ok, this leggings thing

[AnyFucker]

Although I am really too old for 'em I am intrigued

I am tall, slim, fairly flat tummy, with long legs, admittedly saggy knees but they will be covered of course. I have some long tops and boyfriend cardis to cover the bum area

I could consider wearing them if they were quite heavy duty, dark coloured, non-see-through material, came right down to my ankles and didn't go baggy

Has anybody of 40+ bought any and looked ok, and where might I find some like I have described ?

alternatively, tell me I am being silly

[AnyFucker]

no tsar, I have some old mid-calf leggings and they look naff

I am under the belief that ankle-length is the way to go at the moment

[AnyFucker]

but wtf do I know ? lol

[LetThemEatCake]

show me the gladiators.

How high up the ankle do the straps go?

[TsarChasm]

See, before mn I would happily waltz off out in whatever (possibly even humming You're the One That I Want as I went).

Now I'm too terrified to make a decision.

[AnyFucker]

oh bloody hell, don't have a pic of the shoes (and too late in the day to start searching)

I bought 'em from Matalan earlier in the summer

they have a cross-over strap fairly low on the ankle, are black suede with silver rivets and sequiny thingies on 'em

btw, my feet and ankles are tanned (legs too of course) and they do look good with my painted toes in a graphite grey colour

[AnyFucker]

I mean toenails of course

[tulpe]

If you want to wear leggings with heels, you can avoid Olivia Newton John look by wearing either a dress or a good length tunic (one which has covers ass, preferably to mid-thigh). I wear my ankle length leggings with heels but always with a mini dress or tunic over the top.

Also wear with ballet flats and flip flops.

[LetThemEatCake]

[Overmydeadbody]

AF I think the gladiators will be fine with leggings.

I wear leggings with flip flops or flat pumps, because I never wear heals anywy and am pretty sure I get away with looking ok.

[lepirate]

oh for slim legs, i would love to bung a pair of leggings on under a floaty long top or dress. it looks so cool, and feminine at the same time.

I think it's case of going for it af, and you will prob find lots of ways to wear them.

[noddyholder]

I wear lggings with casual dresses and ballet pumps and sheer footless tights with more evening type dresses and heels.I have some knee length ones too which are good with heels.

[fin42]

I am 40+ but tbh i only wear them in the autumn/winter with long jumpers, tunic tops or short dresses and boots so don't really have the shoe problem as I probably use them as an alernative to either very thick tights or skinny jeans.

[AnyFucker]

thanks all

might give it a try

fin, that is my vision of 'em too

[worriedaboutbuses]

leggings will have to be worn quickly and then discarded

it's such a cheap and easy way to dress they will be outre before you know it

or they will date you as a bit lazy and trying to cover up

so you have to dress up pretty nicely to not look like that

and buy really quality ones

they'll be school run clothes for two winters with huge sweaters and timberlands, regardless of whether they look nice, which they usually don't, or whether you look like everyone else, which you will

sorry to be a meanie

[AnyFucker]

aww

[deaddei]

Well I'm going to order the TopShop ones- I'm tall, slim, long legs- and 49 but wtf. I like long tunic style tops/boyfriend cardigans, and will be wearing mine with boots.
Come on Anyfucker,let's do it together!!! And if anyone laughs on the school run, just tell them to go bollocks.

[preggersplayspop]

I am fast approaching 40 and bought some recently and they are a relevation. They are so comfortable I can't believe I avoided them for this long. I'm pg at the moment so have some maternity ones from Debenhams and they never go baggy at the knee but have opened up a whole new world of dresses and tops that I had shoved to the back of the wardrobe and which I can still squeeze over the bump (and will do me afterwards too).

I wear them with glads or ballet pumps and always feel great in them. I wouldn't wear them as cold weather wear as I think they would look a bit like I had just got off a horse if I wore them with a jumper and boots (in my head).

I wouldn't wear them with heels, harks back to the first time I wore them I think. Sadly, I can remember wearing them first time around, though that time I had them in various garish patterns. This time I am sticking to black.

These are the glads, and if I say so myself they look great together!

[preggersplayspop]

PS while I hate the look of my legs without covering (ie saggy knees, pasty skin) and rarely wear dresses as a result, I don't mind the shape, and I think leggings solve this problem.

Only advice I would say would go for some which come down to ankle length, as calf length is not very flattering (especially if you have cankles like me)

[AmazingBouncingFerret]

I just bought some maternity ones from new look for a tenner. These ones are great, trouble is I hate wearing thongs and when I was at supermarket I was paranoid about VPL when reaching for things off high shelves.
I wear them mainly with slouchy boots, sandals or my little lace up pump things.

[worriedaboutbuses]

lol no one will laugh
all will be in them
they are comfy and cheap
sorry af but at least you are tall and slim so will look better than most others in them

[notyummy]

Oooh this a dangerous new world fo me. I am approacging 40, tall 10/12 but pear shaped. I am a toned pear shape though - lots of exercise.

Do you think I could away with them with a longish floaty top?

Have shyed away before on the premise

a. If you remembered it from the first time you are too old for the second time

b. Pear shapes and leggings = no, no

[tulpe]

notyummy......I am same age/shape as you and also wore them proudly back in the 80's.......

Its all about balance with a pear shape. Just make sure your top half balances out your bottom half - so nothing too fitted on top if wearing leggings.

Floaty tops/dresses should be fine. With sleeves would be best option but sleeveless can also be balanced out by wearing chunky bangles, a statement necklace or scarf and/or a cardigan - something which brings attention to your top half

Other option is to make use of all the slinky but wide jumpers that are out there at the moment - think Stella McCartney-esque oversized jumper. These will look fab on our pear shape with leggings because again it will give balance.

not exciting colour but this is the kind of shape I mean. Just make sure the length of the jumper is right. Nobody over a size 6 and more than 20 years old should be showing the tops of their leggings to anyone!

[Bleh]

I am glad we are having this discussion. Prompted by this photo I decided to buy some leggings (ankle length) but have only worn them once, and they are currently lounging about at the bottom of the laundry basket. I think the calf length ones can look cute, and look good under denim skirts. But the long ones, I'm stumped. I may just wait until autumn. I know that short shirts are OUT (they were only vaguely acceptable in the 80s, now they're completely wrong). I was thinking of getting a shirt dress maybe.

[tulpe]

Bleh I loved that photo so much the first you posted it on here that I printed it off in effort to give myself fresh ideas on how to wear my clothes (see other thread ).

Personally, I wouldn't wear a skirt that full - altho the length I think is fine. And I love the leggings with heels look. For me, I have always wondered what I would wear between leggings and shoe on cooler autumn days. However, I think seeing that photo shoes that a gap of bare flesh is fine as long as it is minimal. No?

Shirt dress would be fine, imo too

[Bleh]

Glad to help! Ah, to look like that on a daily basis.

Hm. I was wondering about full skirts. I have one which could go under leggings (it doesn't stick it, it sort of flops down), but will have to try at home. I think A Line skirts work (that seems to be what she's wearing in the picture).