Lifestyle

How to Wear Leggings: Avoid These Style Mistakes

LifestylePublished Oct 26, 2010
By Sheri Reed
woman wearing leggings

Leggings are one the the biggest fashion trends for fall, which means you're going to see them everywhere you look. However, leggings are also one of those tricky styles that a lot of women wear completely wrong -- and one that many other women completely avoid for the sheer fear of wearing them wrong.

Don't fret. We've compiled the biggest legging-wearing mistakes to avoid here. That way you can get out there with the oh-so-fashionable ones and take on wearing leggings with style this season.

5 Common Mistakes When Wearing Leggings

Mistake #1 Leggings = pants

leggings see through black

Oh, this is a big one. The fabric on a proper legging should be thick so you do not see the person's skin peeking through. If you can see through the leggings, then they're probably too thin or they're tights, not leggings, and tights are NOT pants. In fact, it's a good rule of thumb to wear leggings as if they are not pants as well. Cause guess what? They're not.

Mistake #2 Tight top + tight bottoms

leggings cropped shirt

Many women try to coordinate leggings with cropped or tight, fitted tops. No, thank you. No matter how great you look from the rear, balance and layering are important when it comes to wearing leggings well. Let's think back to Mistake #1 and remember that leggings are more like tights than pants. Balance out form-fitting leggings with looser, roomier tops, sweaters, or tunics.

Mistake #3 The walking anatomy lesson

leggings not to wear

If we wanted an anatomy lesson, we'd go buy ourselves a Female Anatomy Doll, not go to the mall looking for women making Mistake #3. Wear leggings with longer shirts, tunics, or a short dress. Think mid-thigh length or, at the shortest, right below the hip and cover that rear.

Mistake #4 Disco revival

silver leggings

While there is probably some woman out there who can rock some silver, gold, or high-gloss leggings, let's all assume we're not her. When it comes to leggings, steer clear of the shine, which can show bulges or create them even where there are no bulges. Stick to opaque, shine-free leggings.

Mistake #5 Life is one big aerobics class

purple leggings

Life is NOT one big aerobics class, so please don't go around dressing like it is.

How to Wear Leggings -- the Right Way:

Make no mistake. Leggings are not just for women with buns of steel. If you wear them well, anyone of any body type can look great in them. Let's take a look some great legging looks.

__

leggings shirtdress

__With a shirtdress

long sweater leggings

With a long sweater

leggings tunic

With a tunic

leggings skirt

With a skirt

layers leggings

With layers

denim jeggings

And if you must reveal some rear, try denim jeggings

Are you wearing leggings this fall? What's your favorite way to wear them?

Images via sean_hickin/Flickr, silentfuzions/Flickr, Urban Outfitters, Crusher1978/Flickr, silentfuzions/Flickr, American Apparel, Banana Republic, Macy's, Lane Bryant, Bergdorf Goodman, Style.com, Gap

clotheshow to wear ittrendsfall/winter 2010
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