<p>I don’t get the questions over a woman over fifty wearing leggings as long as the top half is covered - would you tell a woman over 50 not to wear tights??? </p>
<p>As long as the rest of the parts - shoes, non revealing top, etc are appropriate I don’t get the opposition to leggings.</p>
<p>costblog,
I had ordered that Sunburst dress from Athleta last year (no shops in my state) and did not like the fit but that was just me. I like the dress though. I have another Athleta dress from last year and may consider one of the ones I posted in an earlier post for this year. </p>
<p>abasket…I agree…to me wearing leggings with a shorter dress is not really different than wearing tights with it! I’m over 50. I am also not slim. I like opaque tights but also leggings or capri leggings with shorter dresses (but not really with tops). But who cares what others think, ya know? It’s in fashion these days. I lead a casual lifestyle and these work for me and they certainly are not my only look. I’m still figuring out what to wear on my feet once flats and sandals can’t be worn with bare ankles in cold weather and so maybe booties, though I always thought my shorter boots were just OK under pants but they seem to be worn with dresses these days as well. My daughter wears them all the time.</p>
<p>Regarding short boots…I originally got these boots intending to use them in the arena…</p>
<p>[Paddock</a> Boots Heritage III Zip - Ariat](<a href=“http://www.ariat.com/English/Women/Footwear/PaddockBoots/HeritageIIIZip.html]Paddock”>http://www.ariat.com/English/Women/Footwear/PaddockBoots/HeritageIIIZip.html)</p>
<p>Then I found out these were the most comfy shoes (aside from workout/aerobic shoes) that I’d owned in a very long time. I have replaced the original pair which lasted 10+ years. (the old pair has a continued life as the true ‘beat em up’ pair). They come in several versions…water proof, lace up, insulated. They look great with pants and skirts. I regularly receive complements.</p>
<p>They are the one shoe I either pack in hand luggage or wear on every trip. Because they are meant to be work boots…they have great support, padding and workmanship.</p>
<p>abasket, I don’t think there is a “rule” about under fifty or over fifty. The bottom line is most women don’t have a stylist to pull it together in a way that makes it photo worthy so many women look like they either are pregnant or have a rear view that is less than desireable. I personally think it’s a cute look on the right person. I don’t really want to be labeled “cute” at this point in my life…striking, sophisticated, stylish I’ll take those compliments, but face it “legging” are definitely in the “cute” category. I do know “cute” fifty year olds and they do wear leggings. They also have twenty something daughters which is where I believe they get the clothing ideas. I say more power to you if you can carry it off. Like someone said, it’s a trend. You can wear it or not. You can like it or not. Even if I bought a pair, my ankles would get cold. If it’s warm enough to wear cut off leggings it’s warm enough for socks 
If it’s warm enough to go with bare ankles then it’s too warm for leggings. Practical side of me. I’ll stick to wearing them with ski socks under my soft shell ski pants.</p>
<p>And maybe that’s the difference- I am not someone who cares to look sophisticated or striking - truly! That’s just not me. Stylish is up for debate depending on what we individually see as "stylish ".</p>
<p>If someone looks at me and says any of these words “cute” “sporty” “fun” “happy” “comfortably approachable” (at work) - that would’ve the compliment I’m looking for.</p>
<p>I love tights in the winter with boots or Mary Jane-type shoes and a cute skirt or dress. I don’t like the look of leggings that stop at the ankle when the ankle is exposed. The legging trend seems to have come up five or six years ago but didn’t “take” (and not just with me)–so I am not interested in it this time around. I think I object most to people wearing them as pants, with the butt exposed and an actual shirt on top. The high school and college girls can pull them off with sweatshirts and Ugg or Hunter boots, but past the age of about 22, “leggings as standalone pants” just doesn’t work, IMO.</p>
<p>No one at my office wears them (except one woman who is pregnant) but I have one friend who wears them under Eileen Fisher dresses with ballet flats. She is a professor and the look seems appropriate for a college campus.</p>
<p>Leggings are not always in the ‘cute’ category, IMO. These look ‘stylish’ and ‘sophisticated’ to me.</p>
