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Original poster

I'm overweight and wear leggings

236 replies

LemonCurdles · 03/05/2017 17:38

I can't be dead certain but I thought I heard two women sniggering about me in a shop when I was bending down.

They went silent when I got up and looked in their direction. They proceded laughing and whispering again when I turned to go down the next aisle.

It may well have had nothing to do with me but you know when you just get that feeling that you're being watched? I had that before I even clocked them.

I think it was because I'm fat and wearing leggings. I worry now that if i need to bend or stretch and in certain light people may catch a glimpse of my breakfast underwear. And every massive little ripple of cellulite is probably on show.

But they are just so damn comfy.

Am I being publicly undecent in my choice of attire or am I being over self conscious and paranoid?

OP posts:
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MaisyPops · 03/05/2017 17:50

YANBU on the laughing front. Basic courtesy says that you don't laugh at others like that. It's just rude.

BUT
If they could see your underwear then size has NOTHING to do with it.
I don't want to see anyone's underwear and some leggings are so thin you can see. My leggings are comfy. I'm a size 8. I wear a long top because I don't want the world to see my pants.

Too many women seem to think that leggings are trousers.

Undercoverbanana · 03/05/2017 17:50

Good for you for wearing what you are comfy in. In my very humble opinion, leggings that don't fit well or are too thin are extremely unflattering and I don't think the sight of a red polka-dot cheese-cutter thong is a great look underneath them.

They were bitches for laughing at you.

You can buy some better leggings, but they'll always be bitches.

Thisiswhyileft · 03/05/2017 17:50

Marks do and thick leggings, called treggings. Thin leggings look like tights.

No excuse for schoolgirl sniggering. Shame on them.

TheMysteriousJackelope · 03/05/2017 17:52

Leggings are great casual wear if someone is over weight, they prevent thigh chafing, which can be agony when wearing skirts or dresses, I'd wear a tunic or dress over them to prevent unexpected views of underwear and bulges, but I've seen quite over weight people wearing them with short tops and they look OK, the leggings kind of hold everything together and prevent sagginess.

At least you can get thicker leggings, those women are rude jerks and it's unlikely that will ever be fixed. The good news is if anything happens to upset their appearance they feel twice as cruddy as anyone else as they'll assume everyone is laughing at them.

bananafish81 · 03/05/2017 17:54

Depends how long your top was

I'm a tall slim size 8 but I'd get sideways glances if I wore leggings with my bum on show, as it would look like I hadn't finished getting dressed

To me leggings are like heavyweight footless tights

I'd wear with a tunic top or dress, or shirt / sweater dress, but never without something up top to cover my arse

Only exception is exercise leggings for going to / from the gym or yoga class.

By all means wear what you like. But I think anyone in leggings without a longer top looks like they haven't finished getting dressed, regardless of their size

SecretNetter · 03/05/2017 17:55

If you can see the outline of your underwear when you bend, you're wearing tops that are too short.

Leggings aren't jeans or trousers and arse or crotch should NOT be visible with them regardless of your size!

randomsabreuse · 03/05/2017 17:55

Leggings are fine if you show as much in them as you would in a pair of opaque tights. They're more comfortable and stay up better than tights but are still more like underwear than trousers. I might be a bit more daring with the hemline in leggings than in tights but would still not go above mid thigh...

I wouldn't giggle (unless pissed) but would judge quietly in my own head - wondering if personnin leggings had forgotten to put a skirt on that morning...

kmc1111 · 03/05/2017 17:55

They were being dicks, but yes, unless you're wearing very thick leggings or more opaque sporty Lycra-ish leggings, when you bend over your giving everyone a good look at your underwear. Happens at any size, but usually to a lesser extent when your thin.

When I was big if I bent over in leggings they barely hid more than sheer tights. Full and clear view of my underwear and bare ass cheeks. Now I'm thinner you can see the underwear outline and guess the colour but it's quite not so revealing (I never went/go out and about this way, I was just testing at home to see if I could get away with normal leggings at the gym. I couldn't).

bananafish81 · 03/05/2017 17:56

You could have been just in your knickers without any trousers at all and that still wouldn't excuse those arseholes for laughing and pointing, mind you.

Batgirlspants · 03/05/2017 17:56

Stupid bitches op.

The great thing about getting older is you really don't give a fuck.

I wear my leggings with a lacy top and a long cargo and think I look ace.

