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!

@Girlwithkaleidoscopehair that sounds like an amazing outfit!

why thank you @riotlady ! I'd post a picture but, identifying or what ;-)

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.

True, but it's perfectly possible for a dress/skirt to be a bit too short for work, or to just show a bit more leg than you want to, without it being in danger of revealing your knickers.

High fives @Girlwithkaleidoscopehair
When I were a lass some time during the Jurassic era, I dressed like my mum which is to say very much too old for a middle aged lady so very very much too old for a teen. It was such a shame. Clothes are to be enjoyed. If you like leggings under dresses, there isn’t a law preventing you from wearing them. I like coloured footless tights under some dresses and love tunics and short dresses over trousers.

@Girlwithkaleidoscopehair

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)

That's the attitude to have!

Why do I even care..... what a mixed bag, I knew it would be....

I need smart casual office ideas.

I have definitely noticed it's a teacher trend, I guess for the practicality.

It's like black bootcut trousers coming back in fashion.... hmm!!

There is nothing wrong at all with wearing tunic tops or short dresses with leggings. Just because something is not vogue fashion doesn't mean it's not stylish. I wear my leggings with shoes with ankle straps or details like in the image which I think makes the leggings 'flow' to my feet more and keeps it looking kinda up to date. You could even treat yourself to the doc Martin sandals that seem to be very cool at the moment.

@BlueBellsArePretty I was going to say I saw someone wearing shoes similar to those with leggings today but she had a long t shirt on so it looked more up to date. I think that looks good.

I’m wearing a dress with leggings right now. I genuinely don’t give a shit if it’s not fashionable

It's not so much that it's not 'fashionable' (that's not my barometer of style!) it's more that it's just a very drab, 'given up' sort of look. That said, I can totally appreciate how practical it is in certain work settings.

To answer your question directly: yes, it does look like a 2008 throwback. If you don’t care about looking stylish/fashionable/up to date then it doesn’t matter. If you do then I would find an alternative.

I’ve never looked at someone wearing leggings with a dress and though ‘wow, they look nice!’.

MargotEmin

If the dress is contemporary and the footwear is contemporary I don't see how the inclusion of black leggings makes it 'drab' For example I've got the dress in the picture. There's no way I would go bare legged with it so I wear it with chunky sandals or boots and leggings, I don't think it looks 2008 🤔 Though if I wore it with ballet pumps, ott jewellery and a clinched belt then it would be a 00s look.

@BlueBellsArePretty

MargotEmin

If the dress is contemporary and the footwear is contemporary I don't see how the inclusion of black leggings makes it 'drab' For example I've got the dress in the picture. There's no way I would go bare legged with it so I wear it with chunky sandals or boots and leggings, I don't think it looks 2008 🤔 Though if I wore it with ballet pumps, ott jewellery and a clinched belt then it would be a 00s look.

That dress works because it has long sleeved.

It's the really summery strappy dresses which look odd with leggings in my opinion.

I didn’t wear leggings with dresses/tunics in 2008, so not about to start now.

I don’t think any outfit is improved by the addition of leggings. Image directly above, a definite case in point. If it’s too short / exposes too much leg / risks flashing underwear, then you probably shouldn’t be wearing it anyway.

Having said that, who gives a flying one what random old me thinks?? You’re never going to please everyone, so you might as well please yourself.

OP, when anyone tells you that they wouldn't wear leggings and a dress, look at what they're wearing, chances are they don't dress as great as they think.

SmackMyAss

**I don’t think any outfit is improved by the addition of leggings. Image directly above, a definite case in point. If it’s too short / exposes too much leg / risks flashing underwear, then you probably shouldn’t be wearing it anyway.

The dress is actually shorter than the picture, more like a long top, I think it looks quite good with leggings. So it shouldn't be worn in your opinion unless the wearer is going bare legged?

American Apparel lurex metallic leggings.
I'll just leave this here.

I have purple and black ones.

americanapparel.com/metallic-legging/

There is absolutely no reason why you cannot wear leggings with a dress at all.

I expect you would need the best quality leggings you can afford though, I don't wish to 'leggingshame' but you do see a lot of see-through pairs on women and it's not a great look...

If not wearing boots, you'd need to pick your shoes carefully. I like the idea of DM sandals, as a pp mentioned. Legging length probably makes a difference too - they may look better/worse above ankle/below.

So what do you do when you like a dress but you don't like your legs .... or at least certainly not bare.
It's tights or leggings surely?

@MiddlesexGirl

So what do you do when you like a dress but you don't like your legs .... or at least certainly not bare. It's tights or leggings surely?

If it was short and I didn’t want to get my legs out I’d wear it in the autumn/winter with thick tights and boots and a cardi if it was really cold, not leggings in the summer.

@ChiefInspectorParker

I think cropped (just below knee) in a colour that goes with the dress (so not always black) look okay because you still have the bare leg, so the proportions work. I do think longer leggings with dresses look quite dated at the moment.

No I disagree I think cropped leggings look just as, if not more dated than longer leggings, either are pretty dated imo.

@BlueBellsArePretty

MargotEmin

If the dress is contemporary and the footwear is contemporary I don't see how the inclusion of black leggings makes it 'drab' For example I've got the dress in the picture. There's no way I would go bare legged with it so I wear it with chunky sandals or boots and leggings, I don't think it looks 2008 🤔 Though if I wore it with ballet pumps, ott jewellery and a clinched belt then it would be a 00s look.

Love the dress, with tights/leggings & boots in the autumn/winter yes but I do think leggings & summer shoes or sandals looks a bit dated, I think it’s the leggings and summer combo.

Wear whatever you like - this is a comfortable easy way to dress so why not - fashion is for people with no sense of style

I wear my leggings with DM type sandals and a smock dress. Don't see the problem tbh. I wouldn't dream of wearing them personally with ballet pumps but they do suit others. My legs would look shorter wearing it with them.

Yes you will. It's practical though and I have been tempted many a time. But it's not a great look. Depends if you care.

It sounds like you need to scrap a lot of your existing clothes and start with a new silhouette? It's hard to update old things sometimes especially when hemlines and shapes have changed. You can always pack them away until they come back around!