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 look like a throwback in certain things, but I don't give a shit. They're what I like and what suits me and I'm in my early 40s so I don't have to impress anyone with my on-point style

@BlueBellsArePretty

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?

I don’t have the legs for that dress, so wouldn’t wear it at all. Looking at the picture of the model in that dress, I don’t think she’d look better with leggings on, so that’s where my comment comes in. I don’t think any outfit is improved by adding leggings.

It’s just my opinion - you don’t need to give a fig about it.

Well it's certainly not considered stylish anymore. Wear whatever you like though - I certainly do but nowadays I'm more likely to just wear the dress and not worry about how my legs look.

Oh cack. This has just told me I’m even less stylish than I thought! I have fat legs and am very short, so long dresses make me look like a mushroom, and bare legs are a no no. Mind you, I’m also single and unattractive and middle aged and don’t think anyone has noticed what I wear for about a decade, so meh, dresses and leggings it is!

@bonfireheart

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.

Thank bloody god someone has finally said what I always thought. I absolutely detest Cos, Hush, Boden, Joules, Sea Salt, Fat Face and White Stuff. It is the middle class middle aged women's uniform on here. My mum is 71 and even she says these shops are clothes for old dears.

Personally, I'd go for the tights rather than the leggings. I'm not a follower of fashion. I wear what I like and what suits me. You could also look at chub rub shorts if you're worried about flashing your knickers but want to go without leggings or tights.

I wear footless tights with dresses a lot. I prefer them to leggings as they don't add bulk and look smoother without any seams. I also own them in a range of colours to go with my dresses. Couldn't care less if anyone thinks it's drab or not fashionable

@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)

You just sound amazing!

nordica - can you recommend a brand of footless tights ?

What IS fashionable these days? As far as I can tell, it’s summer dresses with elbow length sleeves or puff sleeves, but I’ve no idea what else. The 20 year old women around here are mostly dressed down in track suits.

Surely it’s sweaty to wear tights or leggings in the middle of summer? I’d invest in some longer dresses and if need be stick on some colour on my legs.

@Cattenberg

What IS fashionable these days? As far as I can tell, it’s summer dresses with elbow length sleeves or puff sleeves, but I’ve no idea what else. The 20 year old women around here are mostly dressed down in track suits.

If it’s warm but you don’t want to show your legs then culotte style wide trousers, or midi/maxi skirts with tshirts tucked in.

Or like you say dresses, bare legged if short or midi/maxi length.

All with trainers/converse - it all seems v casual style wise which I’m loving personally!

Yeah dressing down does seem to be track suit style trousers, I’ve got some camo ones

Thank you! I like the idea of dresses with trainers/converse too - I never find sandals comfortable.

I really don't like the tea dress with leggings look and thankfully haven't seen it for many years now. Why not just wear clothes that are suitable for your work and save the short dresses for when you are off work? Not many people wear the same clothes for work/leisure

I wear shorter dresses with leggings and either my chunky black DM sandals or my DM boots.

I like substantial but short shift and tunic dressed with leggings (I cycle). But not tea dresses or really lightweight floaty dresses of any style.

As other posters have said, it’s a dated look, but people should wear whatever they want to.

I just don't care anymore.

I stuck on a pair black sweaty Betty leggings under my summer mini skirt the other day and it just felt good and the sky didn't fall in on me and I didn't get any funny looks in my trendy area.

@catfunk

i really wouldn't... very frumpy

Ugh.

Ooh you're brave bringing up this topic OP!

I wear leggings instead of tights in winter (warmer, and I always wear boots so they just look like thick tights anyway). When it's warmer I wear cropped 60 denier footless tights which sit just below the calf. My dresses are mainly black or sort of 70s lurexy things with a bit of velvet here and there. Shoes wise it's clunky boots or occasionally trainers (Adidas Sleeks in leopard print).

The best dressed people are the ones that know their style and what looks good on them, find your style and adapt to current trends if you fancy updating your look. I personally love a pair of white cropped leggings and a tunic or dress.

Personally I'd wear whatever you want to once you are comfortable . Who cares what others think , surely the answers in this thread alone will tell you that you can't please everyone, so just please yourself

Leggings and a dress is fine. Just make sure you don't wear furry sliders.......but the abomination that is furry sliders deserves a whole new thread of its own.