If you are comfy you go ahead.

Batgirlspants · 03/05/2017 17:57

Cardi!

MaisyPops · 03/05/2017 17:57

By all means wear what you like. But I think anyone in leggings without a longer top looks like they haven't finished getting dressed, regardless of their size

This.
I have a colleague who wears normal length tops with leggings and ankle boots. It looks ridiculous for a work environment. But it's not technically against dress code (though I'd argue it's not professional dress). No way I'd say anything though in case it goes to "no leggings" in the dress code because I love mine. Just keep your crotch covered!

PookieDo · 03/05/2017 17:58

I wear very thick leggings (I think they might be called treggings??) that are almost like shape wear. Tight but slimming so they flatten out all the lumps. Although I would still have a camel toe so wouldn't wear a short top. Next and M&S sell them. With a long top and no VPL type pants. Because leggings CAN look bad, but that doesn't stop me wearing them now, carefully.

Any item of clothing can look bad in the wrong size, too short or too tight or too see through. Leggings in general get a really bad press with people refusing to wear them because of th connotations but they are really not the worst item of clothing worn in the right way. Equal horror are too small vest tops. I've seen girls of slim figures wearing horrible things as much as larger women. I'm a size 14

expatinscotland · 03/05/2017 17:59

They're not trousers. They have to be worn with something long enough so your underwear isn't on show, no matter what your size. I wear them often enough, I'm fairly thin, with a very long plaid shirt or a swingy dress that falls to mid-thigh because, since leggings are not trousers, they show up everything unless you cover it up.

Phoebefromfriends · 03/05/2017 17:59

I wear leggings to work but I team it with an oversized, nearly to my knee shirt it sounds awful but colleagues always comment on how nice it looks I also wear leggings with a jersey dress, it's quite short so tights wouldn't do the job. Basically what I'm trying to say is I wouldn't wear leggings without a tunic or long top. I'm sorry you felt judged that's horrible. Have a look in the mirror whilst doing a squat over a mirror and that should tell you whether the leggings are thick enough.

WateryTart · 03/05/2017 18:03

Leggings without a long top look awful on anyone other than a child. They were rude to laugh, though.

MaisyPops · 03/05/2017 18:08

Phoebe
Same. Nice floaty shirts that are tunic length with a blazer.

I love how comfy leggings are. Also hate seeing crimes against leggings.

Original poster
LemonCurdles · 03/05/2017 18:08

Oh dear I feel like a flasher now Blush

My top was a long tee just skimming the bottom of my bum, half way up my back when in squat (just checked in the mirror on advise of pp).

Thank you so much for the replies, I honestly felt like crying but you've all cheered me up. Will definitely be buying some longer tunics and giving matalan leggings a try.

I'm glad it's an issue for all sizes and not just about being bigger.

OP posts:
Bantanddec · 03/05/2017 18:12

I've seen someone's pad through their leggings when I was on an escalator, it was right in my eye line Shock

Nevth · 03/05/2017 18:12

If they were laughing at you, they are utter dicks.

However. Leggings are not trousers!

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 03/05/2017 18:15

Very rude to laugh! I wear thick leggings but always with a longer tunic style tops/dresses to avoid flashing my bum, they are too comfortable to avoid wearing!

Out2pasture · 03/05/2017 18:21

i'm bigger and worry about things like this.
I've been wearing landsend, yoga pants www.landsend.com/products/womens-active-pants/id_212716?sku_0=::BLA
not sure if these are pants or leggings but they are amazingly comfortable and thick....undie lines don't show.
but mn are these leggings or pants?

ProseccoBitch · 03/05/2017 18:22

I'm a size 12 and there is no way I would go out in public wearing leggings unless they were under a jumper dress. They're not acceptable as trousers in my opinion, and many others judging from this thread. I really don't want to see anyone else's pants through their leggings and definitely not any exposed flesh when people bend down, no matter what their size.

However, those women were complete arseholes if they were laughing at you.

AmserGwin · 03/05/2017 18:23

You can get vests from H&M that are extra long and cover your bum, I also get my extra thick leggings from there

RebelRogue · 03/05/2017 18:23

I'm fat and wear leggings a lot! Normally with long tops,dresses,tshirt dresses,tunics etc. No one has laughed yet,and even if they did I wouldn't give a shit as I'm very comfortable with wearing them that way. I wouldn't leave the house though pretending they are trousers.

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