Legging It

The great thing about the internet is that it gives a platform to so many voices talking about a multitude of things that really matter. Controversial political opinion, exposure of oppressive regimes, first-hand accounts of war zones. These are the blogs that will change history.

However, on THIS blog, today, we are going to talk about leggings.

 LEGGINGS!

I realise that leggings are not a significant or earth shattering part of many peoples' lives (potentially less than 50% of the country - although they're missing a trick if you ask me). In fact, I've heard they're more or less on their way out -if not actually, you know, OUT- in terms of fashion.

But for those of us who like to wear dresses on cold days, those who always ladder their tights, those who want to be a bit warmer under their trousers, or those who are fitness instructors and are starting to get seriously depressed about their lack of day-to-day style options, LEGGINGS are where it's at.

This is how I chill on my breaks. Flexible hamstrings, non?

You can wear socks with leggings. Big socks and chunky legwarmers that make you look like the lady in Flashdance. You can wear them under shorts (shhh, you can, you can) and not have to worry about the condition of your legs, or whether the hem of your shorts is going to ride up over the "acceptable" bit of thigh. If you wear leggings with a scandalously short dress or a tunic top, it becomes a decent and acceptable outfit. Because, you know, they're ALMOST trousers. But not quite.

Leggings love YOU. Leggings will not make your bottom itchy if you're sitting on a plastic seat for an extended period. Leggings are sporty - you can squat in them and they won't rip right across your arse like a certain pair of combat trousers I once owned. Leggings are cheap and they go with everything. That is, providing you keep your bottom tucked away under a long top/skirt/dress. So people don't burn their eyes when they look at your rear end. Just saying.

These bitches be STYLIN'! (sorry, I don't know what came over me there)

Sadly, their cheapness may well be their downfall. It is not in the fashion industry's interest to have us salivating at a £12 double pack of leggos from Peacocks when we ought to be desirous of £150 Jigsaw slacks. Leggings are not a luxury item, they are worn by people who don't have a lot of money (of which there are quite a few at the moment), and those people are not deemed to be stylish, and certainly not aspirational. But I am standing firm against the tide that threatens to wash away my leggy friends. Goddamit, I am going down with this 80% cotton/20% elastane ship.

And I am willing to explore a million different varieties of leggings in order to fend off the frump factor and keep my legs current....

Summer of Love? Summer of lovely legs more like, thanks Topshop...

....ASOS give us leggings with heart (too cute)....

.....drop boring black and go for the colour du jour with some cheeky burgundies from Miss Selfridge....

...and finally, why bother with long socks alone when you can have FULL LEG AND BUM WARMTH and the appearance of a Japanese schoolgirl with these knitted Fairisle lovelies from River Island.

Legging lovers of the world unite and take over! (but please don't buy any jeggings).