Skirted leggings lemming: Dare I wear them? (Do I want to?)

Many of you know about my troubles with leggings. I do wear legging jeans in winter, tucked into boots. But I've never found a pair of actual leggings that I can tolerate. They tend to slide down on me, and I also feel like I am wearing pajamas. Not enough structure to them. 

Yet, I've been intrigued by this talk of the skirted legging from the start. It sounded as if it might be a great solution to my silhouette boredom in winter. I really love the mock version I concocted with the BR modal dress and tights, and I wear it quite a lot. So I was eager to experiment with the real deal.

But the EFs were too pricey for this Canadian (whose $$ has just plummeted.) Plus I got worried about reports of thinner fabric (wouldn't be warm enough for my climate) and I wasn't sure what size to order.

So when Angie showed the BlackFive leggings with faux leather panel and zip and Lisa ordered them and I saw how great they looked on her, I jumped on the bandwagon, along with Una

Now they are here. And...well... I'm not sure. This is way, way, way out of my personal comfort zone. I show them a few ways below. I've got different footwear on in different pics as well. 

The pros: thick warm fabric, as Lisa reported. They fit and I don't think they are going to fall down on me. Nice blue-grey that works with my closet. Faux leather is soft and actually feels nice! 

The cons: Having just had my birthday, I am now firmly in the "upper 50s" age group. And I have never in my LIFE worn a skirt this short. Does this qualify as age-inappropriate? Gaylene has a good test, something about sophistication. But I don't know how these read on me, or how I feel. Mixed, I guess is the best answer. And not sure whether to go out on a limb. Or if this is the limb to go out on. 

Also, they feel like pajamas...very unstructured. I am all for comfort....but I'm not sure I would go out of the house in these! I definitely want to hide my rear with an oversized sweater. Or wear a structured jacket up top. I do have a couple that seem to work with them. 

So. What think you? Do they move my style forward, or back too far to the teeny-bopper days? Are they sophisticated enough? A great casual look or a failed experiment for me? 

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114 Comments

  • KikiG replied 9 years ago

    Totally.  I'min your age range, and if I looked like you in those, I'd be ALL OVER THEM, as a cute, smart-casual, home and around town option that will take you right into spring as you can roll up the bottoms a bit and wear with a loafer or a flat when the snow melts.  Don't think of the "skirt" as part of the bottom, think of it as a tunic layer that begins at the waist.  

  • Aziraphale replied 9 years ago

    Suz, you know I am always honest. So I will say two things: one, your figure looks fab in these; and two, they are perhaps too juvenile.

    I am prepared for a landslide of dissent about the juvenile comment, but given your usual style, I don't feel like these work. They are not sophisticated to my eye. You are perfectly well covered, and your legs look great, but there's no getting around the fact that the skirt is micro-mini.

    If you loved them, it would be a different story. But you are waffling. I find that when I waffle, I should usually go with my gut. :-)

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    Hey triplet! I wore these out yesterday. I got my head around it by not thinking of it as a skirt. I don't think of it as a tunic either. I guess it's more of a butt vest for me, mentally. :). It's easier for me because I wear those mini down skirts as gear. But you have to own the look. There is no question you can wear these, so the only issue is whether you want to or not.

    Also, the skirt part made them feel very structured to me. Funny how different perspectives can be!

  • replied 9 years ago

    Well you know how I feel about them  :)  The difference between how are styling them here and how I wear them is that you are treating it like a skirt with tights attached - right?  I don't treat these as a skirt at all - and absolutely wear a long sweater (cardi or tunic-ish length ) to cover my bum .  The skirt piece is just a bonus little extra to me, not a skirt in itself.  

    That all said, who cares how old anyone is - I think you look very cute in them, but something's telling me cute isn't what you're looking for. I see them as edgy/rocker-ish rather than preppy, and style them accordingly .....but that's just me :)

  • replied 9 years ago

    Well, I do think you look really good in them Suz and I love how you styled them. I will leave you to go with your gut feeling as to whether you keep them or not.

    I just want to say this though... When a tunic is worn over leggings, I kind of see the leggings (as long as they are good and thick) as pants with a long top... but psychologically when I see skirted leggings my brain thinks of it as skirt and tights with a long sweater. So I think of it as a mini skirt. I think it's because a third piece is added to the mix.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Lisa, so how does one style them edgy-rocker? What am I doing wrong? The colour of the sweaters? (I do have a black one on in the last photo, but it's too fitted for me). And I am covering my butt with the tops/ sweaters -- so how is the styling different? What am I missing? 

    Or maybe I just look inherently "preppy." Whatever I wear. I do think there's a lot of truth to that. Which doesn't always make me happy -- I would like my style to be more ...mmm...maybe not "edgy" since I think that is impossible for me, but ..."sharp." 

    Una, "butt-vest" hereby goes down in the YLF anals of greatness. It has to be our new acronym. BUTT-VEST. I am killing myself. 

    And yes -- that is amazing to me. The skirt part makes them feel structured to you?! I guess in relative terms, it does -- compared to a regular pair of leggings. But not compared to legging jeans (for me). So obviously "woven" = "structure" on some level to me, personally. Hmm. 

    Elisabeth, THANK YOU. I am glad for your honesty. :)  I like that you call it as you see it. 

    And KikiG -- equally glad for yours. Not that the dispute makes my decision any easier. I guess I will have to wear them around the house for a while and see. Also see what Mr. Suz thinks. 

  • viva replied 9 years ago

    Okay ... you look amazing in them. The skirt is very short, and that might give me pause, so I get that. Im not sure I totally get the "butt vest" idea, but if you can wrap your head around Una's logic, go for it. :)  In any event, the leggings are clearly thick leggings and not tights, so this does not look like a skirt with tights to me.

    I like them best on you with the most sophisticated / structured tops, so 10 - 13 hands down. And with those outfits, I say definitely consider keeping.

  • replied 9 years ago

    I can't really help you.  I just wanted to weigh in and say you do look great, but it comes down to personal comfort.  I don't know if I could wear them, mainly because I would be the only one in my circle wearing them and I doubt my friends would see me as fashion forward, but rather as fashion victim.  

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    I think they look great too.

    FWIW, if I didn't "know" you, and you weren't torn, I'd have stopped it there. I'm with Elisabeth. These do not match your crisp and polished style. DETAILS. If they were woven, sans the zipper and a little longer - they would be a better match. So it's not the concept per se - it's this particular version of the style. Hope that makes sense. 

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Well here's my two cents worth... (half a cent if we're talking US money - lol!):

    You look fabulous in these. Your figure works well with the style. You are appropriately covered. You can definitely pull them off. You've styled them beautifully.

    But...(c'mon....you knew that was coming)...I'm not sure I see these as your style. Your style to me is preppy, sophisticated and elegant. I don't see these as fitting that. And if you don't want to venture out in them, they are strictly at-home-lounge-wear. Is that what you're looking for?

    I don't know Suz - I'm just not feeling these for you - sorry :(

  • replied 9 years ago

    Sorry - you're right about the sweaters covering your butt.  I was thinking though of the shirt tucked in and the turtleneck in pic 13 which looks waist length.  Just a vibe I was getting and not the actual look - interesting.  I'm not sure I can describe what I meant, because it's just our differences in overall style here.  I can't write and look back to the photos, as that's where you lose your writing, if you've ever done that here ( I finally figured out what made that happen by accident more than once) .  Anyways - I treat mine as casual wear ,and wouldn't go with a blazer or your (I want this sweater!!!) INC asymmetric sweater kind of a look. The soft cottony warmth of the leggings just read casual to me, and so my tops/sweaters are loose and casual too.  Yesterday I wore them with a long  black lightweight wool blend fluid pullover that had a banded bottom. It's tunic length though. I've also worn them with a big black oversize cardigan and black fluid tank.    I wear my tops quite a bit longer than you do .

