Is it frumpy to wear leggings under a dress..?

[MHA65]

I have a couple of nice summer shift dresses that I bought last year and then didnt really wear...they are slightly too short (Im in my early 50s and dont want to show too much lily white leg!) Can I wear them with leggings? This would get me around the blue white legs and being too short issues in one go! But no idea if this is considered acceptable! If not, what do older/larger women wear in the summer??

Never, ever let stereotypes of age limit you.

Leggings with dresses isn't a look I particularly like, but that's me. Go for it and enjoy it, because it is you

It reminds me of pregnancy, but if it looks good then do it. At least you'll get to wear your nice dresses.

I think its fine personally.

I hate the look, makes a nice summer dress look heavy and dowdy and sad. It also reminds me of when I was about 12 and everyone was wearing footless tights with anything and everything, and not in a good nostalgic way.

I wouldn't judge someone for it, and if you feel comfortable in it then go ahead, but you are on a style forum and this is my honest opinion on the aesthetic. A better option would be to embrace your pale legs (or fake tan/spray on tights) and wear some little shorts underneath so you don't feel conscious of accidentally flashing.

Where is the line drawn anyway between a dress and a long/ tunic top?

I wear this combo a lot - it's very UnMumsnetty but I have fat pasty legs and I like wearing dresses so... 🤷‍♀️

I do it, because I hate my legs!
For me the dress has to be above the knee though as I do think it looks a little odd / frumpy with a longer dress.

I like Capri length leggings under quite structured dresses in spring and summer. A good transition scores seasons too. But it has to be the right dress and right length (for me)

I really like dresses over wide leg trousers. Looks floaty and comfortable and summery. Leggings in summer would feel a bit sweaty and sticky.

I don't like dresses and leggings myself, but as long as you're comfortable, I definitely wouldn't think anything of it.

It's fine. It's not the most glam look but it's comfortable and practical and allows me to wear nice dresses without feeling self conscious or getting chub rub.

@Mugginyouleftrightandcentre

I wear this combo a lot - it's very UnMumsnetty but I have fat pasty legs and I like wearing dresses so... 🤷‍♀️

Me too! I am 38, with pale, cellulite and varicose veiny legs. I love wearing dresses! Tights and leggings make it possible and I dgaf if it looks frumpy!

Prefer tights but leggings are ok. Not the most stylish obviously but if it will help you feel comfortable

I do (in my 50s too)
I wouldn't want to expose other human beings to the sight of my bare legs!

I prefer a heavy opaque tight to a legging.

I do think its quite ageing or perhaps something that makes you look bigger then you are as it bulks you up/cuts you in half.

But i think the key difference is wearing it with confidence as oppose to to looking like you are covering something up-its the latter that make people do a double take. So if you like it go for it!

I wear dresses and leggings but that mostly as I work in a special school with a young age group, so for me it's practical and more comfortable than tights, plus I can wear sandals.

I do wear this combo of a weekend if I fancy wearing a dress, but I would wear tights instead also.

This would only be with shorter, knee or above length dresses.
Dresses that are longer, I just wear some cycle shorts under incase I accidentally flash anyone 🤣

I have horrible legs but in summer leggings and tights are too warm. Depending on where I am it will either be a longer dress or just fake an inner confidence and go bare legged. A wedge sandal helps to reduce the frumpiness of less than perfect legs.

I used to but not anymore (age 42). I think it's ok if that's what you find comfortable. For me I'd prefer now to choose tights or a longer dress considering I don't like my legs😜

I love it. I actually DGAF what anyone thinks about the way I dress. I have pretty midi/midaxi dresses which I wear with leggings, if the day warms up I take them off, when it gets chilly later on, on they go along with a hoodie. Wear them with trainers and no socks. We do a lot of camping so it works well for me.

If the dress is short enough I wear leggings underneath, with trainers, ballet pumps or flat sandals. I think it works better with tunic style dresses.

I prefer footless tights as they don't look as bulky. But wear what you like, there's no age limit on clothes. 😊

Fuck it, long live dresses and leggings. I believe in clothes that flatter and think it looks a whole lot nicer than fat, fake tanned legs, but each to their own!

It's not especially cool, ok, not cool, BUT if it means you'll wear lovely dresses, then do it. I have dresses that are a bit too short that I will only wear w leggings. Try cropped leggings? Also leggings can smooth wobbly bits out. I am slim but have porky thighs so I dont feel comfortable in things above the knee unfortunately.
Can we see the dresses?!

I go bare legged at work in the summer with cycling shorts underneath, but as soon as the weather turns the leggings come out! No fucks given!

I think it looks a bit silly. Either wear them with thin tights or dare to bare imo.

I couldn’t.