Can leggings ever be OK?

[NoKnickerElastic]

I'm 53 and am going to a festival this summer. My legs need some extra support so I'd really like to invest in some compression leggings but can they ever look stylish?! I'm really not into the 'white stuff' tunics over leggings, I think it's too dated for me. But how how else could I style leggings? Must I keep them hidden under a maxi skirt? !

Oversized shirt, sleeves rolled lots of bangles, interesting hat or headscarf. Cool trainers or chunky boots.

Nope. Sorry & I'm also in my 50s

I wear leggings with a short t shirt, socks and trainers. Sometimes a t shirt slightly tucked in. I don't care what anyone else thinks. I think I look great and am very comfortable. I am 52. I have terrible problems with my feet and ankles due to flat feet so can only wear trainers and high tops so my wardrobe reflects that a bit.

I wouldn’t think it matters at a festival, where comfort is paramount. It’s when people start saying they wear them to graduations and weddings that I begin to wonder.

I’m also 53. I wear legging to the gym. I can’t imagine dressing in leggings to go out, having said that, at a festival, anything goes.

I’m 50 & leggings are house-clothes for me.

I think some women look great in sports compression leggings. You might be one of them!

Depends how much bum you have, as to how you style them. I always think that legging-wear is relative to one’s derrière.

Claudia Winkelman manages to look fab in them, maybe she could be a source of inspiration?

Leggings with an oversized shirt will be perfectly fine at a festival. For them to work, they need something that covers your bum, ideally to about mid-thigh. Even an oversized vintage-looking band tee would be fine. One of my friends is your age and goes to loads of music festivals and her go-to festival outfit is capri-length leggings, Doc Martens and an oversized shirt layered over a long-line graphic vest top.

I dont mind them with an oversized tee or jumper and chunky boots/Converse.
I even have some patterned ones with flowers, plaid, skulls, etc. Although my personal 'rules' are to keep my tummy and bum covered and not to slide into athleisure (not for me!).
I dont think you could ever call them stylish but they can still be a vibe, esp if you are going for more of an alt look.

Thanks everyone, I'm formulating an idea of long ish band t shirt and a denim overshirt with a straw hat. Also large sunglasses in case I see anyone i know! My bum is as you'd expect at my age and size 14 so it'll remain well hidden!

As others daid, for festivals anything goes. But if you don’t want to look like max wall. Aim for something long like a t shirt or shirt. It will be fine. You can also wear a short skirt over the top, and if cold sure a maxi skirt also. The key to making it work is not just leggings from the waist down.

Are you meaning black leggings? I'm pushing 40, and everyone wears them, or jeans when on the go. You can team with trainers or boots. The festival look is supposed to be casual thrown together, not overthought. You'll look great!

Purely for practical reasons I would wear leggings in the evening/ night of a festival with a crazy dress over it to avoid getting too cold.

A few lagers in i no longer care...

I love leggings - they get undeserved hate imo. I wear them with a long fitted sleeveless t shirt and a long open shirt. Or with a long jumper. You can wear trainers or boots or sandals - everything works. So long as they are not see through, or skin tone or scrunch bum.
They do have to be decent quality imo.

I think leggings can look great sometimes, and I think the previous replies have nailed it. One of the mums at our school who I always think looks amazing and very stylish (if rather minimalist for my own personal taste) wore some the other day. Black leggings, black vest, long charcoal linen shirt worn open and loose, and DM sandals. She looked fab.

Im 49. For work my intimate leggings with a skater dress - often Apricot - and DM boots. I rarely wear tights as I hate them. Festival this weekend was hot. I wore wide legged loose trousers and vests. Could probably get compression socks under them - GP suggested my kids and me all get compressions socks. I never wear leggings with anything shorter than a skater dress unless I’m exercising and it would be sports leggings and a loose T-shirt.

ETA also a shirt dress with belt and chunky boots would work too. Patterned leggings and denim skirt or shorts might even work with chunky boots/DMs. Interest leggings as tights.

Can’t edit again - should not say intimate - should say something like my go to for work is leggings and a skater dress.

I see loads of women of all ages wearing leggings out and about where I live, I’d be surprised if you’d stand out wearing leggings at a festival.

@JaneLupin it's not about standing out, it's about wearing an outfit that I feel comfortable and happy in. And leggings are not that for me!

Have you looked at Llama Leggings? They are funky and would give support.
Llama Leisure - Leggings and Leisurewear share.google/zA0tjk9zwDjg6sg6D
Or you could consider jeggings with DMs?

Could you wear compression shorts and longer length denim shot?

Conturve do some fab plain black shaping leggings, I have worn them under sparkly mini dresses for festivals when it's been chilly ✨ if you feel comfortable, you will exude fab 😁

I wear cellumove compression leggings. There are loads of colours but the black are my favourite

You could wear them (or jeggings) tucked into boots with a long band T-shirt/vest and either a shorter open knit/crochet jumper (for a ‘90s vibe) or a waistcoat.

Edited to correct spelling to jeggings

Can I ask why your GP recommends compression socks? Ive never even heard of compression leggings and only heard of socks for after surgery or on long haul flights if at risk of dvt! In terms of wearing leggings though, I wear them instead of tights with short dresses.