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!

I think slightly cropped leggings, a nice tunic and ankle boots is a pretty nice look

Also, if you feel confident wearing it - it will look good!

I wear leggings under dresses i feel are indecently short. I never have or claimed to be fashionable but i think its a way more flattering look (for me) than midi length dresses, anything that ends mid calf is really unflattering on me. And maybe a but frumpy

Also it depends what you are doing- eg, sunny day at a theme park leggings look better than long dress getting in the way, or shorts that mean suntan lotion/ sticking to seats, or jeans too hot...but for a job interview leggings not good!

Wearing "fashionable" looks that don't suit you is the worst crime - eg midi dresses on me look mega frumpy and unflattering!

I am very happy with wearing unfashionable things if I like them and they suit me.

I also think it depends on the accessories. And also looks worse the more a-line or flared the skirt is. I only wear them with ankle boots so they look like tights, or with Converse under a slouchy cardigan and long top for things like baby classes.

Agree that a light or bright summery tea dress and metallic sandals just looks odd with a big wodge of black lycra between them and that lots of the above photos are of skinny trousers. There's too much gap at the ankle for leggings.

I think it's a bad look - very mumsy.

My friend wears them in the summer. But she is really fat, self conscious about her legs and her thighs sweat and rub together, so she doesn't have much choice. It looks better than without on her.

I like cropped leggings in the summer, but I find they are so difficult to find in shops! I actually need some for this summer, dunno what happened to my old pre-pregnancy ones, I was pregnant/postnatal last summer and didn't have any then. Any recommendations for where I can buy some cheap ones now?

I'm 67 and wear this look!

Any recommendations for where I can buy some cheap ones now?

2003?

@spanishwife .... hahahahahaha. I'm dying.

Sorry everyone.

Why are we still discussing this on S&B?!

Cos over five pages of the thread, the majority of people who have commented are in favour of the 'look'! Fashion is a weird thing in that it's totally undemocratic if what a majority of people think about something doesn't actually alter what is 'fashionable' or not. I guess that's really why I have no interest in it, it's a tiny elite group of people who are totally unrepresentative of society essentially dictating to the rest of us what we should and shouldn't be wearing, and at the top end of the pyramid, creating things that they know full well are completely inaccessible to us 'plebs' anyway, in terms of impractical designs, fits and sizes that suit hardly anybody, and of course the cost of the items.

I agree with @Snog. The worst fashion crimes are committed by those who are so desperate to wear the 'right' things (the stuff plastered all over Instagram) that they wear things that don't suit them at all. Far better to wear what you like, what makes you look in the mirror and feel happy and comfortable and confident.

The worst fashion crimes are committed by those who are so desperate to wear the 'right' things (the stuff plastered all over Instagram) that they wear things that don't suit them at all.

Yes, those cropped wide leg high waisted trousers are a good example. It makes my slimmest most gym toned friend even look frumpy and as for me, well...

Fashion is a weird thing in that it's totally undemocratic if what a majority of people think about something doesn't actually alter what is 'fashionable' or not....... the top end of the pyramid, creating things that they know full well are completely inaccessible to us 'plebs' anyway, in terms of impractical designs, fits and sizes that suit hardly anybody

Yep. That's fashion. Most people look terrible in midi length dresses - you generally need to be model tall with very long legs to pull them off - yet they are the current fashionable length dress to have. In the late 90's it was those ridiculously low rise jeans that only suited very slim women with very small hips and stomachs and looked awful on pears and apples (even slim ones) - thus looked awful on the majority of people - yet it was all you could bloody well buy at one point, because it was the fashion.

Haha at the ankle. I only wear leggings with white trainers or flats. I cant not wear leggings with a dress when I am in the park with a toddler. I hate tights, especially when its warmer outside but not warm enough for bare legs.