  • Alassë replied 9 years ago

    FWIW, I like 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10 best. You do look great in skirted leggings, but... I'm thinking a mini-skirted leggings look is not sophisticated enough for your iteration of Urban Prince.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Sterling, that's a point I hadn't considered. I guess my circle is so varied that it's not an issue. My friendship group ranges from people in their 20s to people in their 70s and they wear all kinds of things -- from rocker chic to boho to arty to preppy to non-stop gear (fitness peeps). The only kind of people I don't hang out with are people who dress in corporate garb. If I go to meet friends they could be wearing any combination of the above and would all look quite different from me, always. 

    I am finding these responses fascinating and helpful -- thank you so very much for your honesty! Still not decided about them, but I really like the conversation. 

  • jackiec replied 9 years ago

    Oh, Suz, I've been wondering when you'd be able to try these on! I am 100% in the same boat as you with regard to leggings. I'm putting in the ol' college try with your Lysee leggings, and enjoying them. However, it has taken some getting use to. Also, I have a tough time with tops. Wearing a long puffer over top is saving me, so not sure how I'll style them in warmer weather - maybe not at all ;)

    You absolutely can wear these leggings with style. My favourite is, hands down, #5, followed by #11. I think #5 is best since the dark sweater runs into the skirt part, making it seem like a longer top. I'm not so fond of the tucked in looks, or where the skirt actually looks like a skirt. The skirt reads too short, for me. I agree with lisap's write-up, and would also still wear the longer tops (but gah those are also tough for me!).

    It's up to you whether you'll wear these, and enjoy these. They would be a nice change for your at-home look. At least that's how they'd function for me. Seeing them on you makes me realize that they'd be way too short on me, so  thanks for solving my problem (like it's all about me, right ;)....

    Hmm not sure if I'm any help. 

  • greycat6 replied 9 years ago

    They look great on you! To my eye, these are casual wear and I like your styling best that lean that way. For example, I like them best with taller boots, as opposed to booties. Something about showing less leg and the lug sole or heavier 'weighted' boot makes them work slightly better to my eye.

    However, if you are not feeling them, don't force it. You will end up with another closet orphan.  :)

  • Sal replied 9 years ago

    Mmmm I am with Angie and Aziraphale, it is not a figure or flattery thing, more a style thing.  I think you will have to work too hard to make them work for you, and that is not really what you are after.

  • viva replied 9 years ago

    So interesting. I love reading others' comments, which really help me figure things out.

    I like them best when they are worn with items that fit your "crisp" UP style, but that may not be showcasing this item (the skirted leggings) in the best way for them. It's hard because: (1) they are a great item, (2) they look great on you, but (3) they don't easily work with your style.

    Hmmmm.

  • Laura (rhubarbgirl) replied 9 years ago

    I like the one with the tucked in shirt the best. I think the proportions are better. But having to wear both a shorter shirt and a longer cardi/jacket with them is a bit picayune.

    I echo the hesitations of those that aren't sure this is your style. I mean, you've got a rockin' bod, you can totally pull these off, but it's kinda gear-funky, and I don't see you as a gear-funky sort of person in your WIWs. And the zipper would annoy me if they were loungewear only.

  • replied 9 years ago

    I'm not articulating well today. Well, any day for that matter.  Edgy/rocker are not the right words at all.  It's about it being less polished and perfect, and more relaxed and less styled.  Does that make better sense?  I think you are inherently polished and preppy , and it comes through even in this type of clothing. 

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Suz, my suggestion is to road test these a little at home. See how you feel about them tomorrow and the next day. It's AMAZING how much clearer our feelings can be after a few days of mulling things over. 

  • Gaylene replied 9 years ago

    Cute, yes--and you look better in these than most younger women who will be sporting this look. BUT, I'm going with Elisabeth, in saying it reads as very young look in my books, even when styled with a longer tunic top or sweater.

    These questions of "Is this too young for me?" are really tricky because they come loaded with assumptions, prejudices, and longing. Do you want to look young? Some people might find that a weird question because the idea of looking hip and youthful as the best, or even only, alternative to looking frumpy and dowdy can get programmed into our thinking. I'd like to thing that restraint isn't a negative if we choose it as opposed to having it forced on us.

    I'm mulling over a couple of ideas that I'm going to try to put into a future post that were sparked by my visit to an uber young and trendy hair salon last week. The 20-something stylists were all over my greying hair, pronouncing my decision to not color as--get this, MODERN. And, just recently, I also read the same thing in a couple of comments left by some youngsters on a blog that also deemed that their middle-aged mothers were out of step and their grandmothers were "hip". Joan Dideron as the face of Celine, and the celebration of other older beauties, make me wonder how channelling our younger selves really looks to another generation--or if the restraint and elegance shown by some of these older celebrities might not be another road? Those pictures of Madonna, as good as she looked in her customary outfits, didn't excite many on this forum. So, should Madge continue to channel her younger self or would it be more interesting to have her re-invent herself once again?

    Sorry if this was a bit of a high jack, but I think your question isn't really "Can I wear these skirted leggings?", but more "Do I WANT to wear these skirted leggings?" As a YLF star, you've developed a personal style that is envied by many of us on this site, so if you answer in the affirmative, you'll wear those leggings with the best of them. But, only you know why you are drawn to this look and if it is a direction in which you want to go.

  • replied 9 years ago

    Lisa, it's interesting how our essence always shines through no matter what.

    I think Angie is right Suz. Sleep on it and test them out more.

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    Mulling sounds like a good plan.

    I'm not feelin' the love for these either.
    I think it is a combination of length and skirt style. Since the "skirt" is tapered, I still see it as a form of skirt. Yes, I know tunics can be fitted and tapered,but they often are just a bit fuller and more obviously a tunic. So to me these read as a mini-skirt. Sure, there are no coverage issues as with bare legs, so it can't really be simply modesty, so  then I guess that does get back to "style" issues-for you specifically. And why they can work for some people but  not others.
    . I think I could see the exact same construction (leggings and attached skirt) if the skirt part were still well above knee but a little longer. Like a fairly short pencil skirt, something you'd not wear with nude leg at all.  I'm not sure I would see that as not your style even though it would still be leggings. Or maybe the pencil skirt shape is all wrong and you need something more like your knit dressess. Whether that means I've put you in  a style box instead of being open to experimentation, I don't know. 
    Do you have some regular leggings and tunic, especially asymmetrical, to try on to compare to see if that makes a difference? Because I don't think it's just leggings.

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    Suz, you did say "anals of greatness" on purpose, right?  Either way, best typo ever. :D

    Fascinating comments - off to reread!
      All the comments on why this isn't quite your style are making me reflect on whether and why they are a better fit style-wise for LisaP and me.  I mean, I am pushing 50, and now I'm wondering if I'm just a juvenile dresser!  :)  

    I love the asymmetrical hem sweater.  My next wear is going to be with poncho!

  • Lyn D. replied 9 years ago

    Hi Suz- they look pretty good.
    I find that usually when I am unsure it is a sign that the item is not quite right for my style and comfort zone though.

  • Mona replied 9 years ago

    I have never been a fan of leggings (skirted or not) so please take it with a grain of salt when I say that they just don't feel you. Like Diane G, I see them more like a mini skirt with tights rather than skirted leggings. 

  • rachylou replied 9 years ago

    Oh, that was my thought exactly - but of course Angie beat me to it :) These are too RATE for you, was my thought. You're just not sloppy and slouchy and shuffly enough, gosh darnit. Lol. Somebody did skirted cigarette trousers a season or two back. I think those would be sharper and more for your style UP style.

  • deb replied 9 years ago

    I will never be able to get "butt-Vest" out of my head now. Una, you are the best!

    Suz, personally I do not think they fit your style. Especially when you say you are uncomfortable in them. You do look great in them and I see why Una and Lisa can pull them off. They have the hair to go with the skirt.

  • Marilyn replied 9 years ago

    I'm not in love with whole skirted legging thing either.  I would rather see you in faux leather leggings with a long pullover or untucked blouse or plaid shirt.  Somehow that reads a bit more sophisticated to me but still a bit edgy. 

