There has been a long running feud between fashionists about whether or not it is OK to wear leggings as pants. But let’s face it: leggings are sexy. There’s no question about it. Maybe two years ago it wasn’t acceptable to wear them as pants, but we’re seeing it more and more, in all temperatures and seasons. Leggings make you look slimmer, and as long as they’re paired with the right tops, shoes, and – let’s be honest – underwear, there is no better way to make your legs look longer and to show off your booty.

Leggings As Pants – You have to Be Careful

Which leggings you are planning to wear depends on your style and, of course, your body type. Wearing leggings as pants is a tricky business, because you have to put a lot of thought into your back end looks – a lot of guys will be looking at it and if you don’t do it right, there could be some embarrassing moments. Make sure you check out your booty before you go anywhere! The leggings should be tight, of course, but not too tight – no one wants to see every curve and crack of your behind. Also, make sure that they aren’t see-through; if we can see through the material on your butt it brings too much attention to that area, and will almost certainly make you look as if you’re trying too hard. You want to accentuate your legs and let your behind follow naturally as something else nice to look at. Leggings As Pants

Also, the length of your leggings is important to think about. If you are blessed with long, slender legs, almost any length will work. From just below the knee for a cute sporty look, to mid-calf for a playful flirty look, to the more sophisticated ankle-length evening wear, any of these lengths can do wonders for slim legs. Someone with shorter legs, however, should avoid shorter leggings – especially mid-calf – at all costs. Ankle-length can make your legs look longer; but mid-calf draws the onlooker’s eye to the width of your leg, instead of the length.

Patterned leggings are another tricky factor to throw in. Most people prefer to stick to the more traditional black or brown, but there’s nothing wrong with trying to be bold by adding a little more umph! to your legs. You can wear leopard or cheetah leggings for a high class Jersey Shore look, but make sure you have the booty to back up the brazen attitude that goes with it. Breezy flowers or other cute prints work better on slimmer people, and often look best in shorter lengths. But the big no-no for everyday wear is metallic leggings.These are only good for midnights at the disco – and the ‘80s are thirty years gone! Wear with caution; but if you do decide to go this route, go all out with tall, thin heels, fluffy jackets, and lots of jewelry.

The material you go with is a lot easier to determine; this depends mostly on your personal preference. Fleece-lined or wool leggings are great for the winter and often lend a fashionable country mountain look to an otherwise boring outfit. Cotton is comfortable in both winter and summer, and looks great with almost any style. You can get pleather leggings, but you must be able to compliment it with a steampunk top – lots of zippers, straps, and even chains – and a sexy pair of boots. Avoid sheers, however, if you aren’t wearing your leggings with something that will cover your butt. Again – we can’t stress this enough – no one wants to see your butt through your pants! Leggings As Pants

To complete your leggings as pants look – wear the right clothes to compliment them! Let’s be brutally honest; a tight top with tight pants makes you look like an overworked L.A. mother who doesn’t know how to keep up with the fashion world but tries anyway. Never – this can’t be stressed enough – never ever wear a tight top with leggings! The most common way to wear leggings is with a loose, flowy top in the summer or a big puffy coat in the winter. Most shoes can look good with leggings – flats give a fun summery look to your ensemble while heels are better for a night out on the town. While knee-high boots offer a warm winter look – great with wool leggings and a warm sweater – shorter boots paired with black on black can be a little more classy. As far as shoes go, almost anything works but tennis shoes or crocs. Tennis shoes with leggings is the worst fashion faux-pas you could commit. And don’t forget the underwear! If you want to wear granny panties with your loose-fitting sweatpants to lounge around the house, that’s fine – but don’t take it out-of-doors. If you don’t want to wear a thong with your leggings, check and re-check in the mirror to make sure you don’t have underwear lines showing. Leggings As Pants

A final word of advice on wearing leggings as pants: have fun with it! The more you enjoy your style, the more others will enjoy seeing you in it. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different pairings of tops, shoes, and leggings – get a brutally honest friend to tell you what looks good on you and what doesn’t. And most importantly, be yourself. If you are uncomfortable in your clothes, other people can tell. Stick with your own personal style and you can rock just about any outfit.

Leggings As Pants