<p>[Eileen</a> Fisher Waxed Short Moto Jacket, Georgette Tunic/Dress & Jersey Ankle Leggings - Neiman Marcus](<a href=“http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/Eileen-Fisher-Viscose-Jersey-Ankle-Leggings-Pants-Shorts/prod161850001_cat17740752__/?ItemId=prod160060317&ecid=NMALRJ84DHJLQkR4&CS_003=5630585]Eileen”>http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/Eileen-Fisher-Viscose-Jersey-Ankle-Leggings-Pants-Shorts/prod161850001_cat17740752__/?ItemId=prod160060317&ecid=NMALRJ84DHJLQkR4&CS_003=5630585)</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.kittyscouture.com/donna-karan-collection-cashmere-dress-leggings-and-arm-warmers/]Donna”>Loading...]Donna</a> Karan Collection Cashmere Dress, Leggings & Arm Warmers<a href=“Try%20to%20ignore%20the%20weird,%20vacuous%20expression%20on%20the%20model!%20:”>/url</a>)</p>
<p>abasket, I think that is the upshot of why we dress the way we dress. Stylish is probably a loaded word as some people will interpret that to mean trendy. For me, stylish means “not dowdy.” But I supposed some would interpret stylish to mean in fashion or designerly. </p>
<p>This topic (leggings) came up a year or two ago with a similarly lively thread but it might have been on that short lived phenomenon called “jeggings” that sent many a male comedian into a spin.</p>
<p>One advantage of leggings over tights is that they stay up. No tugging required. :)</p>
<p>Currently I don’t have leggings in my wardrobe, but I have been considering getting some.</p>
<p>I just ordered the Sunburst dress from Athleta in the green color. hope it fits and doesn’t show my lumps. Now I just need the leggings.</p>
<p>I recently bought my first pair of leggings in years this summer. I wanted them for a long plane ride. I tried on a lot of different pairs. I hate tights since on me the waistband always rolls over. I ended up with two brands that work well and don’t roll over. Hue brand with a wide waistband from the hosiery section of Nordstroms. The other pair which are thicker are Zella brand athletic tights also from Nordstrom. I also like the Pure Jill leggings but they run huge and the store was out of stock in my size. The Old Navy leggings (from the workout section) also were nice but I liked the fit of the Zella brand better. I bought them at the anniversary sale so they were the same price as the Old Navy pair.
Cost bog the Donna Karan sweater is lovely.</p>
<p>I looked at the JJill leggings but the ankle length ones looked baggy at the ankle. Ugh.
I settled on GAP leggings. One of the few stores that has petites and at a reasonable price.</p>
<p>AND I had a ten dollar discount!</p>
<p>I like the Lisse leggings from Nordstrom. They come widths high, wide waistband that doesn’t roll. </p>
<p>I’m wearing them today with a long lightweight wool Eileen Fisher tunic, short, black AGL boots, and a multi-colored scarf. Totally age appropriate and suits my 52 yo body. </p>
<p>The blousy shirts either make me think of maternity wear or something my grandma wore.</p>
<p>LOL at the Donna Karan legging example. Those shoes! momofthreeboys articulates my problem. Leggings only look good without socks. I can’t wear shoes without socks except sandals in the summer, when I might as well wear shorts or a skirt. I get that leggings are comfortable - I wear them at the gym. And I could happily wear them with socks and boots so you don’t know I have socks on. I thought the Eileen Fisher outfit was fashionable and really, really ugly.</p>
<p>One option is leggings with boots and socks that go up higher than the boots. Done well it can be cute, from what I’ve seen.</p>
<p>abasket, I am similar to you in that I am not seeking “sophisticated” as a description of my clothing style. In fact, my mom (who is no longer living) would bemoan that I did not look sophisticated enough. But I do like clothes that are stylish. Also, I think how we dress has something to do with where we live. I live in Vermont which is a more casual look. I don’t work in an office either. </p>
<p>I have plenty of short boots, but just haven’t gotten into wearing them with dresses, but maybe this year I will. Otherwise, I can’t have bare ankles in winter here, and thus often wear tights with dresses, not leggings, in the colder, snowy months. </p>
<p>Short boots have been around for years. If you save anything long enough (and I have!), it comes back in style. When my young adult daughter was recently here for a visit, I gave her about five pairs of old lace up short boots of mine from long ago and it is exactly what she wears today. When I recently did a major clean out of about 30 years worth of accumulated clothing, I had lots of old leggings from when they were in style years ago. I’m giving many away but I saved some that I forgot I had all these years and were a bit more unique than the ones I currently own and so feel like I got some “new” clothes, LOL.</p>