    With that said, you look great.  You are a gorgeous lady with a great body and pretty much anything is going to look good on you.  Like Angie said, give it a couple days and see how you feel.  You have to feel fab in them and not be self conscious about wearing them out.

  • Janet replied 9 years ago

    I'm not sure, Suz. I agree with the comments that they look perfectly fine, and even great, on you. You have the figure to wear them, no problem. But I am unsure about whether they mesh with your style as I know it. 

    What I do sometimes with things like this that cause me to feel unsure, is to put them in the closet for a week (return policies allowing). If I do not feel compelled to wear them in that time, chances are that they're not for me. 

    (An aside from my purely selfish perspective -- I am ambivalent about leggings anyway. I feel like these would actually work well for my style and my life, but I'm not so sure about figure flattery, since I have much more generous hips and thighs than you do, and my additional height would make them much too short. So count me as a little envious that you *can* pull them off. :-D)

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    I'm adding up the adjectives here for LisaP and me:

    Slouchy
    Shuffly
    Sloppy
    RATE
    juvenile
    cute
    gear-funky

    Yep, that's me! :D 

    Also, let me clarify Butt-Vest.  It's like a puffer vest - something extra that's an abbreviated version of the Real Thing.  This is not a real skirt.  It's a trompe l'oeil skirt.  I was completely skeptical of its wearability until I tried it, because my first thought is I would NEVER wear the skirt part alone, just as you'd never wear your puffer vest alone.   

    But there is a certain silliness factor in how it feels that has to be conquered to own the look.  :)

  • texstyle replied 9 years ago

    I haven't read all the comments but enough to not worry to post my real feelings. I think they are not quite right for you. You have an amazing figure and nothing to worry about hiding or anything like that. They just don't seem like "you" at all. You need to feel authentic in your clothes I think.

  • Dimity replied 9 years ago

    I've never worn leggings, but I thought I'd try some on the other day. They fitted nicely, they looked good, but they just weren't me. Something in me is just not that casual. It wouldn't matter what I wore them with, they just stand out as wrong for me. It's not my age, or my size, it's definitely a style issue, and that's what I see this as. I love your style and you've developed it well, but I'm not sure that these move you on in a direction that you want to go. 

  • kellygirl replied 9 years ago

    I love them with the asymmetric tunic. You certainly can pull them off--just not 100% sure about the length for some reason. Off to read the comments. 

  • Dee replied 9 years ago

    I agree with others that you look great in them but they do seem outside your usual style. The length is shorter than your DIY look with the dress and tights and generally shorter than I've seen you wear. And the fabrication does look a little more RATE than the preppy/crisp look of your usual style. If you are looking to branch out though, they look fantastic!

  • Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

    After I looked at the photos & before I read the other comments I felt some hesitation about these for you.

    Angie is wise - if I didn't know you I'd say they look great too. Experience has taught me that just because something looks good doesn't mean it should be bought :) :)

  • columbine(erin) replied 9 years ago

    I haven't read the comments yet so maybe I'll be an outlier. But I like your white and blue sweaters in general but not with these leggings. I liked the more sophisticated asymmetrical hem top instead. I thought that top would keep the leggings away from juvenile territory. You do have the figure for the leggings. 

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Thank you all so much for your comments. And Una, you gave me my second huge laugh of the day. ANALS.  Total typo!!!! ANNALS. Annals!!!!

    But if "butt-vest" joins the YLF lexicon, surely ANALS deserves to go down in YLF history as the best typo ever. ;)

    This is a fascinating discussion and is going to give rise to a new thread, I'm sure. I am really grateful that you are all being honest with me here. I will probably offer this skirted legging to another Fabber (no returns from here, alas...) but I am still somewhat mystified about what the problem with them for me is. 

    How come Una and Lisa are not "cute" or "juvenile" in this item....but I am? (Maybe because I look a bit "cute" and "juvenile" to begin with?)

    How come they read as RATE? To me, they are not RATE, exactly -- with the zip and the leather, they seem a bit more polished than some versions. Or so I thought. 

    Gear-funky I sort of get....although they seem a bit citified to be gear-funky. 

    It's funny. When I saw these leggings (on Angie's post and on Lisa and Una) I did not see RATE or "cute" or "juvenile" or "gear-funky" or "sloppy." I saw "cool" and "urban." THAT is what I was going for. But that seems singularly hard for me to create. Fascinating conundrum. 

  • Marilyn replied 9 years ago

    Well, I wouldn't say you are doing anything wrong.  It's just the idea of the skirt that throws me off.  For example, look #12 is killer and I'd love to see it without the danged skirt.  You have very shapely legs and can totally pull off leggings. 

  • Dee replied 9 years ago

    I don't think you look "cute" or "juvenile" in them at all. For me it's less of an age issue with the style than the style itself. Urban is probably a better descriptor than RATE. But between the fit, the zip, and the leather, they seem a little on the outside of your usual style range, whereas I associate urban/edgy more with Una's style. If you are looking to add more cool to your style, keep 'em!

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Ill throw in more two cents, Suz. This rendition of the skirted leggings look is not crisp. They work for Una because her style is not crisp - you are signature crisp. (I have not seen the style on Lisa). Your instincts about being unsure about the style straight off the bat are not unwarranted. 

  • Gaylene replied 9 years ago

    Ah, the perils of a typo or slip of the tongue. Brings back the time I was lecturing about the SIX steps in assessing a communication strategy to a slightly sleepy crowd of students nearing the end of a 3-hour evening class. Trying to rev up the energy level, I moved closer to the audience, raised my voice, and with great deliberation, and a pause for emphasis, uttered: " Now, if you don't remember anything else from this evening, remember that, in the final analysis, SEX is the important, most critical aspect of any strategy".

    A moment of utter silence while the group processed my statement, followed by an eruption of laughter and promises to never to forget my parting words. Class was over, but my words were repeated to every new group of students every year at orientation.

    ETA: And, regarding the skirted legging--on you, an Urban Prince, the dang thing reads as a mini-skirt worn over leggings. On Una, it could be a skirt--or a underskirt--or a butt cover--or something entirely new cobbled together by an UWP striding around in a Mad Max apocalypse. It's like the girl who always looks classy in jeans and a white t-shirt, while her younger sister always looks like a tomboy in the same outfit and their cousin wears hers like a bombshell Marilyn Monroe. We are what we are.

  • Marilyn replied 9 years ago

    LOL, Gaylene. :)

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Gaylene, that is HILARIOUS. From now on, you are YLF's official "sex-worker."   :)

    And yeah, there is so much wisdom in what you say. It goes along with Viva's post today. We are what we are.  

    In some ways, I'm much more comfortable with my inherent style than I ever have been in my entire life. And that is largely a gift of age. Not just because I'm now more comfortable with who I am. It's that "who I am" doesn't look quite as "cute" or "juvenile" simply because I am older.  I have always longed for that cool, urban look -- but could never ever produce it in myself. Well, I may not ever have it, but at least I look a little less childish in my prep than I used to. :)

    Still, I WOULD like to continue to evolve my style a bit. I used to think I wanted to go avant-garde. Until I realized that avant-garde draping and me are about as easy to marry as a cat and a potato. Then I thought "strict" was more what I am after. But I don't think that is correct, either. So...what is it? How to get that extra bit of urban without sacrificing who I am? Hmmm. 

  • Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

    THE best typo ever Suz. Do you think you being gamine-ish has anything to do with these not feeling right? Do gamines need crispness & drama because I think you look fab with both? They do look great on Una but her overall look is RATE & they work so well with her boots.

  • Dee replied 9 years ago

    Suz, I hear you on concerns about looking cute/juvenile! I'm in my early thirties and still get carded regularly (at least in the States). I am probably one of the few people who is excited about getting older for that reason. I am trying for a more urban look, part because of personality and part because I feel it gets me away from the gamine I tend to get if I wear classics more regularly. Interesting!

  • Eliza replied 9 years ago

    Suz- good for you to give these a go, given all the hesitation and all the possibilities. Can you wear them?  Of course you can.  

