Footless tights may be the season’s must-have fashion accessory, but unlike a roomy handbag or comfy ballet flats, not every woman can – or should – wear leggings.
There are figure issues, texture and color considerations, and such basics as what to wear them with and where to wear them to decipher.
Still, leggings have wide appeal, and with a few guidelines, can look good on women in a range of ages and sizes, proponents say.
“I think this tights craze is just another reflection of how accessory trends come and go,” says Amy Goodman, contributing editor to InStyle magazine. “The variety has increased so much – with all the colors, textures and styles – that it makes hosiery a great deal of fun. For women who have had it on the back shelves, it’s time to get it out and explore again.”
The fact that hosiery is also warm and slimming are two more reasons to recommend it, she says.
“This is a trend that can be worn by everyone from ‘tweens to your groovy grandma,” says hosiery expert Alison Hessert. “It’s all about layering and personalization.
“I’ve been astounded by the people of all shapes and sizes I’ve seen wearing them,” says Hessert, who is spokeswoman for Hue hosiery.
In the 15-block walk between her home and office in New York, Hessert says she typically sees at least five people wearing leggings. “The capri-length ones were really strong for spring and summer – even when it was hot outside – and now the ankle ones look best.”
Hessert, who is in her 30s, says she has been wearing leggings with a bubble dress left over from her college days and completes the outfit with interesting shoes, like blue peep-toe platforms or red patent slingbacks.
The universal way to wear leggings is to slip them on in place of tights under a dress, Hessert says, noting that the jersey dresses and full trapeze or empire-waist styles popular right now are good options. Presuming your workplace isn’t too conservative, such an outfit can update your office look and is right at home in more creative environs.
For customers in their teens and 20s who want a “rock-star” look, leggings, a punk T-shirt and denim or corduroy miniskirt are cute, Hessert says. Flats or booties complete the look.
Boomers who want to wear leggings without looking like a flashback from the 1983 movie “Flashdance” can wear black footless tights topped with a thigh-grazing sweater or elongated tunic and flats or ankle boots.
Just avoid wearing a lot of flashy colors and patterns that look like something Cyndi Lauper or Pat Benatar might have worn in the 1980s, says Ashley Baker, associate editor for style at Glamour magazine.
“Black is best,” she says, noting that colors like red make you look like you’re in children’s pajamas and white leggings look nurse-ish. “Anything sheer, striped, printed or patterned is a glamour ‘don’t,”‘ Baker adds.
And if you’re going to commit to the trend, buy leggings; don’t take scissors to your old tights. “I’ve seen a lot of cutoff tights, and they look terrible,” she says.
The more opaque, the better. Baker says she’s partial to the Spanx brand, but notes that you can find inexpensive leggings at discount stores as well as department stores and specialty retailers.
Another way of looking at leggings is to consider them part of fall’s layering trend, and to treat them as a layer. “Wear them as you would wear tights, not pants,” Baker says. Don’t team them with a shirt or sweater that isn’t long enough, she says.
Her advice to women who are 40-plus is to “make sure everything else in the outfit is conservative, or in dark colors.”
Also keep in mind that because they stop just short of the ankle and reveal a sliver of skin, leggings draw attention to your footwear, Baker says. “You’ll need a great pair of shoes, whether they’re flats, heels or boots.”
The decision on how high the heels should be is based on the length of the skirt. Baker’s advice is to wear flats with miniskirts, and high heels with skirts that are knee-length or longer. “I never like to see minis with high heels,” the editor says. “It looks trampy for daytime.”
Hessert says a woman’s approach to leggings should be based on her figure and lifestyle rather than her age. “They say 40 is the new 30, and I can look at some people in their 50s and think they’re really youthful. But then again, I don’t think a denim mini with leggings is a great look on a 50-year-old.
“It’s about attitude, layering and a new way of giving people fashion tools,” she says. “Hosiery is the most affordable accessory around. You just have to learn to put your own spin on it.”
Contact staff writer Suzanne S. Brown at 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com.
Do’s and don’ts
Here are some dos and don’ts for wearing leggings, from Ashley Baker of Glamour, Amy Goodman of InStyle and Alison Hessert of Hue:
- CYA – Make sure your top, dress or skirt fully covers your derriere, hips and upper legs.
- Fit first – Get the right size in hosiery. Most companies offer tights in sizes small through extra large. “If they’re too tight around the ankle, your legs will look like sausages,” says Hessert. You’ll find leggings in clothing departments as well as hosiery sections.
- Look slimmer – Wear leggings and shoes in the same color to elongate your legs. Choose flat knit rather than textured leggings or thick knit versions.
- Shift into neutral – Black is your safest bet; wear leg color with caution. Ditto for materials that are shiny or heavily textured.
- Mix it up – To experiment with color, wear an outfit and boots in the same color, such as black, and wear leggings or tights in a contrasting shade for a “pop” of color.
- If you’re pregnant – Leggings are your friend because they’re perfect to wear under empire waist dresses and tunics.
- Fitness – Leggings can go from the office to the gym with a change of shoes and shirt. “I always wear them to run in,” says Glamour’s Baker. “They make me feel thinner.”
– Suzanne S. Brown
Teens
Footless tights worn with flats and miniskirts are
a great look for trendy types. Here, the Candie s
mini, $44, Fang T-shirt, $20, Apt. 9 vest, $34,
Mia flats, $44.99, triple chain necklace, $14, and
hoop earrings, $10, are all from Kohl s. Xhilaration
leggings from Target, $5.99.
20s
A minidress with tights and booties is a contemporary
approach to dressing this season. The Hale
Bob flocked dress, $198; DKNY leggings, $12; and
Carlos by Carlos Santana booties, $139, are from
Macy s. Dangle earrings, $18 at Kohl s.
30s
Working women are updating their office attire
with leggings for fall. Here, the AB studio wrap
dress, $62; SO pumps, $44.99; Sonoma bracelet,
$12; Apt. 9 necklace, $32; and earrings, $18, all
from Kohl s. Xhilaration leggings, $5.99 at Target.
40-plus
Black sweater coat, $36; Sonoma suede belt,
$24; Axcess top, $39; Sonoma chain, $18; SO silver
hoops, $10; Alfani leather booties, $89, all
from Kohl s. Textured Xhilaration leggings, $5.99
at Target.
