that for a mouthful?) definitely falls into this category. At age 13 she is about 5'9" (and still growing), fit, slim, and yesterday she arrived for a visit in her leggings-as-pants. Looking great.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Oh man! If only I knew I could rock leggings as pants when I was 19! I have the same leggings Gigi is wearing in #1. They are ponte and quite thick, they even have a control top so I actually look shapely...but I don't have her long legs....and I weight 13kgs more than her at only 5'3"

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Im sure she looks great, Suz. Damn...what I wouldn't give to be taller. But it's a little too late for that now Oh well.....

LaPed

Veteran

I live in an Ivy League college town -- lots of athletic 20 year olds! -- and I can't tell you how common this look is here. Until it's warm enough for shorts, the young women here are either in skinny jeans or black running tights, usually with some sort of oversized hoody or cute puffy jacket on top. Very consistent uniform. The idea of structured wider-leg bottoms seems not to have trickled down to the under-30 crowd. Nary a flare, bootcut, trouser, or boyfriend in sight. Pants must be skin-tight. I think this may be bearing out Angie's GenX/peak-denim observation.

catgirl

Veteran

This generation wears either gearish leggings or joggers in my neck of the woods.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I can image the fashion trends of your town La pedestrienne. Thanks for the vivid description! I've seen the look here too (but mostly in winters because our summer is too hot & too long). College girls easily wear leggings as pants, but I've not yet see anyone tuck their shirt in in-person!

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I'll confess...I'm kind of becoming obsessed with fitness/running leggings myself. I LOVE the look & feel of them. But I do wear them only while exercising.

And since I'm being so honest, I might as well add that if I could magically shed 10 kilos, I would love to wear #2 & #6 to run errands.

Liz A.

Veteran

I think the rule goes out the window when it comes to gymwear... even if you're not actually at the gym at the moment.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Liz A, I think you're right. I'm more daring with running leggings than I'd be with regular leggings (even ponte). I really love that causal, effortless look of leggings with a hoodie & sneakers.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yeah...I wear my gear on the way to the gym if the weather allows, and somehow I feel more "structured" in the running versions of leggings and they also don't fall down on me as much (possibly because you can adjust the waist quite often?) Anyway, I'm all for this if it is done well.

Anonymous

Hmm, I agree that it's definitely a look for the very tall, young and slim. I must admit to thinking that #3 is a bit too much information as is #7...both a little too snug in the front crotch area IMO.. And she has something in front of the crotch are in #6 so cant really see how revealing they are.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Just because you can....

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ClaraT

Veteran

High school girls/young women in their 20s have been wearing leggings as pants for a couple of years (skinny jeans + Uggs went out and leggings + white sneakers/Converse came in). Of course they look adorable.

Roxanna

Veteran

I wear my gear all weekend long. One of my 'rewards' for getting toned and fit was to be able to wear workout clothes I see all those perky toned moms wearing. So I do it and am proud of it (though I won't do leggings as pants, i don't always wear tunic length tops, either - I work hard on toning up that rear ) I know this is likely not considered popularly stylish, but I think I look good (enough) and i'm proud of the work I've put in, not to mention that's so much easier to get down on your knees with a 2 & 4 year old in yoga gear all day!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I walk to yoga and of course, I wear my yoga leggings as pants then, which is almost daily. Complete with neon yoga mat and matching neon jacket. You can absolutely see I am going to yoga.

#3 looks the best to my eye, because the jeggings look like skinnies with the zipper pocket detailing. And the top does not look like gear. #1 is approaching the same "acceptability". I'm not fond of the rest of the looks, I'm afraid.

I see young girls - teens and 20 somethings - wear leggings as pants every day here in Seattle. It is definitely regarded as a hip and fashionable look for that age group. They wear leggings as pants A LOT more than jeans.

rachylou

Veteran

Elizabeth, I love that decision tree! That's a hoot.

So I'm afraid I'm guilty of wearing leggings as pants a lot. It's part of my bakery wear. Of course, that's a little bit like going to the gym. But I also prefer it aesthetically on the other women at the bakery, even if they're short and round. Maybe it's because everyone has muscle under whatever fat they have and never wears anything in a thin material - you know, the kind that gets a little see through when you put them on. Jeans look stifling on the women in a way they don't on the men; and the chefs pants they handed out once (besides having a strangely organ crushing elasticized waistband) - they just look bad. Women aren't shaped like that.

Anonymous

I do understand your feeling s about leggings as pants. I haven't worn this look in public, mostly because I feel that a. I don't want to show my behind that much and b. I feel uncomfortable with only a thin knit layer between me and the outside world. (Knit feels less durable and more rip-prone.)
That said, I am warming up to the idea of wearing leggings in public, but with the caveat that there must be good coverage of the behind, and that they only be worn with flats or sneakers. (Does bottom-coverage take them out of leggings-as-pants territory?)
There are some beautiful leggings nowadays with all over prints that really camouflage and compress.

always trying

Veteran

OMO they are not appropriate for most places for anyone no matter how tall and thin and young. They are ok for college campus or for sports activities and other very casual things. But they are not pants....I do not even wear them to the gym as they don't have pockets, so of no use to me.

Colette

Veteran

Elizabeth P's chart is cracking me up!

Sara L.

Veteran

I see that look a lot on the younger crowd around here too. I love the chart!

catgirl

Veteran

I wear leggings with boots and tunics all the time - leggings need to be substantial and booty needs to be covered.

Anonymous

Una, I prefer the crotch point to be covered as well in leggings.

Anonymous

Leggings I wear at home only with a sweatshirt that covers the crotch point or with a top that covers said area. Even at the exercise club, I wear athletic tops that are longer. I'm in shape, even at 69, but modesty and grace make me happy. My granddaughters rock the whole leggings as pants. And they are very cute and not doing it to look sexy or get attention. They just love the feel and look. It makes them happy.

shedev

Veteran

I wear leggings quite often. I do wear longer tops than Gigi does with them. I also don't really like the paper thin ones. I do have a problem with the notion that certain items are reserved for only the young and thin. There are many different ways to wear an item so that it aligns with ones figure flattering priorities.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I see it a lot and think the same thing all the time - this was the "look" that was in back in the late 80's in Houston, Texas. For some strange reason everyone started wearing leggings. Even guys! I still think it looks silly to try to wear them as pants, no matter what the age or body type. To me it makes me think you ran out of clean real clothes so you threw on your leggings. It's sort of like wearing pajama bottoms as pants. UNLESS you are truly on your way to yoga or something.

Anonymous

Ok, thank you for the clarification Una.
I just don't look good enough in these to wear them as pants. There is flesh and droop, and not enough steel.

I admire you Roxanna! I bet you look great.
Off to check Elizabeth's flowchart.

Roxanna

Veteran

Thanks smittie. It's my 'dirty little fashion secret' - one i was afraid to reveal here as i know most people on the forum don't wear gear as clothing, much less fitted/skintight gear - but i'm finding it liberating. I know I don't like a 20 year old in it and I'm not trying to - the leggings as pants look to me is one that does definitely skew young and though, like Maneera, I admire it, I don't wear it. But it does feel good, after so many years of covering up in slouchy tops post-baby, to let it show (in a covered and pulled in way.) God knows how long this will last before I get the muffin top again - might as well take advantage

JAileen

Veteran

Yeah, here's a celebrity in leggings:

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