    That said, I think the real question is will you wear them and do you want to do so?  My first gut reaction was "they are not Suz".  They could be a new direction if you are looking for variety, but they don't seem consistent with your look.  I wear some things that are a bit out of my personal fashion "box", though one variable they do not tweak is my sense of self in a fundamental way.  Those are instant closet orphans.  You know the answer for you.
     
    I am off to read the remarks of others. 

     

  • Echo replied 9 years ago

    Some of the concerns mentioned already were the main issue for me when I tried them, so they resonate with me. I can wrap my head around leggings with a long tunic because visually it functions like pants and a top. Adding the "third" piece of the skirted part of the legging makes them function as a micro-mini to me, despite everything being covered and you looking great. Skirts that short in public, unless one is going clubbing, are just not appropriate to my (quite possibly old-fashioned and antiquated) eye.

    And to me there is a razor thin edge between acceptable short skirt length and too-mini, and somehow this one falls on the side of too short. Age has nothing to do with it, as you look fab in almost anything. I think my hang-up is simply that it looks like you are wearing a micro-mini and it doesn't function to my eye as one cohesive piece. But that could easily be my own stumbling block and not yours.

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    I think you are plenty Urban, Suz. Perhaps it's the playful aspects of your style you want to evolve. 

  • replied 9 years ago

    Alrighty - I have to step back in . Pardon me, I was busy for  few hours getting more EYELASH EXTENSIONS !  HAHAHA.  Anyways, Una- speak for your self with your adjectives :)  I'm not quite sure I fall into the RATE and sloppy and young category - but perhaps I do and just don't know it :)  

    I am using every ounce of self-confidence not to get freaked out about the notion I may look really ridiculous in these and not know it. But.....I don't think I do.  This whole leggings issue really amazes me - in that so many women think they are inappropriate and too juvenile for anyone older than , what, 30?  I'm not offended by this at all, only curious.  

    I do not treat this article of clothing as a mini skirt with legs attached,. It is not a mini skirt, full stop. BUTT VEST is the best term ever, and it's EXACTLY what this is!  I do not feel like I'm wearing a skirt, nor am I.   

    Anyways, this is not about me. It's about how inherent style dictates how things look on you.  You can't be who you are not. If I posted a picture of myself with a plaid shirt tucked into a sweater, you would all die laughing, and I guarantee it.  It's an attitude too, and I think if you aren't comfy in them, it will show.  I am not a buttoned-up , tidy and crisp dresser at all, but I do dress appropriately for my age and attitude. I have fit, toned legs, a reasonably funky modern haircut and am completely comfortable in easy-movement clothes like this.  I'm also not all that tall, so the skirt is not a mile above my knees. Anyways - I think I'm reacting a bit to all of this leggings-are-so-horrible talk . Sorry :)   

  • Marilyn replied 9 years ago

    I hear where you are coming from, Lisa. No need to be sorry.  For me, it's not an age thing at all.  I'm sitting here in black leggings with an untucked plaid shirt and I'm 51.  I feel completely appropriate and happy with this look.  I do not hate leggings...in fact I quite like them. I like many things that women my age are supposedly too old for....like destroyed denim.  And I don't give a damn.  If I like something I'm going to wear it. 
    It's the skirt part that I'm not keen on. But we all have things we gravitate towards and things we aren't keen on. If you like something and feel good in it then go for it.  I think the thing with Suz is she was feeling unsure about the skirted legging from the get go.

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    LisaP, ha!  I'm not lumping you in with the likes of shabby me. :)  I'm a year from 50 myself and also don't want to be seen as dressed too young. At the same time, I want to wear what I like, and I was surprised to find that I do like these.  So I agree wholeheartedly with what you've said. 

    Note that there was not a giant resounding chorus of love for my wearing these either, and that's okay.  I was grateful for those who did chime in, and for an unexpected K from Angie.  Clearly leggings (skirt or no) are polarizing.  Those who love them love them.  Those who don't have their reasons, and I'm fine with that.  In that vein, if anyone felt they were too young or somehow awful on me, please don't hesitate to say so kindly - I do not want to be the butt-vest wearing emperor.

    XO

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    And Suz, I think you are totally urban - just not Dark Urban. 

  • replied 9 years ago

    Una - thanks - and I'm well over 50 and not trying to hide it.  I do not project the image or attitude that is more often identified with women my age. Many  people are quite surprised to know how old I am .  I still don't think I'm mutton dressed as lamb though. Anyways - you looked absolutely perfect in yours - appropriate and authentic and yourself. Which is the way it should be!  Suz looked great in hers, but her discomfort was visible in the photos.  Clothes needn't be overthought - that's where it's not fun anymore.

  • Astrid replied 9 years ago

    Suz, you have a great figure and can totally wear these, but to me these aren't "you". Looking at the pictures I thought there was some sparkle in your eye missing - one that you usually have when you wear your fab outfits and we can see that you feel great in them. I don't think it's a failure if you decide you are going to give them (or anything really) a pass. On that note - I like what Gaylene said.

    (I hope that wasn't too direct.)

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Okay...now I am going to get picky. IS my discomfort visible in the photos? Honestly? I actually LOVE the idea of these things. I was hoping they would work, big time. And trying to make them work. 

    Oh well. 

    And Lisa -- I am also one of those people who is absolutely not trying to hide my age -- but not afraid to dress youthfully (if that is what it is.) Like Marilyn, I will wear distressed denim with ease. (Despite my polished, crisp persona -- distressed denim is just fine for me! -- another reason I thought these things might fly.) 

    That's why Gaylene's question almost doesn't compute for me. Okay -- admittedly -- I do dye my hair. But not in an attempt to hide my age. It's more pure flattery. When my hair is sufficiently grey to look truly grey (and not just washed out blonde) you had better believe I am GOING there. 

    I don't "want to look young." I DO want to look current and ...dare I say it..."cool." 

    Okay, maybe I will never look cool. So I want to look...with it? Sharp, I keep coming back to...

  • Joyce B replied 9 years ago

    Maybe I am missing what everyone else is saying and I like them on you but of course you have to be comfortable in them. I like them with the dark colored tops and I love them with the asymmetrical one.
    As I said before, maybe I am missing the point but I think they can look great with OTK boots.

  • Marley replied 9 years ago

    They look fine on you Suz - 

    I'm just not a fan of leggings with a tunic, so it stands to reason that I'm not going to be a fan of leggings with a mini skirt.  They remind me of a little girl who's wearing pants under her dress to keep her legs warm when she goes outside to play!
     
    However, I can see how these could easily fit into a lounging capsule - so maybe if you decide that you don't want to wear them out in public - you could just incorporate them into your lounging capsule?

  • Mona replied 9 years ago

    Yes, sharp, youthful, current and might I add confident and very comfortable in your skin. In these outfits, you are (in your own words) out of your comfort zone and it is showing. However, I think Angie is right in saying sleep on these a couple of nights and see how you feel? BTW, what does Mr. Suz think?

  • replied 9 years ago

    You DO look sharp. I wish I looked as sharp as you.  Wear these leggings with a lower contrast top, your Aquatalia motos (perfect boot for these), some heavier jewellery (or none) and play around with your makeup a bit. Maybe a small tweak like that would help you 'feel" it.   I should stop commenting here - it's like an accident I can't look away from !   Ack - not you, the whole issue, rather !   

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    I think you just answered your own question, Suz. Your current style IS sharp. These particular skirted leggings are not sharp. That's why I perceive them as a step back from what you want to achieve. 

    Lisa, I'm sure you look great in leggings, and dress them appropriately for your style. 

  • Karie replied 9 years ago

    OK, first of all, you look totally fantastic in these, every version. I love them. I would love to try them. But...I view it as a skirt, and like you, I've never worn a skirt that short, ever. I can see your hesitation, and I would have that same hesitation. It is definitely a different style for you, and is it where you want to go? Maybe it's where you want to go - edgier, more urban - but perhaps this still isn't the right piece for you. Or is it just an age thing? If you were a decade younger, would you wear it or would you still be hesitant because of the short skirt?

