Leggings are back and boys are happy

 Leggings are a misunderstood item of clothing. For some reason they have a notoriously bad reputation among students and fashionistas alike. Lindsay Lohan’s ridiculous attempts at fashion design, which parlayed into a line of leggings, didn’t help matters much, but if you can look beyond that as well as the obnoxiously bright neon hues of the ‘80s,leggings are actually very comfortable, practical and yes, stylish.

Leggings are a staple in the wardrobes of most girls on our campus. It’s difficult to enter a USD classroom without seeing at least one girl wearing them. But it hasn’t always been this way. Just a short year or two ago, leggings were seen as trashy and sloppy - quite a far cry from anything remotely resembling cutting-edge fashion. 

Thanks to a few very successful runway shows last year, leggings are well on their way to repairing their damaged reputation. They are bigger than ever this fall season, coming in a wide variety of colors, patterns and textures, determined to make a statement and prove to us all that they are much more than a boring counter-part to hosiery. 

But first things first: if you want to keep that bad reputation at bay, it’s important to know the “wears” and “wear-nots” of leggings. 

Most things are a go. For example, leggings can be a pant in and of themselves. Wear them with t-shirts, jackets, sweaters, whatever you feel like, so long as you adhere to the cardinal rule of leggings: please only wear shirts that go past your hips out in public. There is nothing less flattering to any shape or body size than a shirt that doesn’t at least cover the top of the leggings. This look is better left for pajamas. 

Other than that, have fun with them. Put them under a short dress, wear them with flip-flops, flats or my personal favorite - knee- high flat boots with knee socks sticking out at the top. It gives a nice color contrast to the legging and definitely contributes to the layered/comfy/fall-esque look we all love. Leggings can also be incredibly chic with heels and a blazer. You can almost treat them like a skinny-jean and create an evening look.

But don’t get stuck in the basic black rut; there’s a variety of options in stores right now. From lace, to leather, to sequins, to colorful flower patterns - anything you can wish for, they pretty much have. La Rok has a pair of sequin leggings for $348, Diane Von Furstenberg’s leopard pair will run you around $115 and Rag & Bone even has a denim pair for $225 just like a jean, but far more comfortable and flexible. If you want something less expensive, check out H&M or Topshop for great pieces at great prices.