Tights are in, but would men wear them?
In 1956 leggings made their way from the dancing artsy scene into the wardrobes of the likes of Audrey Hepburn instantly becowming a fashion statement. After disappearing for about a decade American socialite, debutante and heiress Edie Sedgwick, who starred in many of Andy Warhol’s short films, slipped them on again to show off her sexy legs. Slap bang and they’re on the trend scene.
In the early 80’s the spandex revolution hit the streets: the aerobics era was born staring big hair, headbands, and off course those lycra leggings.
Now in 2006, someone up there in the fashion heavens decided that the women were starting to look too trashy with too much sticking out of their ultra low-rise flared jeans, so they decided to dig into the past, for lack of new ideas, and brought back that sexy leg hugging look – bringing the pants up a notch to show only a small line of your underwear.
What do they look like and how do we wear them?
You’ll be spoilt for choice. They come in all colors and vary in length between right above the ankle to right below the knee, and everything in between. You can even find them in metallics like gold and silver.
These leggings can go under a short skirt, a dress or an over sized sweater. Big tops are all the hype this season. But don’t forget to wear your waist belt over your tops to give your body some definition.
The jeans are not only super tight, but are also tapered from the bottom. Known as drainpipes or cigarette jeans the color shouldn’t be underestimated. Darker shades of blue are more forgiving of course, but if you’re gutsy try the grey jeans that look fabulous on Kate Moss but most probably on no one else.
With skinny jeans any shoes match. It’s a common belief that flat shoes don’t look good with these jeans – not true. They work for both tall and petite women. But they are most commonly worn with high heels because the result is dramatically slimming.
If you’re going to wear them with boots, it makes life much easier. Remember when you had to fold up you flairs to fit into your boots? Well those days are over – now you can slip your boots on and off as easily as any other shoes.
The only shoes to be avoided are chunky sneakers. Otherwise most things go.
The sad truth
Very few people actually look good in skinny pants. If your legs look like tooth picks you can get away with it, but who wants to show off their tooth picks anyway? Although it’s a popular Hollywood notion that anorexia is hot, in real life it’s not. Ask Nicole Richie. The poor girl’s hair is falling out because of her eating disorders (no surprise after running around with Paris Hilton – the girl can apparently sing, dance, act and model. How can she compete?).
The bright side
Skinny legs and covered upper bodies allow you to get away with hiding that belly and love handles. If you haven’t done one billion sit ups this week don’t fret. No one can see your bulging tummy.
What about men?
In the 70s rock scene, men like Jim Morrison and Mick Jagger paraded the stage in pants so tight they probably cut the blood circulation. Nowadays it is unlikely that a “manly man would get away with pants up their bums.
Yet it’s a fact that all the big names in jeans (Levi’s, Diesel and Wrangler among others) are churning out tight and tapered jeans for men. An anonymous journalist in this office proudly sports a pair. He confidently says that men can wear them as long as they have the body. Unfortunately “they can be uncomfortable at times because they are pretty snug, he says.
But can you picture the men at the mogama’, the guy who parks your car and the waiters down at the local ahwa in skinny jeans?