<p>I love short boots. Love them!!! I wear them with just about everything including dresses. I think, because I’m short, I try to keep the boots in the same color as my tights so that my legs don’t look look chopped up visually.</p>
<p>I also love them with pants because I can wear two different socks and nobody will ever know!</p>
<p>A cutesy way to wear leggings:</p>
<p>[Lynn</a> Yeager Photos - Around Bryant Park - Day 1 - Spring 09 MBFW - Zimbio](<a href=“http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Lynn+Yeager/Around+Bryant+Park+Day+1+Spring+09+MBFW/lTMqvwgNWJh]Lynn”>http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Lynn+Yeager/Around+Bryant+Park+Day+1+Spring+09+MBFW/lTMqvwgNWJh)</p>
<p>A not so cutesy way to wear leggings:</p>
<p>[Google</a> Image Result for <a href=“DOOR11.COM - THE WORLD'S LARGEST FASHION SHOW DATABASE”>DOOR11.COM - THE WORLD'S LARGEST FASHION SHOW DATABASE](<a href=“http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media.nowfashion.com/uploads/shows/rundholz/2012/paris/fall-winter/ready-to-wear/2012-03-02/1797/public/6684//photos/2012-03-02-19-16-43-rundholz-3980.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nowfashion.com/rundholz-ready-to-wear-fall-winter-2012-paris-1797&h=450&w=300&sz=50&tbnid=caQ5NBTLD35SJM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=60&zoom=1&usg=__NBOgK08qf59qx4bCRphbf57oZ64=&docid=NWwAEjlWumm3QM&sa=X&ei=IWhJUpWnJK2t4AOkwIBY&ved=0CDUQ9QEwAg]Google”>http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media.nowfashion.com/uploads/shows/rundholz/2012/paris/fall-winter/ready-to-wear/2012-03-02/1797/public/6684//photos/2012-03-02-19-16-43-rundholz-3980.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nowfashion.com/rundholz-ready-to-wear-fall-winter-2012-paris-1797&h=450&w=300&sz=50&tbnid=caQ5NBTLD35SJM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=60&zoom=1&usg=__NBOgK08qf59qx4bCRphbf57oZ64=&docid=NWwAEjlWumm3QM&sa=X&ei=IWhJUpWnJK2t4AOkwIBY&ved=0CDUQ9QEwAg)</a></p>
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<p>I’m 5’3". The top measures 33 inches from the shoulder seam. It hits me a few inches from the knee. My legs tend to be on the higher side (I’m short-waisted).</p>
<p>I think the major difference between leggings and tights is leggings should be thicker and made from a heavier material (and not shiny). I just bought a pair of No Nonsense leggings at the grocery store this weekend that are the perfect weight (plus they are control top).</p>
<p>I’ve also read you should go up a size on leggings if you don’t want to show every lump and bump. I guess that depends on the brand and your particular shape.</p>
<p>I love how we are all different!!! I HATE wearing socks unless it’s with my running shoes or boots! I will wear flats without socks even in the winter (I live in Northern Ohio) - on snowy days I might wear boots to work and then change into my flats (w/out socks) but don’t wear any “shoes” with socks. Just personal preference! So this is why leggings are desirable to me. </p>
<p>(don’t you love how on CC we can get going on the most random topics - 10 pages about LEGGINGS!!!) </p>
<p>Everyone be sure and report back when your boots/dresses etc. that are ordered arrive and share what you think of your purchases!</p>
![http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media.nowfashion.com/uploads/shows/rundholz/2012/paris/fall-winter/ready-to-wear/2012-03-02/1797/public/6684//photos/2012-03-02-19-16-43-rundholz-3980.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nowfashion.com/rundholz-ready-to-wear-fall-winter-2012-paris-1797&h=450&w=300&sz=50&tbnid=caQ5NBTLD35SJM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=60&zoom=1&usg=__NBOgK08qf59qx4bCRphbf57oZ64=&docid=NWwAEjlWumm3QM&sa=X&ei=IWhJUpWnJK2t4AOkwIBY&ved=0CDUQ9QEwAg]Google](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media.nowfashion.com/uploads/shows/rundholz/2012/paris/fall-winter/ready-to-wear/2012-03-02/1797/public/6684//photos/2012-03-02-19-16-43-rundholz-3980.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nowfashion.com/rundholz-ready-to-wear-fall-winter-2012-paris-1797&h=450&w=300&sz=50&tbnid=caQ5NBTLD35SJM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=60&zoom=1&usg=__NBOgK08qf59qx4bCRphbf57oZ64=&docid=NWwAEjlWumm3QM&sa=X&ei=IWhJUpWnJK2t4AOkwIBY&ved=0CDUQ9QEwAg%5DGoogle){kind=link}
