Tips and Tricks for Styling With Leggings
If you want to wear a trending fashion item right, then you
need to know and identify its origins. Following the journey of a clothing
piece’s beginning, up until this very moment, will leave one with endless ideas
on how to wear, what you have like a supermodel. One of fashions newest trends
at the moment are leggings.
For many women around the world, the leggings are their
staple clothing pieces, the one go-to piece that does not fail, or disappoint
if combined properly. It is a versatile piece of clothing that can not be
missing from anybody’s wardrobe, and you can wear them all year long.
We have compiled a few excellent tips and tricks for styling
with leggings. But before we get into that, let’s see how they unfolded.
Modern-day leggings were brought to life in 1959 by a chemist, Joseph Shivers.
This was a year after he had invented the synthetic fibre, lycra or spandex, as
some call it. For many of us, our first experience with leggings were of the
lycra kind, but the origins date further back.
14th Century Style
Leggings first surfaced in the 14th century and were worn by
Scottish men. However, these leggings needed to be put on each leg individually
and only went as high as the waist. In effect, the first attempt at leggings
resembled waist-high boots more than leggings, but alas, this is where it
began. As is the case today, 14th- century leggings were used for more than one
occasion. The clothing was worn in battle and during the more mellow casual
occasions. At the time, the leggings were made with, either leather or
chainmail. If ever you watched “A Knight’s Tale” and saw the late, great Heath
Ledger jousting, then you have seen chainmail. It is a type of armour that
holds small metal rings together, to form a mesh-like appearance, common during
these times.
1960 – Present
The 1960s was when fashionistas began accepting the new
spandex version of leggings. In the 1970s, the popularity of leggings was
flying high, as Olivia Newton-John climbed into leggings. The trend would
continue to thrive, as Madonna rocked them in the 80s and Cindy Crawford in The 90s. As the new Millenium rolled in, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Ritchie and Paris
Hilton bought the trend back. Today we have Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid,
using them for a sexy, comfy or workout look.
Sexy Look
Leggings have evolved from being worn as an undergarment, to
being the only layer separating your skin, from the elements of the outside
world. If you are trying to look sexy for a special someone, then you should
pair your leggings with a crop top. If it’s the evening, consider wearing a
formal top crop with your leggings, preferably black, and a classy set of
shoes. If you are looking to get the attention of a certain someone at your
gym, then you can go for the sexy sport look. Use a crop top sports shirt with
a tight fit, and pair it with your leggings and trainers. Enjoy the attention
coming your way.
Comfy Look
The reason why leggings are so popular these days is that
they are very comfortable, and you can mix and match them with pretty much
anything in your closet. From a loose T-shirt, a dress, a crop top, a sweater,
you can keep counting. The comfy look is easy to pull off with leggings. Scan
through your wardrobe for the longest shirt you own. Wear the shirt like a
short dress, accompanied by your leggings of choice, and a comfy pair of boots.
Plus Size Style
The stretchable quality of leggings makes it a comfortable
clothing item for all shapes and sizes. To pull off the plus-size look in
leggings, you want to make sure that your leggings are long enough and not
overly tight, and of a dark colour. Wear a loose-ish shirt or dress, so that
you are comfortable and don’t feel like you are wearing a Victorian-era corset.
Finally top the look off with a pair of your favourite shoes, to add the extra
layer of sexy, to the look.
Butt-Lift Leggings
Butt-lift or booty-lift leggings are comfortable, and fit
perfectly and make you look extra fine and confident. To pull off this look,
use a sports crop top, so that you show some skin between the top and your
leggings. The reason for this is that it brings out the shape of your butt. The
point of butt-lift leggings is to be comfortable when exercising, but give you
a booty like Kim Kardashian-West, without spending thousands on surgery.
Workout Leggings
Despite the name, let’s look at how you can strut your stuff
in workout leggings, outside the gym. For leggings to work outside of a fitness
environment, you should opt for a more traditional matte, instead of shiny
items. Shiny pants limit the environments in which you can wear them.
Neutral looking leggings will allow you to wear them when
getting coffee, at work, or for a night out on the town. Many fashion experts
highly discourage the use of high heels with leggings, as they feel it is
counterproductive. Wearing the most comfortable pants deserves comfortable
footwear, so think of sneakers, flat shoes or at the most ankle-high boots.
Fashion experts feel that stilettos with leggings bring
about a trashy appearance, and it is counterintuitive. Why would you wear the
most uncomfortable shoes, with the most comfortable pants?
Leggings With Pockets
One element which in the past, been absent on leggings, is
pockets. There are some leggings with pockets, available on the market today.
Due to the material of leggings, these pockets are not as deep, as say your
jeans, or jacket pockets. They do have a sporty appeal to them, but if you wear
a long shirt which falls below the waistline, your leggings will look like
pants to everyone else in the street. At least you can look even trendier,
walking with the top of your hand tucked into the pocket of your leggings.
Now that you have learnt how versatile leggings are, take
these tips and tricks provided for wearing them. Don’t be shy to slip them on
at the gym, at home, at the office or on a night out with the girls.