    Everyone here on the forum who's worn the skirted leggings, I have loved that look on them, no matter what their age. It's been a style that suits them. I just don't know that it's a style that suits you, and I think you are unsure of that as well. Think on it for a few days :)

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 9 years ago

    This is possibly getting off topic here, but I was thinking about this earlier this evening: why does a look have to fit with a person's usual / perceived style, anyway?

    This idea was on my mind because yesterday, I wore a pink velvet boden jacket and did the preppy look, and today it was black and allsaints print. They are both me in different ways (and both involved grey jeans though not the same pairs.)

    I don't think you need to stick to your typical classic/crisp style, Suz. I am newer to the forum and I have never been exactly sure what urban warrior prince is, anyway. To me it somehow implies a Prince Valiant look, which to me is shorter straight hair and leggings and a tunic. hmmm. Isn't this it?

    I like the legging skirt on you, particularly with the asymmetric top and longer cardigan. I also jumped on the legging skirt train; I have to be in a certain mood for them though -- they won't be a daily reach-for.

    And FWIW I like the skirted leggings on Una. and Dashielle. And Firecracker. I might like them on LisaP, too, if she showed them to us.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Good for you, for trying these, Suz. I like 6, 11, and 12 best. If you are going to mull them over at all, I would say try wearing outfit 6 for a day and see what you think. It looks the closest to your usual style while treating the skirt part more as an extra layer, rather than as a skirt. For me, the problem with the look for you is that you've styled the garment mostly as a skirt with leggings attached. Una's butt-vest idea is crucial, to me. I think of my skirted leggings more as a built-in layer that I can use in creating an arty multi-layered look. That's how I feel they can work for me. But your style isn't typically arty, multi-layered, so I wouldn't be surprised if the way I'm envisioning them might not work for you.

    p.s. I wonder if the gray is actually contributing to the problem of melding this garment to your style. Would black look more crisp?

  • replied 9 years ago

    edited

  • dashielle (Ann) replied 9 years ago

    I'm with UmmLila on this one Suz. You look great and if you're looking to branch out a bit, I say go for it. Sleep on it (well, not literally), look at your feedback and make some more outfits. I'm sure it seems as though I "doth protest to much" but I like a little flexibility in how I dress. Yes, RATE is my core, but some days I feel preppieish, and I can rock the corporate vibe as needed. I don't feel remotely immature in my skirted leggings, but like Una, I think of them as more of a pelvic vest, or loincloth (I'm going to throw in the parts I like to cover too ;-)). I don't at all consider them to be a skirt and honestly, at least for mine, since it's all black, you can't always tell what all's going on down there, lol. I'm beginning to wish all my skinnies came with flaps, hey, maybe I'm on to something!

  • Gaylene replied 9 years ago

    Wow, these skirted leggings are polarizing, that's for sure!

    Maybe it's time to seriously put some thought into where, when, and how you'd feel confident and appropriate in your skirted leggings, Suz. That might give you a better sense of how this look would fit into your life. I think the ladies on the forum who love their skirted leggings have this figured out but their lives and personal styles aren't necessarily the same as yours.

  • Marilyn replied 9 years ago

    Suz......Your comment about colouring your hair struck a cord with me.  I use a demi to blend in my grays and occasionally people question that like it's not necessary.  But, I'm a brunette and those gray hairs pretty much stand up and yell "hey look at me...here I am".  I colour because it's more flattering now and I often say I'll happily go gray if my hair decides to go all the way. :)

    I hope you're doing ok.  I think this thread was probably a bit hard on you.  You say you love the leggings and wanted to make them work.  Take a few days and see how you feel going forward.  I sometimes flip flop on my clothes on a daily basis.

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    Suz before I read the comments I will say you have styled them beautifully - BUT I think they are too short for your style. Not your age, not your figure (which is fabulous), but for your style. I will soon read the comments and see if I change my mind.

  • claire replied 9 years ago

    I'm going to try and throw in my two cents worth, in a convoluted way, so bear with me.... I was in the EF store again (third time, I just want to move in there), a girlfriend wanted a pair of the skirted leggings after seeing me wearing them non-stop. Seems I've started something in my neck of the woods. Anyways, she has your style, suz, more preppy, crisp and clean, rather than my shlumpy, I mean boho arty drapey whatever (although I do feel right at home in EF, I seriously could move right in). Anyways, she tried them on and they didn't look right on her at all. Then the SA went to work, unbuttoned her shirt, pulled it out, switched out her cardi for a bigger drapey one and made her look like me! She bought them and I haven't seen her wear them once since. I've been wearing mine (literally) every day. They work with almost every sweater I own, as a butt vest (love that!), or a shirt extender, not a skirt. I wore them today with a poncho and got stopped in Sephora by a guy asking if he could take a street style photo. That was a first. As much as I admire and covet your style Suz, I could never ever pull it off. I guess what I'm getting at is, maybe these just don't feel right to you, even though they look great on you?

    ETA: and I'm 50, as age seems to be a factor in some of the discussions!

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    Well that was a wild ride through the comments! I laughed, I winced, I reconsidered the pictures, I thought about taking you shoe shopping! Shoes are my solution for you Suz. I have a one track mind.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Thank you so much, everyone -- I am really enjoying this discussion! Please don't worry that I'm hit hard, Marilyn. But thank you for your concern on my behalf, which is really kind. I think if I hadn't seen these as a calculated risk I might be more upset, but truly, I am not. Bemused and puzzled but not hurt. I really like that people are being upfront and I also find the reasoning extremely interesting and helpful to me as I try to work out what it is that isn't working with these for me. 

    In the end I think it comes down to the fabrication more than anything. It's really, really soft. And that makes them feel like loungewear. To ME. I don't think they look like loungewear. On anyone. 

    Gaylene sensibly asks where I would feel okay wearing them. Well -- IF THE FABRICATION WERE A BIT DIFFERENT (ah...that telling "if") I would feel okay wearing them to meet friends at a pub, to go to a book club meeting or a meeting of my poetry group, to buy groceries, to drive my daughter to her various classes, to go for a walk (in the right weather -- probably not right now), and to work at home -- in short, to do just about any casual activity that I might otherwise wear jeans to do. That's sort of how I saw these -- as a jeans alternative. 

    Back then, I didn't realize they were also a loincloth/ butt vest. Ha!! It took the tutelage of the YLF UWPs to teach me their hidden mysteries! But maybe this explains why I am so ANAL about them. ;) 

    I would NOT feel comfortable wearing these to meet completely new people for the first time, to go to the doctor, to give a presentation, to teach a class, to go to a funeral (gah!), to lunch with my 90 year old mother, to run for office (not that I plan to), to go to a religious service. But you know, I do the things in that first list a whole lot more than I do the things in the second list. Which is why I ordered these. 

    Ah well. It's a great learning experience for me, and I thank you all for your opinions. If there is one thing that's clear, it's that skirted leggings are even more polarizing than unskirted leggings. :)

  • Marilyn replied 9 years ago

    Darned leggings!  Always making trouble. :)

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    Suz, I hope that you do take a fresh look at these in the morning. Maybe you should sleep in them ;).

  • shiny replied 9 years ago

    Suz, I'm right there with you. I got my EF's a few days ago. I couldn't wait to wear them out. I paired them with an oversized asymmetrical cashmere sweater (a NAS purchase) topped with short puffer jacket. Proportions were just right, I liked how it looked in photos. But then felt totally seasonally confused, wearing them out in winter weather! My lower half froze! I contemplated maybe putting fleece leggings underneath, but the skirt is still the same lightweight jersey. And yes, I felt like I was wearing gear on the bottom, with street wear on the top. 

    I am KEEPING them regardless .... for loungewear, weekends (long walks/grocery store/movies), non-business-related travel, and for warmer temperatures/climes. And I will probably pair with a cotton tee or knit top or cotton sweater of similar weight.  I think a trendy sweatshirt would look adorable with these too. 

