Leg Warmers: Yea or Nay

November 26, 2007 08:39 AM
Y-3 leg warmers

Like that other 80s trend, stirrup pants, leg warmers are finding their way back onto the fashion landscape. Y-3 showed big, bold colored ones on their Fall runway, Lindsay Lohan's been seen donning a pair lately, and well, heck, you can pick ‘em up now at Forever 21. But should you? That’s the question.

We must admit, they have a tiny bit more appeal that the still-ridiculous stirrup pant. At least leg-warmers serve a purpose (ankles get cold sometimes, right?), and add some texture and color interest to an outfit. Still, while this model looks pretty great in them somehow, most of us would end up looking schlumpy and well, slightly ridiculous. And for those of us that run to the petite side, they cut the line, which serves to make the leg only look shorter. Which would defeat the purpose of all those pointy-toed shoes we've collected.

So it’s a nay from where we’re standing (chilly ankles and all) -- rock some colored tights instead, if you want to have some fun. But what do you think?

~Angela

photo from Style.com

November 26, 2007 Di wrote:
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The legwarmers look great on that model, but on real people? Not so much. It gives an impression of not being quite competent enough for pajamas.

November 26, 2007 Ashe Mischief wrote:
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I love wearing legwarmers!  Particularly, in the winter, I sometimes enjoy putting them on under my jeans.  Because ankles DO get cold, and I find that it keeps them dry, keeps my legs warm, and provides a peep of color on a grey day.

November 26, 2007 Trendini wrote:
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you know what?  I am feeling these leg warmers...they tried to make it big a few years back but never reach optimal top trend of the season but maybe this year, they will be more successful!

November 26, 2007 MizHalsegan wrote:
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Yay if you are in your house, or somewhere else where people won’t see you. Or maybe if you’re a dancer. Nay if you will be out anywhere inflicting this look on others. These almost look like pants falling down. I didn’t like this look (or stirrup pants) the first time. I know I couldn’t pull ‘em off now! :-D

November 26, 2007 joy wrote:
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Yea when on an early morning bike ride, or maybe a winter run. They come off easily and can be shoved in a pocket or backpack once you get warmed up.

Other than dancing & workouts though, Nay!

November 26, 2007 princess_moi wrote:
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for some reason this season i’m luving the leg warmer trend. they are not only fun but are cozy also!

November 26, 2007 See wrote:
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I wasn’t sure about leg warmers until I saw a gal wearing them on campus. She wore them with a very simple yet chic outfit and looked super cute. I don’t think I could ever pull them off because I have chunky calves. But for anyone who doesn’t, I say go for it!

November 26, 2007 Mojo wrote:
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Depends on how they are worn. They are fine peeking out of knee high boots, but then again you could just wear high socks too. I personally wouldn’t wear them 100% visible with a regular pair of shoes because then it looks to costume like.

November 26, 2007 Deandrea wrote:
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legwarmers, nay

I’d like to see a stirupp skinny jean to wear with my boots.

November 26, 2007 Jay wrote:
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You know, I kind of like those. I just don’t think I’m funky enough to pull them off.

What’s absurd though, was the trend sometime about a year or two ago when teenyboppers were wearing them with denim skirts and flip flops. Now that just plain doesn’t make sense.

November 26, 2007 kelly wrote:
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Unless you are pencil thin or fourteen it’s a NAY!  Somethings like stirrup pants, Flashdance shirts and acid washed jeans are better left in the past!

November 26, 2007 Sara Tymon wrote:
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I think they look cute on young girls if they have a funky edge to them.  I myself am not young enough, do not have that edge, and am an even 5 feet, so I will never wear them.  But I’m not against them

November 26, 2007 Kirsten wrote:
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I remember overheating many days in 8th grade due to my rainbow stripe legwarmers (which we wore OVER our jeans...and with Bass Docksiders??).

November 27, 2007 Lisa wrote:
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Rock it - it only takes confidence and some creativity!  Fashion should also be fun.  If it doesn’t work out give them away for Christmas...etc.
L

November 27, 2007 cathy wrote:
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I think they are OK for the younger set.  They should have some fun.  I would never wear them and have noticed that in fact not that many people *are* wearing them.  They are a harmless trend.

November 27, 2007 Heather wrote:
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Yea - if actually dancing, nay the rest of the time. Lived through ‘em once, not interested again, although they were pretty fun in the 80’s!

November 27, 2007 Angela wrote:
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Yeah, Heather, I’m all about this rule: If you’re old enough to have done the trend the first time around (which I am), avoid it the second time around . . .

November 27, 2007 sweetcheekssia wrote:
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I like the look but what kind of shoes do you wear them with?

November 27, 2007 Skylar wrote:
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Complete and total HELL YEAH.

Leg warmers are super cute, very trendy, fun, not to mention SO warm!

They aren’t for self-conscious people, though.

My rule: If you keep thinking it looks bad, people will think it looks BAD.
If you think it looks good, you’ll be looking GOOD.

Leg warmers are way trendy.

November 27, 2007 Mel wrote:
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YAY!!! I’m a dancer at my high school, therefore obviously able to void the “if you’ve lived through it once...” rule, and I LOVE them!! Even my friends who aren’t dancers wear them! I plan on buying a set, each pair a different color, for my team as Christmas presents.

November 28, 2007 Kathy wrote:
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Yea if they’re cheap and you live in a cold climate.  I think this trend will be as fleeting as it was in the ‘80s ... blink and you’ll miss it. 

Unlike the ‘80s, the style makes a bit more sense now because girls are wearing them with skirts.  In the ‘80s, we wore them over our jeans, which just didn’t make sense at all.

November 28, 2007 budget babe wrote:
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YAY! they look gorgeous on the model above. if you think you can rock them, then you probably can :)

November 28, 2007 NYC_Minx wrote:
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Total HELL YEAH…
There are two times I think leg warmers look ridiculous… when it’s WARM! and when you wear them over your pants.

I’ve started wearing them, am not super tall, and am not on the skinny side, but I love them.

I even wear them to work. I wear my leg warmers UNDER my pants, get them to coordinate with my outfit, and that way I have a little peep of interest whenever my pant leg shows them.

I think it looks perfectly ok to wear with a dress, some tights, and a funky pair of shoes. It’s an easy way to create another layer of warmth that is sometimes to hard to do with the lower half of the body. Ankles DO get cold, and when they do, feet tend to be cold too.

I think they’re cute ANF functionally important in these long, cold winter months.

November 29, 2007 Tiffany wrote:
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I am “old enough” to remember when this trend was new, along with the other 80s trends. I thought they were ugly and useless then, and I still think so. They have the same usefulness as fingerless gloves. Ugh…

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