Leggings Aren’t Pants!

By Ngozi Ufere

Do you often wonder if certain celebrities take a step back to view their overall outlook in the mirror before stepping out of their houses? Surely they must know they are about to cause a stir of controversy with their fashion sense, or is it the case that they just don’t care? I ask this because I recall a picture of Kim K – which made rounds a while back on the internet – wearing leggings that exposed her butt crack. Now it is and should be general knowledge that leggings by its very nature becomes sheer when stretched to its limit, and we all know that the famous ‘behind’ of Kim K has the ability to do just that. But well…the celebrity world is a tad disturbing, so I wouldn’t exhaust my emotion on it.

In the real world however, slipups like this aren’t acceptable; it is every bit tacky and tastelessly vulgar to be a walking exhibition in that manner. I can categorically state that I’ve seen my fair share of eye-injurious wrongly worn leggings on some wayward fashionstas who sometimes go as far as wearing coloured panties underneath, which ends up in everyone’s face (cringes).

The world of fashion is built on certain rules. Inasmuch as these rules aren’t rigid and can in fact be broken because it comes second to personal style, within our personal style choices there are do’s and don’ts to always keep in mind. Having pointed this out, there is a right and wrong way to wear leggings and wearing it the right way can make a whole lot of difference. Let me tell you how.

Leggings aren’t pants, neither is it a jeggings! This happens to be the point a lot of women miss or choose to ignore. While pants can easily be worn with an above the hip t-shirt, cropped top (whichever way you chose to style it), leggings can’t because it isn’t made with a thick enough fabric to provide appropriate covering.

It has to be the right size. Leggings are meant to fit perfectly on the legs hence it cannot be too loose or too tight. Buying smaller sized leggings wouldn’t make you appear slimmer; on the contrary it will outline every ‘hill’ that needs to stay hidden. Loose ones will bunch over your legs and the point of it being snugly around your legs will be lost. Go for your exact size.

With leggings, colour matters. Except you aim to look like you are in the circus, stay clear of overly bright hues like; red, yellow, lemon green, etc. Instead, opt for neutral colours like black and grey (maybe white). If however you are a colour enthusiast, add a pop of colour with a bright coloured top to jazz up your look.

The last but most important point to note is; always pair your leggings with a long enough top. If you aren’t layering your leggings with a dress or skirt, your top must be long enough to cover your hipbones, buttocks and (especially) your camel toe.

Always remember to let the privates remain private.