    I think pairing my VC ruched midi (which is self-lined) with tights and tall boots was actually warmer than wearing these. But when I tried that experiment, I was still too cold (and that was when it was hovering around 40-50s). 

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    I'm not sure that I can add anything to the thoughts that have already been articulated here. I opened this thread thinking "yes! Suz has joined the bandwagon!" But was instantly not so sure you had... Much like others, I'm not so sure these are you, even though I love them ON you. Then I got sucked into the comments, fascinating. And hilarious. :).

    But dare I say, I don't find you've styled them as leggings, rather you've styled them as a skirt. Do you have any sweaters or tunics that are pretty much the same length? Your burgundy cardigan perhaps? Firecracker had some great examples of this... Using the skirt as more of a tunic extender than an actual garment.

    Wish I could go back and look at the pics, but don't want to lose what I've typed.

    Just a thought....

  • sarah replied 9 years ago

    What an enjoyable thread. Perfect for keeping me from all the work I need to get done this evening.

    OK. It's the back view that has me saying, 'no way' for myself, and I don't think that you and I are that far apart in age or style. All I can see is "super short mini-skirt" from the back, which would make me feel extraordinarily uncomfortable out in public. I realize that you're trying to figure out if they work for YOU, but I thought I'd lay that out there in case it resonates with you. I get Angie's emphasis on structure, but honestly the deal breaker for me would be the mini-skirt resemblance.

  • Vix replied 9 years ago

    Hi Suz --

    I read through all 71 replies before I logged in to see the photos.

    I haven't seen the skirt on anyone else yet, so I had a bit of an "ooooooh, that's why this particular version is pretty polarizing re working for Suz."

    You know how tennis skirts read as either flirty or sexless depending on who's wearing them and what else is involved?

    I feel like this skirt will read either saucy or IDGAF/blase depending.

    And since you can't *possibly* do blase, and with my bad memory I can't recall you doing a lot of wink wink/saucy outfits, this seems like WOAH. ;)

    Personally I think it looks great and could be fun if you're looking to loosen up more in a visual sense. I'm more in love with the fairly streamlined monochromatic or tonal variations *or* the artier ones; both of those seem more of a cool urban casual look for women with some mileage on them (us!). The big wooly and plaid + uber-covered doesn't scream flirty to me and I say go big or go return. 

    ps in summer we SO need a classic tennis skirt thread. I used to live somewhere where women 40-85+ seemed to wear them everywhere but the courts [I kid] and no one batted an eye. 

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Wow Suz, don't you know how to start a popular conversation on the forum or what?! :-) 
    I am right there with you (as you could have guessed already). I liked tyhem in Angie's post but had an inkling that they are NOT right for my style. You and Angie just explained why - not crisp enough!
    So here are my 2 cents. Yes, I can see that you styled them as a skirt and it feels too short and juvenile - for your style, not for your age. Agree.
    There are suggestions to focus on a skirt as a tunic extention- in  other words let it make your tops longer for that "butt vest" effect (Una rocks!)
    However I am sure I will have a problem with making this work for me and very possibly you will have a problem too. For me it is the legging thing. I don't feel good in them now - period. As you said - too soft, too launge wear -like. I would always go for my ponte pants and tunic if I need to tuck into tall boots but not leggings. Ponte pants are more structured and dressier - and crisper. Leggings are not. You got your navy leggings from Nordstrom - do you wear them a lot?
    I flirted with leggings for a couple of years after joining YLF and came to the conclusion that they are not for me - aside for exercising or wearing with a sweater dress as house wear. I suspect you are the same... 

  • SarahTheWhite replied 9 years ago

    Ok wow, this is quite the thread! I haven't been able to read all of the replies, just skim, but I can't resist chiming in just to throw my hat into the ring. :-) While I do think that you LOOK fabulous in them, as everyone has confirmed, I agree with many that I just don't see the Suz that I know from other posts, and it's not about whether they look too youthful on you. I looked at the photos one by one, several times over, and what struck me first was that you didn't look comfortable. Not that you didn't look good - just not your normal confident self. It wasn't until the second to the last photo that I went "oh, there she is!" The last two photos look the most like you, in my opinion. I think that those renditions bring some of the sharpness into focus, and the polish that makes me think of you - and they seemed more sophisticated. But even if you can find ways to style them in ways that suit your style, it really boils down to how you FEEL in them. There is nothing better than feeling comepletely at home in your own skin... or jeans... or leggings. :-)

    Meanwhile, Thanks to Una, I am never going to EVER be able to wear mine again without thinking about "butt vest". That may be the best fashion phrase of all time!

  • Aziraphale replied 9 years ago

    Oh my! I replied to this thread in the morning and then was gone all day. I've just popped back into check it, and it appears to have metastasized!

    Suz, lots of good advice here. I'm glad you appreciate honesty. Like I said, it's not that they look bad (on the contrary; you've got the shape for it!) so much as they don't really look like 'you'. I thought it was because they were a little juvenile for your style, but others have pointed out that it's their slouchy, gear-like, non-crisp integrity that may be the problem. 

    Also, I feel like I should respond to those of you who like the skirted leggings. They could, possibly, work for some women, and anyway it's never a good idea to make blanket statements because I inevitably find an exception and then I have to eat crow. :-)

    LisaP, you said 'This whole leggings issue really amazes me - in that so many women think they are inappropriate and too juvenile for anyone older than , what, 30? I'm not offended by this at all, only curious.'  Actually I don't think regular leggings with a tunic are inappropriate for older women -- I bet the right seventy-year-old could wear them well, if she got the details right. I think skirted leggings, on the other hand, can easily be a very youthful look. I stand by what I said before: they are not sophisticated. It reads as a streetwalker-short skirt, whereas a tunic reads as a long top. However, If that youthful integrity works with your overall style, you're good to go. Goldie Hawn could probably wear skirted leggings even now and look right. I, on the other hand, would not. :-) (And although I haven't seen you in your pair, I have no doubt you know what you're doing).

    ETA: but to clarify, wearing skirted leggings does not make one look like a streetwalker! Because of the thick leggings. And the fact that you don't wear them with 5" stiletto-heeled OTK boots. ;-)

  • Gigi replied 9 years ago

    I haven't read all the replies thoroughly, but my first thought was that this item is at odds with your usual style. I would not call it sophisticated. I do think you look really incredible in them, though! 

  • replied 9 years ago

    Sex, politics, religion,and now leggings.  Who knew?  

    (topics to avoid at the proverbial dinner table) 

    Note to self:  do not get sucked into conversations about leggings, earrings, puffer jackets, and jeans.  

    Good night everyone !  xo.

  • SarahTheWhite replied 9 years ago

    LOL, Lisa! The fashion dinner table... :-)

  • replied 9 years ago

    This tops any awkward conversation I've had with my sister-in-law at the Thanksgiving dinner table . Streetwalker? No one here is wearing them with OTK 5 inch heels and never did.    I'm going to bed now and pretending I didn't read that. 

  • Aziraphale replied 9 years ago

    Lol! Lisa, you know I'm joking, right? (Of course no one is wearing them with 5" heels!) Even though I have not seen you in your skirted leggings, I am ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that you do not look like a hooker. ;-)

    What I mean, though, is that if you took away the leggings, it would be an indecently short skirt!

  • anne replied 9 years ago

    I love you in them in almost every iteration. I don't think you look uncomfortable and I do think they are fine for those occasions you envisage.

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    See, these are just about as thick as my Kut ponte skinnies. Instead of a fly and pockets, there's a zippered skirt, but same difference to me. I am enjoying this debate a lot.

  • deb replied 9 years ago

    I am with shevia, shoes are the answer!

  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    Suz, I have purposely not read the other comments so I don't know if I am swimming with or against the tide:)  You look perfectly fine in these, but I really don't see this as being congruent with your style.  You dress like a very cool grown up, and these are just reading way to juvenile for some reason.  I am struggling with the length too.  You have great legs, no issue there but the length just doesn't look right for you either. Forgive me!

