Ask The Expert
Legging It?
If you're old enough to remember wearing leggings in the Eighties, you should give them a wide berth now, says Debbie. Yes, that means you too, so put them down and come quietly!
Dear Debbie,
I have noticed a lot of people wearing footless tights and leggings this season. I am old enough to have worn them the first time round! Do you think I can get away with wearing them again? And what's the best way to wear them?
Thanks!
Janine
UKTV Style's Agony Aunt replies:
Dear Janine,
Oooh - what a question! I fear my answer has to be NO - don't do it! The fashion for footless tights and leggings is upon us. Taking over from the almost unwearable 'skinny jeans', a whole new generation of females is in danger of deluding themselves that donning leopard skin cut off tights with a tartan skirt is a good look. Any garment, if it has enough Lycra in it, gives the illusion of comfort, but trust me, that is not enough reason to wear these things. My slender, long legged 15 year old daughter has just bought a pair - and whilst they look cute on her - rather kooky and fun when worn with a tiny skirt and sloppy jumper, it's not a look that I would dare wear myself - and I remember them first time round too!
So the short answer is - anyone over 22 should steer clear of them. Ditto - anyone larger than a size 12 should give serious consideration to exactly what they think they are doing - because quite honestly, they are not a great look for anyone with any kind of 'figure'.
Leggings, of course were very fashionable way back in the 80s and looking back, they looked pretty grim even then. We girls wore them with huge sweaters complete with shoulder pads and big hair. When the Nineties dawned, some of us carried on committing this hideous sartorial crime and in my case, got pregnant and stomped about looking like Max Wall impersonators with a cushion stuffed up our jumpers. So - to sum up - they are ghastly and I find myself incapable of saying anything nice about them.
Besides which, there are so many other wonderful looks around this season - pencil skirts; high-waisted jeans and trousers - which actually hold you in and avoid the all-too-common 'muffin-top' look; gorgeous frilly blouses (which look sooooo sexy when worn with the afore-mentioned pencil skirts); tight fitting dresses; elegant and yet mannish trousers in shades of brown and black - very Katherine Hepburn; chic waisted jackets - the list of lovely clothes goes on and on. So why would you want to don a pair of footless tights and look like a relic of the 80s? Go forward instead, with elegance and panache and leave the Max Wall impersonations to the young - trust me, they do it best.
All the best,
Debbie
I have noticed a lot of people wearing footless tights and leggings this season. I am old enough to have worn them the first time round! Do you think I can get away with wearing them again? And what's the best way to wear them?
Thanks!
Janine
UKTV Style's Agony Aunt replies:
Dear Janine,
Oooh - what a question! I fear my answer has to be NO - don't do it! The fashion for footless tights and leggings is upon us. Taking over from the almost unwearable 'skinny jeans', a whole new generation of females is in danger of deluding themselves that donning leopard skin cut off tights with a tartan skirt is a good look. Any garment, if it has enough Lycra in it, gives the illusion of comfort, but trust me, that is not enough reason to wear these things. My slender, long legged 15 year old daughter has just bought a pair - and whilst they look cute on her - rather kooky and fun when worn with a tiny skirt and sloppy jumper, it's not a look that I would dare wear myself - and I remember them first time round too!
So the short answer is - anyone over 22 should steer clear of them. Ditto - anyone larger than a size 12 should give serious consideration to exactly what they think they are doing - because quite honestly, they are not a great look for anyone with any kind of 'figure'.
Leggings, of course were very fashionable way back in the 80s and looking back, they looked pretty grim even then. We girls wore them with huge sweaters complete with shoulder pads and big hair. When the Nineties dawned, some of us carried on committing this hideous sartorial crime and in my case, got pregnant and stomped about looking like Max Wall impersonators with a cushion stuffed up our jumpers. So - to sum up - they are ghastly and I find myself incapable of saying anything nice about them.
Besides which, there are so many other wonderful looks around this season - pencil skirts; high-waisted jeans and trousers - which actually hold you in and avoid the all-too-common 'muffin-top' look; gorgeous frilly blouses (which look sooooo sexy when worn with the afore-mentioned pencil skirts); tight fitting dresses; elegant and yet mannish trousers in shades of brown and black - very Katherine Hepburn; chic waisted jackets - the list of lovely clothes goes on and on. So why would you want to don a pair of footless tights and look like a relic of the 80s? Go forward instead, with elegance and panache and leave the Max Wall impersonations to the young - trust me, they do it best.
All the best,
Debbie
