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The Honolulu Advertiser
Lookin' tight | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted on: Friday, September 8, 2006

Lookin' tight

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Leggings work well with a feminine, more sculptural silhouette on Willow Chang of Makiki. As a dancer, she wears leggings as a "uniform" in the classroom to keep her muscles warm. Round-toe pumps balance the look.

Photos by REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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NOT FOR EVERYBODY

A word of caution: leggings are not for you if you have:

  • short legs

  • big thighs

  • thick ankles

  • large calves

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    WHAT TO WATCH FOR

  • Make sure the leggings stop at the thinnest part of your calf or ankle. That horizontal line will draw the eye right to the edge of the legging.

  • A flattering shoe is a must. Leggings with stilettos is an absolute no-no, left. Try ballet flats, boots, platforms or chunky heels with some heft.

  • If you're Sienna Miller, you can carry off leggings with a tailored coat. Lesser fashion icons might opt for a jacket with volume and flair.

  • Don't bare your bum. Although leggings are thicker than pantyhose, they still don't qualify as pants. Make sure that mini skirt or tunic is long enough in case you need to bend over.

  • If you can't resist leggings with those Pucci-like prints or stripes, be sure the rest of your ensemble is simple and monochromatic.

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    Chanel Shiraishi of Kapolei, who left for France this week for a college year abroad, plans to wear lots of leggings. Here she pairs her $10 Old Navy leggings with a Coop dress, big belt and platforms, all from Barneys New York outlet in Waikele. In Europe, she'll wear them with boots.
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    Leggings. Ya love 'em or ya hate 'em. There's just no in-between.

    Regardless of how you feel about them, this season you won't be able to ignore leggings. They are one of fall's hottest trends, making their biggest comebacks since Madonna donned them in the 1985 movie "Desperately Seeking Susan."

    Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs, Chloe and Dolce & Gabbana all showed leggings with their fall collections.

    Sienna Miller was spotted by the paparazzi wearing leggings with a tailored coat and knee-high slouchy boots. Carmen Electra went classic with black leggings under a gray mini sweater dress and black belt. Then there's Britney Spears, who just doesn't get it. She paired cartoon-printed pastel leggings with a black Spandex micro-mini skirt and torso-baring cut-off T-shirt and high heels. Get thee to your stylist, girl!

    There are some practical benefits to leggings:

  • They are inexpensive. We found them for $5 at Wet Seal and $10 at Old Navy.

  • They're the ideal accessory for those days when you simply do not have time to shave your legs.

  • If you have a skirt that's too short now, leggings can make it OK again.

  • A pair of lace or print leggings can perk up a flirty, feminine dress that might otherwise look a little dated.

  • If your legs have lost their summer tan, leggings can put them under wraps.

    While fashion generally dictates that if you wore a trend once, you shouldn't wear it when it comes back again, leggings are an exception. Even if you wore leggings in the '80s, if you still have great legs, you can get away with it once again. Just don't wear them with big hair, a leather jacket, sloppy sweatshirt, high heels or linebacker shoulder pads.

    Leggings are not for those with short legs. Most women under 5-feet-4 eschew leggings (wisely) because they cut off the leg and can make you look shorter. However, there are exceptions to every rule in fashion. Advertiser fashion forum member Willow Chang of Makiki, at 5-feet-2, loves leggings, which she says "capture a youth-like and even rebellious vibe. Leggings also are great to create mystery and intrigue; there's simply too much skin flaunted these days!"

    Even if you are tall, it's important to find leggings that end at a flattering place on your leg so they elongate your look rather than make you look shorter. Those with thin legs can choose thick leggings that ruche below the knee to offer some balance.

    In our tropical climate, of course, you'll want to watch out for fiber content. Wool leggings could be torture unless you plan to wear them for your winter trip to the Mainland. Fabrics that breathe, such as cotton, would be preferred for wear at home.

    BACK OR FORWARD?

    To avoid being an '80s fashion victim, the fresh fall 2006 way to wear leggings is:

  • With a denim mini skirt.

  • Under a tunic with a big, bold belt. Try red!

  • With a baby-doll dress or other dress with volume.

  • With a pleated skirt and crisp white shirt.

    As with all trends, it's important to try leggings in many different ways. But if they don't work, oh well. There are lots of other fun trends to follow this fall, such as skinny jeans, red lipstick, platforms, white shirts and black and gold accessories. You're sure to find a trend that will flatter you.

    Reach Paula Rath at paularath@aol.com.
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