Tunics/short dresses with leggings - is this now a fashion faux pas?

[40SomethingFabulouslyClueless]

I hope not. And if so, what's the alternative?

(Prompted by someone on the Vogue thread saying leggings were 'so 2004'.)

I think leggings with tunics/very long tops are only OK for very casual wear - as a PP said, almost leisure/lounging wear, though I have been known to pop to Waitrose like that - in the summer only. Otherwise, would only wear skinnies or Boden Ponte Roma or Chelsea turn-up trousers with my long tops.

Don't like the leggings with dress look much when the leggings are obviously leggings IYSWIM, though have seen a few people carry it off OK - again, in a very informal setting.

But if you wear leggings with a dress and tucked into boots, so they look like opaque tights that seems the same as wearing opaques and a dress. What do you wear on your feet, though? Socks, presumably. Seems less hassle to get nice opaques and just wear them?

If it is (and I have no idea) does it matter? I don't give a flying f8k whats in fashion or not. I wear leggings and tunics/short dresses. In summer I wear it with pumps and in winter with boots. If I look frumpy/mumsy/noughties/sht I do not care. I am comfy and therefore happy :)

Personally, I hate Converse! I think they look as if you're trying to be 22 again. And they're unflattering to all but the smallest feet.

My 41 year old, size 12 feet DH owns nothing but converse.

As for the person who was asking who sells tunics to wear over leggings - SeaSalt, Fat Face, White Stuff.

I wear socks polyhymnia and yes, it's pretty similar to wearing opaques except they last me a zillion years longer. Plus they're warmer when it's cold and less sweaty when it isn't.

Leggings with long top are ok. Its tge people who substitute leggings for trousers /jeans who need to be sent an urgent memo.

You see, there is no dress code where I work. We are all quite scruffy casual. Boden Chelseas would look too dressy, so the leggings/dress is an ideal solution. Personally, I'm not a fan of White Stuff/Fat Face tunics, I find them a bit mumsy; this is about the only one that I quite like because it's simple.

If you wouldn't wear a dress that short, why wear a tunic? I'd risk flashing my knickers to all the men in the office if I didn't wear leggings! (Not that my dresses are THAT short, but I'm paranoid).

Skinnies/trousers I find too bulky around the waist, whereas leggings just sit nice and smoothly. And much nicer to wear socks with leggings than tights.

If you wear tights, what to wear on your feet in the winter (if, like me, you want to avoid clumpy boots)?

I can't stand the feel of tights in shoes so wear socks over them anyway, in which case I might as well be in leggings and socks!

I wear leggings, dresses/short skirts, trainer socks with converse and it looks cute. I've found that you have to get the leggings to stop at the right place at the leg though, too high or too low and suddenly it looks frumpy.

Also, and I'm going to be unpopular, if the lady wearing said leggings and tunic is rather overweight that too can look frumpy. It's a ball ache but generally if you can stay on the slim side most outfits look ok.

I don't agree that it's just about being slim. I'm slim but I still look terrible in tunics because they make my legs look really chunky.

Hmm, interesting!

Surely it's about how you style the whole look, to a certain extent? I wear leggings with good-quality leather calf-length boots, silk tunics, and maybe a statement necklace and leather bag. I don't think that looks more ultra-casual or lounge-wear-ish than, say, skinny jeans with a blouse and Converse.

No I agree. I think it looks like verging on loungewear with ordinary shoes/ sandals but not with boots as you describe.

So what's the verdict on this as a dress/legging combo?

Like it - though scarf would be too bulky for me.

I think leggings with a dress/tunic is fine if you're wearing boots, but usually not very flattering with other shoes because the leggings sort of cut your legs in half...

Hmm, she is drowning a bit under the scarf.

I think you need the right shape legs, and the dress needs to be the right length/width to balance everything out. Not sure what I'd wear on my feet instead of ballet flats for winter though. Needs to be flat so I can walk/cycle, but her boots are too clumpy for me. Actually, I think they are too clumpy for her too.

I have got a pair of M&S jeggings which I wear with dresses. The jeggings are comfy & thicker than leggings. I buy a lot of my dresses from DP & they are comfy and not too expensive. This will be my next purchase:

m.dorothyperkins.com/mt/www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-203543/view-all-dresses-2523253/black-and-white-zip-shift-dress-3202820?bi=1&ps=24

I think that Hush dress/tunic looks fine with leggings .... on the model but that's because she has a model's legs. If you have chunky thighs, like I do, then leggings don't disguise them.

Just wear tights - always think leggings are a bit teenagery! I do wear them if I am going to a dance class or something, but I think they instantly make a lovely dress look a bit too casual.

Tunics don't suit me as my bust is too big and I end up looking huge. Is there an alternative?

'They instantly make a lovely dress look a bit too casual' Perfect! Thank you, casual is exactly what I'm after.

Not sure what you can do for a big bust, maybe break it up a bit with a scarf?

I'm 30, and to me, leggings are something to wear during a workout class, at home on the sofa, or in 2006ish.

Nowadays people are wearing tight trousers, so either "disco pants" (my mum had an identical pair in dark purple from the 1970's), or tight jeans, or whatever. People are wearing long t shirts, not tunics, and opaque tights/jeans, not leggings.

I am personally glad that the leggings trend is over. Not trousers, but not tights. I HATED it.

Included: a picture of disco pants.

I only wear leggings if at home cleaning or with the children at home. But I love lights - they suck everything in.

I only wear tunics/dresses over leggings and nothing else

I'm too chubby for skinny jeans, even straight jeans aren't right

I still wear boot cut ones and don't give a crap

kaykay Not sure the audience for leggings is all going to turn to disco pants. I am a size 12(ish) and there is no way I could look good in that outfit. No way. It'd be lumps and bumps all over the place.

Leggings aren't super fashionable, but under a dress they make a perfectly good alternative to tights.