Leggings and dresses / tunics

[bellamountain]

So, this was my staple style for a long time, especially way back in 2008. In recent years I only tend to wear leggings if they are the sports kind wearing work out type clothes. The traditional black leggings, I just keep for wearing in doors. However, I'm being drawn back to wearing them again as they are so practical. I'm back to work now and a lot of my dresses are too short to wear bare legged but ok with black tights. But as it's summer, I feel leggings will be more suitable rather than thick black tights at this time of year? Will I look like a throw back with no clue if I wore a short dress, tea dress style, with black leggings and pumps/sandals? Late 30s, I am quite style conscious in other areas!

I used to wear this a lot a few years ago but I think a lot of dresses were shorter then. Now even so called mini dresses sit below the knee so leggings don't look as good.

Bluntly, yes.

Yes. It's divisive though!

I was thinking about this this morning! Quick peek on the school run suggests it's OK with cropped leggings. I'm going to buy some :-)

I still wear this for everyday / household chore type days - as you say, it’s really comfortable and practical and (perhaps as I’m in my 50’s), I’m very relaxed about wearing whatever i want to. However, having said that, it’s not an outfit I would choose to wear as a “going out” or a more dressy occasion, I’m now wearing calf length dresses or skirts with - sheep that I obviously still am - bare legs and white trainers.

Absolutely wear what you like - and I think people always look better in clothes that they are comfortable in - or rather that it’s hard to look good if you’re not comfortable. I don’t think there will be any style prizes for leggings and a dress - but that shouldn’t stop you if you want to wear it,

Well I am 28 and I always worry about my dress blowing up or showing my underwear, so I always wear leggings!

I wear them with sandals or with my vans. I've never considered it to be unfashionable

I have a lot of dresses from Shein, they have some lovely ones which look nice with leggings haha!

Its a very women of a certain age/1990s look. It looks like you are prioritising comfort above style or a more current look or something that takes effort. But if that doesn't matter to you-then wear what you like and own it. Make sure they are good quality and refresh them regularly. Bobbly and grey and saggy not a good look.

I am very tall so have to really search out dresses that are long enough so they can be worn without. But it is doable!

I'm a GP and leggings and tunics are my staple outfits on a day to day basis. Unless you move in the company of vogue/Harper's Bazaar type of people, no one really cares what you wear so long as they themselves look and feel good! Go for it.

Ps. I'm mid-30s and love clothes if that helps!

i really wouldn't... very frumpy

Being very much a member of the “bare legged club” for the summer months, l see little difference between leggings and tights. I always view leggings as tights without feet.

For me, they look and feel wrong with dresses. I want my legs to be free.

Honestly I don’t think it’s a stylish look, but it’s a comfy and practical look. It certainly doesn’t look terrible at all.

It is in no way stylish, and please cropped are even worse.
If your dresses are too short then give them away, far better that than wearing leggings, the only acceptable time to wear them are at home, exercising or in Muslim countries where showing your legs isn't the done thing.
Obviously everyone is free to do as they please, but don't kid yourself that it's a stylish look, it's comfortable, cosy, easy but never stylish! 😂 Just to add I have definitely wore leggings under dresses, mainly in countries where you need to be modest, otherwise I go bare legged, wear nude tights or use leg make up.

With a tunic I’d wear tight black trousers rather than leggings and I tend to wear quite long dresses.
This has made me realise I haven’t worn black leggings for ages!

Yes you will, but so what as long as you feel good

Honestly OP where what you want to...
MN will tell you its frumpy and yet all the S&B threads are full of the ugliest clothes from the most untrendy of shops, the world would be very boring if everyone dressed the MN way.

It's not fashionable, but it is comfy and practical. I prefer bare legs but when it's not warm enough I often wear leggings while wfh or when looking after my toddler.

Patterned tights, that's what you need to be a real throwback. Sort of round about 1985.

It's my look for work mainly - I'm a primary school teacher so leggings with tunics / short dresses is practical as well as comfy. If I'm not wearing that it's long dresses with boots in winter or white converse if the weather is ok.

Don't care if it's fashionable or not it suits me and hides my tummy beautifully

I’d only wear leggings and a long top round the house/walking the dog, not an outfit I’d wear out or to work.

If you don’t want bare legs but something cooler for summer get some maxi/midi length dresses or skirts, or culottes if you want something a bit more up to date style wise - but if you just want comfort then stick with what you like

I wouldn't do it these days. I'll wear bike sorts underneath to protect fro chafe and any unintended flashing.

I save my too-short dresses for winter, worn with tights, boots and a warm cardi. That look doesn't work with really summery fabrics and patterns though.

I only wear my leggings & tunics when my weight goes too high and I can't get my jeans on.

Well it's not a fashionable look, but who cares? When a style looks nice and is practical, comfortable or works well for lots of figures, a significant number of sensible, still stylish, people carry on wearing it anyway, whatever the fashionable types say.

Purely from a personal point of view, l fail to see how leggings or tights can be comfy in warm weather.

Aside from that, those who worry about showing their knickers have got something wrong. Aside from the fact that a glimpse of plain black knickers is hardly going to be noticed, let alone set the world alight, you really need longer hemlines and avoid doing cartwheels when out shopping etc.

Own it OP!

I am wearing a black and grey graphic Marimekko dress with pink sports leggings, pink lurex socks and pink birjemstock sandals. I have a black super dry hoodie on with gold stars on it (and yes I do have pink hair). I definitely don't look frumpy. I'm very happy, and warm, and if the sun comes out I can whip the leggings and socks off.

I also never wear trousers. I am a wierdo but honestly life is too short. There are quite a lot of very straight laced tory ladies in my village and they always compliment my hair and outfit, in my old age I've learnt to take that (as a younger women I definitely shrunk from wearing clothes I loved that stood out for lack of confidence, now I have "oh thank you!" down to a tee when old ladies say they like my hair)