I'm in Grand Rapids, Michigan sitting in my hotel room as I write this post. Patti and I arrived at the airport at 5:30am yesterday to hit the road till Sunday and we're already having so much fun.
We're here at Zondervan as I'm speaking at their employees half day women's retreat first thing this morning and then we get to tour the Zondervan offices followed up by some meetings with publicity and marketing for my book that comes out next summer and then off to dinner and shopping with some of them.
Yesterday we spent the day shopping, too! Boy, I sure get to do a lot of that. Zondervan had a makeover contest so I got to help the winner pick out some new clothes and shoes...tough job I have, eh?
Anyway, as we were searching thru all the stores it is hard to miss that LEGGINGS are the talk of the town.
I remember when leggings were so popular I had them in most every color. I wore them with everything and probably even with things I shouldn't have! But I wore them...alot.
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So what is it about leggings that makes them so appealing? Well, for one, they suck in all your cellulite. They also keep you warm, dog gone it! But who should wear them? Really now.
Before we get into that let's not forget about tights cause they're everywhere, too. The difference between the two is that leggings have full foot coverage and leggings hit above your ankles. I saw both kinds everywhere today but the most popular are tights.
Leggings are meant to be worn with something loose and long on top. They come in all colors but mostly I saw black, brown and denim. For the life of me, I can't think of the name of the store where I saw them. It is in every mall and it caters to young girls. It's an accessory store and by the time I finish this sentence the name will probably come to me. I hate that when that happens. Okay, it didn't come to me. Oh dear, it just did...Claire's. I saw them at Claires for $18 and they're calling their denim leggings "jeggings". I guess that is jeans and leggings put together? Hmmm. Anyway, they're cute. For your daughters.
Most every department store has them including Dillards. Here they are in zebra print!
I'm more of a cheetah print girl myself so I just had to show you these. Fun and fab!
Both of those leggings are $19.
Now here's the thing about leggings. Yes, they are cute. Yes, they are trendy. Yes, they look adorable under a short dress. And oh yes, you will find them in the Junior department.
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Okay, I KNOW they're also in some of the other departments, but this is a trend I'd recommend you leave to the girls under 40. They also look best on thin girls.
Stick to tights.
Tights give the same kind of effect but without the "I want to be fashionable but not sure if these work for me" look. There's just something about wearing an item of clothing that I wore 20 years ago....seriously, that's when I wore them. Probably if you can remember wearing them, it's not such a good idea to wear them now...does that make sense? That rule might not apply to all things that make a comeback, but I have been looking around at all the women who are wearing these and if my opinion counts for anything, I'd recommend you stick with tights and leave the leggings for the younger generation.
If you insist on wearing them, just don't tell me. Sometimes it's better to be in the dark about some things, including your friends who wear certain items that you'd suggest they don't wear,
ya know?
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As for tights, if you want to buy only one pair this season, try these.
Now this is what I call versatile! They are reversible, chickadees! You can wear black one day, and brown the next! Or you can buy the pair that has charcoal on one side and black on the other. And still yet, you can get a navy/black pair. The best part? They have a shaper built in them...glory be!
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Happy shopping to you all!
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Would love your opinion on what you think of my take on leggings...
Love you much and Beauiful Blessings,
Shari
Inspiring girls and women to embrace their self-worth by connecting fashion and faith
10 comments:
I so agree with you on the leggings...best to leave them for the younger generation! I love those tights though...thanks for the info.
Diana
Thank you for the clever advice. I will now lay that thought down and not spend any more time thinking on shopping for some. They are cute on the younger girls though.
I really enjoy your site and the fashion advice. It can be so discouraging shopping now a days!
Blessings,
Lee Ann
encouragement-is-contagious.blogspot.com/
Thank you for setting the record straight about these leggings!! I just watched this whole thing about women in leggings and it didn't look all that cute to me. I did my share of the wearing of such things in the 80's and now I will bless my girls with the opportunity to rock out in them!! :) hee hee
Miss you friend! i know your busy but I'm praying for you. :)
Can't believe you're in GR! That is "somewhat" close to me.
Anyway, I am not of the younger generation - and I wear leggings all the time. I love LOVE them. They add a fun sass to skirts / dresses. I've worn leggings with flats and heels. Maybe I need to blog about my fav legging outfits to change your mind?!
I will say, there are some that shouldn't legging - from my client base, I can safely say that it REALLY depends on 1) your style and 2) your body shape. If the legging thing is fighting either one of those things, it simply will never work!
I was mourning leggings until I saw those tights from Spanx. Glory!
Yep, I agree with the "if you wore it before" advice..I wore leggings in the 80's when I was in my early 20's...no leggings for me now...but I love tights, and will definitely check out the Spanx reversibles!
The leggings look cute on my 11 and 13 year old granddaughters!
I'm a 30 something and wouldn't be caught dead...or alive in leggings! :) I have thin legs that keep getting bigger as they go up. No need to highlight that! :) Tights however are cute. I love wearing them with a skirt and tall boots. They help this Iowa mom stay warm even in a dress.
Love all your advice...and how you just put your opinion out there. I will be back!
Oh and I love the idea of reversible tights! Thanks for the tip.
As I was reading your post, I was thinking, "please don't tell me to wear leggings...please don't tell me to wear leggings...please don't tell me to wear leggings..."
And then BOOM...you disqualified the over 40 crowd. I'm 41. PHEW!!!!
I wore leggings in the early 90's. I have always been fit, but my legs are very muscular. Not long and skinny at all. Thus, leggings, even 20 years ago, didn't flatter my body shape as much as a great pair of jeans. Even as I look back at those old photos, I wonder what I was thinking.
So, I will happily defer to my daughter and her peers for the leggings.
Blessings,
Sandy
Hi,
Loved the post on tights & leggings. I am 60, never wore either:-) and won't begin now.
I grew up in GR area. My uncle worked for Zondervan's in sales.
The joke areound GR was if you worked for Z's you worked for the Lord and if you worked at Baker's you were payed:-)
Just found your site for the first time through P31.
Blessings,
Linda
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