  • Style Fan replied 9 years ago

    Suz I have not read all the comments but I have read about the "butt vest".  Too funny.  I am close to 60.  I am still getting my head around that number.  I would totally wear a "butt vest".  No problem.  I love the look.

    To me you don't look comfortable in the look.  You can carry it off physically but not comfort wise.  I hope that makes sense.

    I searched all over Toronto last week for skirted leggings.  None to be found.   I will have to wait until I go south and pay in US dollars.  Not looking forward to that!

  • Claudia replied 9 years ago

    Suz, in my opinion, and as Angie and others have stated, these are simply the wrong pair of skirted leggings for you. That's all. They are just way too short given the cut and fabrication.

    I hope that you will try these again, possibly in something like the sleek longer tappered pencil skirted, and black EF version. They may not be thick enough for the dead of winter, but I would bet you'd get a lot of wear out of them during other times of the year.

  • viva replied 9 years ago

    This is a thread for the YLF Hall of Fame.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Well, this thread has been amazing. Thanks so much for indulging me, everyone, and weighing in with opinions, whether yay or nay. I should have had a "vote" button, too. That would have really amped it up! Not that we needed anything to get us fired up and going.

    My daughter was giving a presentation in class the other day and was looking for a topic that people would take sides on so she could get some discussion going. Too bad I couldn't tell her: Talk about BUTT VESTS!! 

    And don't be "anal" about it.  ;) 

    These leggings are not for me. Una, I was so interested in what you said about their thickness being equal to ponte pants. You are absolutely right. And yet...they are so much softer than ponte pants. And that's the difference. For me, I mean. 

    Fascinating to ponder. This gets right down to stuff we're not even conscious of, right? The textures/ feel of different fabrications...I mean, we know instinctively if we like the feel of something and usually either grab it or avoid it for that reason -- but to think what a big role this plays in overall style....

    Anyway, if there is one thing that makes me sad in this whole debate it's that I don't think I'm going to have a new silhouette to play with. Because PANTS under a dress absolutely does not work for me, either.

    I've discussed it a zillion times with Deborah (who is expert at it). For me, I can't get past the "bunchy" feeling that woven pants under any kind of skirt or dress seem to create for me. It is probably what others feel when layering a top and sweater. For me, it is FUSS TO THE MAX - I am always having to adjust, fiddle, deal with the darn things. Why this isn't so for others is a mystery that only the Fashion Gods can answer. If they can. 

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    I think fabrication is just as important in whether you like something on you, as colour is.  It either meshes with you, or it doesn't.  I have a friend that was looking for a dress, and I suggested the BR wrap, and she knew without trying that the fabric in it doesn't have enough structure for her and she'd never wear it... regardless of fit and colour.  I rarely wear mine, and I wonder if it's for the same reason.  So yeah, if it's not you, it's not you.  I also think this is a harder thing to get a handle on, because it's not really discussed the same way. 

    However... not all skirted leggings are created equal!  If it's a silhouette that you are still interested in, perhaps you DO need some that are less "bunchy" (sounds like the EF ones are thinner?).  Or maybe you'd like the sleekness of black?  Or a longer pair so that they work better styled as a skirt on you, like your (our) BR dress? 

    Oh, and I also cannot do pants under a skirt/dress.  Some rock the look, to me it makes me feel like I'm 6 and wearing a dress to school on a cold day, so needed to put something on temporarily.  And that's before we talk about  ALL. THAT. FABRIC!

    It's a good thing we're all different, isn't it!  And such a good thing that the people on this forum appreciate and applaud that.  It's very cool.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Elizabeth, that's it. Pants under a dress = going to school on a really cold day wearing the snow pants. URGH!!!! 

    These leggings don't feel bunchy to me at all -- they just feel too soft. Like long johns. So thinner wouldn't be better. Not if it was soft. 

    But here's something I don't get. You know our modal BR blue dress? Talk about SOFT and unstructured!! So how come that works??? Doesn't bother me a bit? Not even with a soft cardigan over it?????

  • catseye replied 9 years ago

    That is because it is a dress. Doesn't have the butt vest effect? 
    I think for this skirted legging to work for my eyes, the shirt needed to be tucked in. But then this particular skirt might be too short for you. 

  • lyn67 replied 9 years ago

    I see, leggings(skirted or not) are always intriguing the crowds, mee included-so I read most of the comments in a hurry then went back to see Una's pair for comparison. I would die to see LisaP's one, too:-)).

    IMO it has nothing to do with personal style, but with the styling. Now, with my eyes trained on Una's examples I can say, she really put her finger on something RIGHT  with both of her stylings, there. 

    The one with the citron sweater (wich is tunic length) it's paired with some OTK boots, wich are leaving only a few inches of visible leg line between them and the mini skirt hem, which is quite a good trick, to my eyes, for making them work on a 40+ girl.

    The other look is paired with some gearlike mary janes(?), and so, they are styled for a more casual setting, which is still all right on anybody(of any age!) petite and slim frame like Una, and You are.

    Suz, dare I say I'm sure you would feel (more) comfortable in any of  some similar stylings with Una's. But these shown here are all of another kind to my eyes, like you were trying to elevate the look to a crisp and polished one (which these skirted leggings will never do).

    It's NOT you, it's your shoes used here(too structured and polished).

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    LOL Suz, I was thinking that exact thing as I typed my previous comment.  I wonder if it's about the shape of the garment, and what we expect it to "do".  That dress doesn't move much, because of the ruching. My BR dress is flared, and has a tie floppy belt.  More fuss, for sure. I haven't really thought much about this, I just know I don't reach for it and I thought it'd be a workhorse. I don't mind soft, but perhaps the soft needs to stay where it's supposed to.  Tissue tees is an example for me...toooooo soft.

    RE the leggings, I was thinking that ponte-like under a skirt might feel more like pants, therefore the "bunching".  Not so much bunching, but a lot of fabric.  And thinner might feel more like tights.  But without feeling them, I don't know - maybe I should shut up now :)

    ETA.  I agree with Lyn.  Before you give up, try styling them like skirted leggings, AKA Una, not as skirt.

  • columbine(erin) replied 9 years ago

    I was wondering if you tried the the long red sweater and red booties.

    Edited because I misspoke. You did pick long tops to wear with these leggings, I just wondered if you'd tried the red one. For the record I was hoping if these didn't work out you'd try another pair. I like your style and color palette very much so it would be totally fun to see skirted leggings work for you.

    As an aside, I sure wish skirted leggings would take off in my area. I'd vastly prefer it over the leggings as pants style where people do not wear tasteful long tops over them. 

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    For the record: some of these sweaters are just as long as Una's sweater (my j. Crew tunic sweater, and my big oversized J. Crew framed cashmere sweater). That is the same length as my red J. Crew sweater -- actually, it is a bit shorter than the tunic sweater. One of my sweaters is longer than anything anyone has shown yet (the grey cardigan).  ALL of these sweaters are just as long in the back as anything Una wore. 

    So it is not the length of the sweaters, unless it is just that said length of sweaters doesn't look right on me. 

    And I wasn't trying to treat it as a skirt in my stylings. Well, except maybe the one with the partially tucked plaid shirt and long grey cardigan. 

    These are the tops I would wear with my legging jeans. This is what I would wear with leggings, too, if I liked them. They are the same kind of tops that those of you who do like and wear leggings wear with them.  Some are tunic length all round. One is an asymmetrical shape but tunic length in back. ALL cover my bum. 

    Phew. That was bugging me. Thanks for indulging.  ;)

  • Sheila replied 9 years ago

    I guess I have seen you look SO SO fantastic. These do not add to your awesomeness. Add 4 " and it is possible.
    I know you can wear a broken line well and it gave me some pause and I looked thru ALL of them to try to figure it out. So is it where the line is broken here ?  Is it because you have long legs in proportion to your entire body... would it look better with someone who has shorter legs ? I don't think it is age related.  Also, hese are probably some of the best tops to wear it with. Imagine a waist length pop-top. No. So... why???  Unknown... I'm confounded.
    You DO have a fantastic figure ! Great !  But perhaps it's fantasticness is implied in other silhouettes rather than shown directly. 
    Again... I am glad you did this... gives me something to ponder. 
    I would send them back. You have so much better stuff than this.

