Day 2: Are Leggings Pants?

No.  They aren't.  See this post on meggings for a quick laugh (or at least a smile.)

My rule of thumb is this:  Proportion is everything.  Incorrect proportions can make you too tall, short, or wide, too thin or too fat, pear shaped and sometimes upside-down pear shape (is there a name for that shape?)  Also, your pants should never be see-through, even if you are wearing a thong; don't ever forget the LuluLemon fiasco.  

Let's use the lovely pants and leggings from J. Crew:

And this:

Back to proportion.  Straight lines cut you in half, and the visual effect is never appealing.  Our bodies have shapes and fluid (but not straight) lines.  You can't do harsh architectural lines unless you have a stiff garment that holds its' shape (away from the body.) 

Simply ways to avoid these unflattering lines?  Pair the straight hem of a t-shirt or sweater with the curved hem of a button down or tunic (see above.)  Tuck a little piece of the shirt into the waistband or belt of your pants to break up the line, or leave it un-tucked in the back.  Baggy tops are best proportioned with curve-hugging pants (or leggings when appropriate.)  Skin-tight tops look fine with bottoms that have some weight - like denim (even skinny jeans - but no one should own a pair of jeggings, I'm sorry.)  Flowy, full maxi-skirts look best paired with a fitted top.  Baggy tops, baggy bottoms - hard to pull off.  Skin-tight everything?  Only in ballet.

My favorite way to wear a knit pant?

and a legging:

The debate:

Should leggings (or knit pants resembling leggings) be worn as pants?

31 Days of Styling Tips

Day 1: Introduction

Day 2: Are Leggings Pants?

Monday Weigh-In: Meggings

One morning I awoke to an email from my brother-in-law.  I must start off by saying that my bil and I aren't exactly......tight.  The message was simple:

Erin you have to read this for a good laugh.

http://shine.yahoo.com/the-thread-how-to/meggings-male-leggings-wearing-them-185200978.html

Was I nervous about clicking the link?  Yes.  It would be just like him to send me spam.  Curiosity got the better of me (it always does) and I opened it up.

The further I read, the more the satire bell rang.  Could you imagine having to ask these (surely they weren't serious!) questions?  And then the equally serious, yet all-pun-intended answers?!  Was the Digital Managing Director at Glamour stating fact, or insulting the British?  Obviously the answers to the question "Which male celebrity could pull off meggings?" is the best read of this entire article (don't miss it - it's good!)

The big Weigh-In:  Meggings (or jeggings) - yes or no?

Years ago I was seated in the third row for the Kansas City Ballet's Nutcracker.  Newsflash: The first few rows are always the WORST - unless you are in an intimate classroom setting and have terrible vision/bad hearing (that is the only exception.)  I wasn't at eye level with the stage, and I wasn't peering down at it either.  No, no instead I was staring up......usually right into the crotch of a prince.  Which would have been fine, had his jacket actually hit anywhere below his waist.  It's not that I'm a pervert - but I don't see it everyday and it's really really hard not to see shapes and bulges.  There I said it.  I'm not perfect, in fact I'm merely human.  I will try hard not to stare at your man parts in tights, but don't expect too much.