How to wear leggings the grownup way

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/04/how-to-wear-leggings-the-grownup-way

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I never really thought that a pair of leggings could be controversial. But last week, Oregon-based blogger Veronica Partridge declared that she would no longer wear them in public and the accompanying video clip went viral. Form-fitting pants, she claimed, were causing men (other than her husband Dale) to think lustfully about her body, and she’d had enough. It’s not just Partridge who views leggings as devilish: every time a female celebrity is photographed wearing them, the tabloids’ gleeful headlines (“slipping them on”; “squeezing into them”) read like a euphemism for either “How dare you wear tight trousers at that weight?” or “Phwoar”.

I would be the first to say that cheap, see-through fabrics and psychedelic patterns have no place in a mature woman’s wardrobe – or in any person’s wardrobe at any age, for that matter. But leggings for grownups should not be dismissed entirely. First, they are comfortable and can be flattering and easy to style (more on that later). Second, I cheer on anyone who wears clothes others have deemed unsuitable for older women, to whom leggings are a two-fingered salute in fabric form.

How to wear them? As Kim Winser, the founder and CEO of online fashion label Winser London, points out: “The difference between a quality legging and an average pair is dramatic. The fabric is key.” Her big tip? “Buy the best quality you can afford. Leggings in decent fabrics look just as elegant whether you’re embarking on a long-haul flight or taking the dog for a walk.” Worn with knitted wool coat a la Yasmin Le Bon, above, or with a smart tailored jacket and brogues, this kind of dressed-up sportswear is comfortable, sleek and definitely not transparent – and that’s what grownup women want. Miracle leggings cost £85, which may seem a tad expensive, but if you wear them more than your jeans, you will get your money’s worth. Uniqlo sells thick leggings for £19.90; Calezdonia sells panelled, pushup leggings for a similar price. I have friends who swear by Topshop’s viscose/elastane versions. Meanwhile, there are dozens of performance-designed examples with flattering diagonal stitching that can be worn in and out of the gym – think Stella McCartney for Adidas if you don’t mind a little sporty branding. Anything is better than a thin, baggy, ill-fitting pair from a £6 bargain bin.

From Michelle Obama to Kate Moss, the rise and rise of the leather legging is a phenomenon that’s got, er, legs. Comfortable and flattering, they have the flexibility of leggings with the density of a proper pair of trousers. Shiny, patterned versions do few of us favours; matt, strokeable, high-quality leather or a convincing faux is your friend. As with denim, leather looks best when it has lived a little; think worn-in and moulded to the body as opposed to box fresh.

Leggings have a place in our lives, says Donna Ida Thornton, the CEO of the Donna Ida boutiques and online store, because “people are very busy, so clothes have to work harder and harder. I have a pair of black J Brand leather leggings that are the hardest-working item in my wardrobe. They’ve never been cleaned or washed and they work all year round.” If you can’t stretch to J Brand, there are plenty of high-street versions that look good, many of which are fake: Zara’s faux leather leggings with seams at the knee, for example, are seen on many a fashion editor and cost just £25.99. Thornton’s tip for longer-looking legs is: “Go for a mid-rise, skinny leg style and wear it with knee or ankle boots. Leggings can look slightly sexy, so style it down with a chunky knit.”

Layers are helpful when styling leggings, too, covering the top of the thighs without the studenty feel of a very long-line sweater. Consider wearing a soft, mid-thigh sleeveless waistcoat over a shorter T-shirt, or a sheer fabric top underneath a chunkier jumper. Add a neutral pair of loafers, and layers are transformed from tabloid fodder to the last word in low-key French chic.

Alyson Walsh is the author of the blog That’s Not My Age, @thatsntmyage