Is it acceptable to wear leggings under a dress?

[Fireballfriends]

Mainly in the summer under short shift dresses. I'm late 30s. I don't want to look mumsy. Also don't want to look like I'm trying to be 19.

Altho tbh they are so comfy (and my legs are SO pasty) that I don't care THAT much but I'd like to be aware of the fashion sitch re this important issue.

TIA!

Definitely not fashionable
Has never been stylish

Absolutely acceptable though (guess what I’m wearing right now 😁)

I reckon it s a thing that’s never going to disappear now

Stop being complicit in the patriarchal judging of women on their appearance

I would disagree that fashion is always about patriarchial judging of women. How you alter your appearance can be influenced by two things.

I think 'showing off your best features' or 'knowing what suits you' or 'wearing your best colours' are about the male gaze and looking as 'acceptable' as possible. It's what make people not want to go out of the house without putting on makeup or dye their hair to hide the grey or wear clothes with the aim of hiding parts or all of their body. They are all things women do more than men.

But people also alter their appearance for display, to signal that they belong to a certain groups by wearing sports strips or band t-shirts or business smart clothes or wearing uniforms. Fashion is part of this display function of clothes, it shows you have money (a saville row suit) and knowledge of culture (not wearing unfashionable clothes). We all (once we have enough money to do more than just survive) choose how fashionable we wish to be and that signals to others where

posted too early!

that signals to others where we position ourselves in society.

Count Did Cleopatra not paint her eyes and bathe in ass's milk for softer skin? It's hardly a new thing. It's also been said that women mainly dress to impress other women, not for men. I am happily married and I don't covet the gaze of men at all but I still wear makeup, wear clothes that I feel comfortable in which I also like the look of, etc. I can tell you I don't for one second think about which male gaze I'm going to attract, and my DH sees me all the time without makeup and hair wild and old washed-out PJs on and I literally don't think twice about it (nor does he). Same for him when he wears old washed-out pyjamas but then dresses up for work or a night out.

With that said, I have a question: If you feel females dress for the male gaze, who do the males dress for, in your opinion? Why do they wear hair products and accessories and (for some) get their teeth whitened, have a spray tan, wax their chests, get their eyebrows tided up?

I am quite dressy and a bit of a magpie in that I love accessories, pretty stuff etc, but I always have done since small (and too young to be "attracting the male gaze" or even to impress other females, and in fact with me it's not a money thing (I don't care what something cost, if I like it I like it be it cheap or expensively branded - obviously I work that out to my budget though). Some people have a desire to express themselves though the way they dress - be it colour, shape, pattern, fabric, accessories etc.

I think a view that it's all about the male gaze and showing off your riches is narrow-minded and fairly sad. With that kind of judgement, what's the alternative? Should everyone wear the same sack of grey so nobody can be thought of as wanting to attract attention or the gaze of men or show off?

I knew lots would say no. I say yes BUT only if the right colour. Black leggings no unless a black dress and black shoes or sandal.

It’s the best solution in a uk summer. Sandals, leggings, dress. Sun comes out- leggings whipped off and Bob’s yournuncle

Also allows you to dress down a favourite ‘dressy’ dress that maybe you’ve worn too much to weddings etc. I’m all for wearing those and you would look less ‘overdressed’ with leggings.

I exclusively wear leggings under dresses.

I hate my legs
I suffer with chub rub
I feel naked in anything too short

I'm 33 🙂

I'm mid 30s and wear leggings and dresses pretty much every day. I can't stand tights - I'm tall, plus sized (and at the moment, pregnant) and can never find tights that don't need pulling up every ten seconds. They feel so restrictive and aren't practical with little children and cats!

God there's some nasty comments on here

sugar if you ever want plain black tights - "yours clothing" do some that actually stay put perfectly on tall, plus sized people. But only the single pack ones. The packs with two pairs in are utter rubbish - they have some stupid 3rd gusset seam that make them fall down.

I wear leggings with dresses all the time, usually skater style. I'm obese and I have horrible fat knees and get chub rub if I don't have something covering my inner thighs 😂

It's acceptable but not fashionable. I wear nude tights if I need leg cover or black if it suits the dress. Tunic and leggings is really quite unfashionable these days. Don't get me wrong, a very comfortable combo. I love wearing leggings around the house. But if it's style you're after then it's a no!

I saw a woman today in work wearing leggings under a shirt dress and she looked fab. A bit like this bit flat brogue type shoes not converse.

Also, whilst searching for the above, I came across these leggings outfits which I also like.

I think the more stylish black outfit is actually skinny jeans/trousers and looks pretty good. The other 2 are a bit frump for me - certainly not fashionable or stylish, even on beautiful leggy models.

I wear this combo a lot. Love it.

After reading the thread, I want to wear this! Got the leggings where can I find suitable dresses, in cotton or viscose?

If you want to look stylish, I would say ONLY with boots so you don't see the cut off point. With sandals or ballet style flats it just screams 'this is comfortable and it looks fine, I don't care about fashion'.

The compromise might be stretchy cigarette pants that are not stuck to the ankle, e.g. black outfit posted by origami. They can be very comfortable and even come with an elastic waist band.

I do with shorter outfits

No, I wore this look in my mid 20s but would not wear now late 30s. It’s too casual a look for me now and I much prefer tights.

I think it's like most things - if you are doing it looks fine and if you are fat it looks frumpy.
I'm fat btw and wear leggings because I mostly want to be comfy. As I get older I seem to care about this more than anything else.

Leggings tucked into boots can be okay. It looks really unstylish (in my opinion) when they're worn with flats and you get that gap of flesh at the ankle. I also don't get the concept of them as summer wear. Wearing skin tight black lycra under a summer dress on a hot day looks odd. Bare legs, or if you're not keen on showing of your legs, maxi or longer midi dresses looks much better, and must surely feel more comfortable.

But of course, as with all fashion choices, wearing what you want is the most important thing!

Like a PP, I'm over 50 and wear what the fuck I like.

And in my case that's tea dresses, leggings and DM's. Or in the summer with Ecco sandals.

I go through phases of wearing leggings with short dresses, usually at this time of year. It's a nice in between tights and bare legs. I have a denim shirt dress that looks good with leggings and my supaga trainers.......a comfy casual look which is practical with young dc. I don't think it has to look dated, so long as the dress/tunic/shoes etc you wear with the leggings are up to date. I agree with a pp that leggings look a little frumpy with a longer dress.

Again, like with anything, wear what you want, and also some people will look amazing some not so amazing. I wore leggings under dresses when I lived in the Middle East, I didn't fancy getting banged up for showing a bit of leg! 😂