How I learned to stop judging and love the leggings – Guest Post

Guest post by Dani Butlerson.

 
Around two years ago, when seeing anyone (usually women) wearing leggings, I automatically found myself sneering at them. I don’t really know why – it was just a reflex that I actually found quite uncontrollable, and I’m honestly surprised that it didn’t get me into any sticky situations.

You see, I hadn’t yet discovered the wonderment of the stretchy legging, or that of the faux-denim jegging. I know, I know; you should never judge a book by its cover, but I did. It wasn’t until I was clothes shopping and discovered the cutest Hello Kitty t-shirt that I actually had to own that I tried on a pair of leggings.

Since the re-invention of the legging (alas, none of us can claim that the 21^st century came up with the idea – just look at any of your family’s 80s photos and you’ll see the evidence) there has been a surge of tops and t-shirts that can only be worn with them, and this is what I experienced on that fateful day.

This gorgeous t-shirt was baggy and, suffice to say would have looked absolutely ridiculous if worn with any kind of boot cut or semi-flared trouser. It also happened to be handily located right next to a pair of blue jeggings; so I thought, ‘what the heck, no one will ever find out.’ And anyway, most people will think that they’re basically just very (very) skinny jeans!

I’m actually surprised at how well they complimented my… ‘shapely’ hips, shall we say.

 I guarantee that the following statement will make every legging-loving girl out there nod their collective heads: leggings are a gift from God. There is nothing, literally nothing that feels as good as wearing a pair of leggings. They’re possibly the most giving form of trouser available, other than those found in the maternity section, and they’re definitely off limits to any self-respecting non-pregnant lady (not that you can’t look glamorous when pregnant, of course!).

The best thing about leggings is the fact that they can be worn with anything. One of my favourite accompaniments for them is jumper dresses and baggy tops (said Hello Kitty t-shirt now being one of the many in my wardrobe). But they’re also great with shirt dresses, knitwear, long t-shirts, miniskirts and tutus. And, every kind of footwear can be paired with them; you just can’t go wrong with them!

     A busy pattern can even help legs to appear longer and more shapely!

However, one of my favourite reasons for wearing them is that they hide everything! Not feeling so confident about your spare tyre this morning? Get your leggings on. Feel like you need a bit of tummy control? Leggings, now. Fancy a lounge about the house in something other than your pyjamas? Leggings!