  • Gaylene replied 9 years ago

    A YLF Hall of Fame thread, Suz! From now on, "Butt Vest" will be a code word that distinguishes a YLFer from the rest of the crowd. If you think you might have found a fellow Fabber, just sidle up, say the code, and wait for the reaction!

    After a night's sleep, two things became quite clear: First, I, along with others, have a definite tendency towards a thumbs down when we see someone wearing an item of clothing outside of what we think of as that person's "style". Mostly, we like to keep our perceptions of others neat and tidy, and not have them challenged. Suz in a Butt Vest is like seeing Angie in boho or Una in Corporette garb--a collective chorus of Nooooo.... arises from the peanut gallery---the good, and not so good, reaction to women who have honed a distinctive personal style that is admired by others.

    Second reflection: Adding a decidedly different piece to our wardrobe may require changing more than we intend to modify. Maybe that's why we end up with orphans and mistakes? We try what seems a small experiment only to realize that we are in for more than we bargained. To make the new item "work", we need different shoes--and accessories--and hair--and makeup--and maybe a new top in another color... The more we change, the less we feel like ourselves, and the more we feel like we are in a costume, imitating instead of expressing--giving rise to that dreaded "fashion victim" feeling? If we persevere, we can often make a real breakthrough into a new way of dressing, but, as Angie wisely points out, maybe we first ought to decide if that's a direction we want to explore? I suspect her wisdom comes from working with more than one client who, caught up in the excitement of trying something new, ends up with an item that is quickly consigned to the purge bin.

  • shiny replied 9 years ago

    The EF leggings are nowhere as thick and structured as my ponte knit pants - which I am living in lately since nothing else fits right now. I have 5-pocket ponte knit pants from Theory (high end) and from LOFT (low end). These are the greatest thing for traveling/business meetings because they stretch and expand, but still look sharp & crisp. Though technically "leggings" on me, because my legs are thin, they look more like skinnies. 

    In comparison, the EF leggings are thin, flimsy, and lightweight -- not appropriate for Boston winter, but I can definitely see how they'd be cool & comfy and temperature regulating in spring, summer & fall. 

    I would never put a dress or skirt over my ponte knit pants. I've tried in the past, and it just looks off to my eye and feels wrong. 

    Leggings definitely have a place in my closet. They are great under skirts and dresses in the winter (especially if fleece lined). They are great under a long tunic. I have chicken legs, always have -- and when my upper half is expanding (as it has this past year), at least they remain slim and I like to show them off. 

    Suz, I will post a pic of me in the EF leggings later tonight when I get the chance. I bought two sizes for comparison. The PXS has a much shorter skirt, similar to your leggings here, and is tighter as well (butt vest). I kept the XS-regular because the skirt is a more modest length and not so clingy - which felt more appropriate. 

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    Sorry Suz.  Didn't mean to push buttons.  I guess I was comparing too much to ME - the sweaters you are wearing here are all shorter than _I_ would wear with leggings due to the shape of my legs.  I would wear these with skirts.  Tunics with leggings on me need to be more like short dresses, as they need to cover much more than my butt.  So the appeal of skirted leggings for me is to create the illusion of a few more precious inches in what I'm wearing on top that most shirts and sweaters often don't provide. And that my thunder thighs need.

    What I was suggesting is that I'd love to see them with tops that were pretty much the same length, give or take a couple of inches, than the skirt.  the length of your grey cardi fits this.  Firecracker has worn hers like this several times, and it was what won me over.

    No more beating a dead horse, I just obviously didn't explain myself very well.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    No worries, Elizabeth - and just so you know, I was reacting to a kind of general trend I saw in comments, not just yours. People kept saying the sweaters were shorter than they are in fact. These leggings are the funniest things ever!! :) 

  • merwoman replied 9 years ago

    Late to the BV party, but wanting to join in!
    Well it's a novelette in the making! Suz I am blown away by your energy  to put the skirt/leggings through it's paces! As others have said, you can totally rock it with your gorgeous figure. On the other , and and to Viv's point - it does read a little sk8ter gurl. My thoughts are that this would become an orphan...and that there is a far better BV out there for you.

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    This thread continues to fascinate me.  I really think the difference lies in people "knowing" us.  As we've discussed before, this is both a blessing (holding us accountable and keeping us from being all over the map) and a curse (limiting our horizons and possibly preventing others and our own selves from exploring).  I guarantee if I posted a picture of myself in a Laura Ashley-style floral dress with a lace bib, it would not go over well - and rightly so.  You all know that is just Not Me.  But if you didn't know me and my usual style, you might feel differently.

    And yet, it's not so evident to me that this look is inherently "Not Suz".  I took several pictures of my own Butt-Vest with different tops and will post those in a new thread for your consideration.  Two are basically IDENTICAL to what Suz has posted and said as much (longer sweater, asymmetric poncho style).  Suz and I overlap in quite a few way style-wise - similar weather, many twin items, and not that different in size and height (although the devil is in the details). 

    How do we sort out the nuances of our personal style and how it carries through in our clothing when we step outside our comfort zone?

  • Gaylene replied 9 years ago

    "How do we sort out the nuances of our personal style and how it carries through in our clothing when we step outside our comfort zone?"

    Excellent question, and worthy of another thread. I suspect that the answer might be more complicated than just the items of clothing that are common to two people. Two women of approximately the same size in identical outfits, yet different interpretations and associations in the minds of the observers. What do each of them bring to the party that makes the difference?

    No wonder so many of us retreat into a formula and call it our "style".

    ETA: And, just for the record, Una, I think I'd recoil at a picture of you in a Laura Ashley dress even if I didn't "know" you. I probably would keep quiet, but I'd wonder why you were going incognito, or if you'd borrowed the dress from a girly friend.

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    "And, just for the record, Una, I think I'd recoil at a picture of you in a Laura Ashley dress even if I didn't "know" you. I probably would keep quiet, but I'd wonder why you were going incognito, or if you'd borrowed the dress from a girly friend."

    Gaylene, too funny! And why is that? There are certain items I feel are inherently not right on me as an Indian woman (like a kilt, or a Lilly Pulitzer dress) - I don't know why. But then how is it I'm comfortable with leather leggings and BVs?

  • Ingunn replied 9 years ago

    I'm in awe over the wit and sharp observations pronounced in this thread. It's positively killing me. Butt vest! 

    Suz, I adore you in anything, but this style feels very foreign to your sharp, cool, grown up style. But - if anyone could make that work anyway, it'd be you.

  • Gaylene replied 9 years ago

    Hey, Una, I tried to fumble my way through an answer on your thread.

  • Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

    My response to Gayene's

      Two women of approximately the same size in identical outfits, yet different interpretations and associations in the minds of the observers. What do each of them bring to the party that makes the difference?

    is - personality. My very BFF is a twin. When I look at photos I don't know if it's my friend or her sister but irl it is easy to work out which is which because they have such different personalities.

    IMO the best clothes express who we are in a visual way. So when we wear things that mesh with our personalities people get us on some deep level.


  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    Slowly reading through the comments...not quite finished:). I agree that as we get to know one another, we develop a reasonable understanding of one a others style, preferences etc. However I think we can all bring our flavour to different looks. When I have to, I can do corporate, say black pants and blazer but I would choose a blazer with a draped lapel and perhaps a draped and cowl neck top underneath which would bring strong elements of "my style" to the look. I like to think we are all understanding and supportive of one another trying different looks. Suz, you wear a gorgeous asymmetric sweater that on the surface I wouldn't have thought of for you, but it works for your style. Your styling has made it "yours". But other items, remember that draped dress (in Mo's wardrobe now?) had similar style elements but it just didn't work for you. I do think it's about the right item. Skirted leggings could still work for you, just not these ones. I think a longer skirt will create better proportions.

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