History line of Leggings

Leggings in various forms and under various names have been worn for warmth and protection by both men and women throughout the centuries. Modern leggings are typically made from a blend of Lycra, spandex, nylon, cotton, or polyester blend, but they can also be made from wool, silk and other materials. Leggings are available in a multitude of colours and decorative designs. In contemporary usage, leggings refers to tight, form-fitting trousers that extend from the waist to the ankles. In the United States, they are sometimes called tights. However, the two words are not synonymous as the word tights refers to opaque pantyhose.

 

 

Leggings in the form of skin-tight trousers, a tighter version of the capris ending at mid-calf or near ankle length, made its way into fashion in the 1960s and were worn with a large belt and slip-on high heels or ballet flat-styled shoes.

Leggings made from a nylon-lycra blend (usually 90% nylon, 10% lycra) have traditionally been worn during exercise. Nylon lycra leggings are often referred to as bicycle or running tights, and are shinier in appearance than those made from cotton. Some have racing stripes or reflective patterns to further distinguish them as athletic wear and provide extra safety. However, beginning in the 1980s exercise-style leggings have also been worn for fashion, and as street wear.

Leggings made from cotton-lycra, or a cotton-polyester-lycra combination, are more typically worn for fashion, but are also worn as exercise wear. Cotton-lycra leggings are available in many colors, prints and designs; but black, navy and various shades of gray remain the most commonly worn.

Wearing black leggings under long, often diaphanous, skirts was part of a general fashion trend of wearing gym or dance clothes as street wear that evolved along with the fitness craze and under the influence of the movie Flashdance and the long-running Broadway show A Chorus Line. A more recent trend has been the wearing of black leggings with miniskirts. Opaque leggings are sometimes worn by women without a skirt. However, unless the woman is also wearing a very long top, her buttocks will be exposed. There may be a visible panty line.

By the early 1990s, leggings were actually outselling jeans in many parts of the United States. It was very common to see leggings worn with long oversized t-shirts, oversized sweatshirts or oversized sweaters, slouch socks and Keds. Fashion turned against leggings in the late 1990s.

In 2005, leggings made a “comeback” into high fashion, particularly in indie culture, with capri-length leggings being worn with mini skirts and dresses. Consequently, leggings are also now popular to wear with oversized, long sweaters, denim mini skirt, plaid skirts, short dresses and even with short shorts. Ballet flats and Converse Chucks are common footwear with leggings. This trend towards tight pants can alternately be seen in the resurgence of skinny jeans.

Men have also begun to wear leggings more often in recent years as long underwear, and for more casual physical activities such as walking, hiking or gardening, replacing the old standby, sweatpants. Leggings are also worn as a fashion trend by men on the London electro-music scene. At the Marni Men’s show during the Fall 2007 Fashion Week, outfits with leggings designed solely for men were introduced. Men’s leggings, dubbed “meggings” (as a combination of the words “men” and “leggings”) have been presented as the latest fashion trend for men at Spring/Summer 2011 fashion runways, supposed to be styled and layered beneath shorts and preferably with large, baggy, loose or long tops such as t-shirts.

Shiny leggings—leggings that have a shiny, metallic, or wet-like appearance—emerged as a popular fashion trend in the late 2000s (decade), particularly in 2008 as reported by Stylesignal and other trend forecasters. These leggings are most often a blend of nylon and spandex and come in a variety of colors, although most commonly in black, silver, or gold. These types of leggings are notable for their leather, or even latex-like appearance and are most often worn as evening or clubwear.

Shiny leggings were featured on fashion runways by many leading designers and were further popularized by celebrities such the Lauren Conrad, Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, Olsen Twins, Rihanna, Lindsay Lohan and Frida Sanden. Popular makers of shiny leggings include Members Only, Kova & T and American Apparel.

Jeggings

Jeggings are a recent variant of leggings. They are leggings that take certain attributes from jeans, such as colour and style and particularly a coloured seam down the side, thus a mixture of the two and hence the adoption of the name “Jeggings”. Some styles have even taken the jean-like look to such lengths as adding faux pockets and faux zip-flies to add to the look.

Legging-wearing women, fear not, leggings can still be worn. It’s true when you first see a trend, even if it’s a return appearance, you might say, “Nope, that won’t happen.” But as with many trends, as you see leggings more and more – If you ever doubted that fashion trends repeat themselves, think again. Leggings are an important layering piece for the fall and winter season. Designers paired leggings with ballet flats, and with Boots of any kind: slouch, knee-high, chunky heel, ankle boots, tall boots and high heels.