The dress with legging look - can you wear it if you're over 40?

[ShellingPeas]

I wore leggings with style back in the 80s when I was young. Now I'm 43, still have a pretty good figure (size 8) and good legs but don't want to look like mutton etc... And I'd hate it if someone thought 'oh, nice from the back' and then I turn round and scare them!

So, dress/tunic + leggings - yes or no for over 40s?

I can't see a problem myself - its such an innocuous look. Its not like wearing tight short tops and those tiny jean shorts or wearing the floaty miniskirts that some girls wear now. It looks quite 'practical' to me, fine for the middle aged.

It can work but please make sure the dress has a shape and is fitted.

I was shopping this morning and saw so many women in variations of dress/tunic with jeans/leggings and with half of them - I couldn't tell if they were pregnant or not.

Personally I like dresses with bare legs or tights in the winter and I don't do tunics - too white stuff for me.

I'm doing rolled up chinos at the moment for this tricksy inbetweeny weather.

I'll do dresses when its warm enough for bare legs.

Quick hijack - Su - have you looked at topshop's new make up range yet? I got lilac nail varnish and glitter eye pencil for £10!

ooh
have lergy back on brow bone so should be careful
finbar got me the ELiz arden nihtt repair so am ysing that
me and LTEc are looking at

hold on new thread

I can't stand all this casual ageism. If it's a look you like and you feel good in it, wear it.

I can't see how, if you're a size 8, you're going to look awful in anything!

< hands Bibbity a tissue and adjusts stretch waistband >

I'll soon be 44 and am wearing a dress with leggings today and think I look very nice!

Yes I need to know this too.

Need some new clothes for spring/summer and asked DD's old teacher the other day (she is v v slim and young, well, under 30!) she said, oh yes you can wear it! I said, hmm yes, you can but can I??

I am not size 8 btw, more like size 12, tho toned up atm due to not being at work and doing a lot of aerobics/running!

Not black leggings btw, I don't do black, was thinking brown or jeggings.

I see SuS says no LOL @ "Smacks of indecision tho" I know what you mean.

oh no i cant do it
i loko like a twat
i am sure everyone else looks like marcel marceua great

RIGHT.

I am older than all of you (except BIWI ) and I said I didn't like black leggings because to me they are so reminiscent of the early 80s. I used to wear them all the time and I associate them with being a 20-something drama student.

No casual ageism here. OK?

i had benetton ones in the 80s
wool
dont htink there was lycra there

Wan't accusing you specially, bibbity!

I definitely wasn't wearing leggings in the early 80s. I worked in advertising and so it was all shoulder pads and sharp suits. Preferably in power colours like red and black!

Good God no to brown leggings - surely?

No, no, no to leggings altogether.

Depends on the legs surely - hefty calves, bad knees - defo no. My legs are good - gor the legs of a 20 yo, the face is another matter One of my tutors at uni is wearing the same legging she bought in the 80s. She wears them with short t shirt, brogues and socks. I do not recommend this look . I fink cos she's clever she thinks looking good is shallow. I am shallow and fick.

leggings - she has both legs covered thank god.

Bit depressed now as both Su and Janeite, both ladies whose opinion I value, say no.

What can I wear then? Thought you liked jeggings Su?

I'm wearing brown linen/cotton ribbed leggings with a linen/steel dress and it looks very pretty!

i do
i must admit i dont do the ditsy or maternity type fo dress well though at all
both look horrendous on me either dressy uppy or just 6 months gone.
i have good legs so wear trousers or short skirts.

dresses are a no no
so this affects me leggings choices

agree re pregnant look for tunic or dress.

Have tried on a few but that is an issue for me. Don't feel it is insoluble tho - just need the right cut surely?

I have decent legs and norks and a wobbly tummy. Tunics would be hideous on me. And leggings would make me look like either a weeble or a frogman. I go for fitted dresses eg like the silk Warehouse ones, or a pencil skirt for work. For weekends I like Gap curvy jeans (size down) or a denim mini.

I have quite wide bony shoulders and tunic dresses fall off them straight down in a satisfactory sort of way. I think the success of the dress/legging look depends a lot on your body shape.

yes and run out of patience
the ditsy poolyester florals no good either
this si a poor eg but you know the type

this makes me look like I am at Lowood

Yes if you don't go cheap and wear footless tights in a decent fabric and not cheap thick leggings.

yes i suit mroe formal or VERY casual ( t shrit style) dresses. or that fabbo wallis one from last year

frills are my problem
i dont do frills or fanciness