I was in Britain two years ago when I first noticed women wearing neutral-toned leggings under shapeless tunics or impossibly short miniskirts. When I arrived back stateside in December 2006, the trend was just about to catch on in a big way. I’m going to admit it was amazingly trendy and urban-feeling for awhile, and I distinctly remember asking myself why it took so long for such an obvious accessory to catch on.
But once a fashion trend trickles into the suburbs, the general rule is that it’s probably already out of hand. Leggings went from black to grey to velvet burnout or disco-silver. The dresses covering the leggings got shorter until women were actually just wearing normal-length T-shirts over painted-on leggings (read: Lindsay Lohan).
Now, I’m not saying leggings are as bad as other fashion bandwagons women tend to jump on, like those disgusting, scrunched-up tiny tees that magically fit everyone, but I think leggings should be used in moderation. This is a little list of guidelines I am going to print out and tape to my refrigerator every time I’m tempted to be irresponsible with my leggings collection:
1. Gold leggings may be worn from December – January. Throw plum leggings out because those were obviously a mistake.
2. A camel-toe check must be completed before I exit the house in any questionably-short “dress” or “tunic” that is actually better-described as a “stretched out T-shirt.”
3. Leggings are best with flats.
4. Never wear leggings with flip-flops unless I’m going the county fair.
I have a feeling I’ll ignore rule #4, but let’s remember I’m from Indiana. You can take the girl out of the cornfield, but her love for flip-flops and boys who work in lumber yards will just never fade.
So, leggings: Are they friend or foe?
Posted by Katie 
