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Is wearing leggings as pants a hit or miss style?

Well, a few pages into this month's Madison, I was certifiably shocked to the core (to the point I could have just shut the magazine right there and then) when I read these words in Paula Joy's Editor's Note:

"Leggings are not pants. Post the age of 12, leggings are for the gym only. Wear them under a dress if you must (but before you do, please just go back to the mirror and have an honest second look), but stop kidding yourself that they qualify as a substitute for jeans. They do not."

Apparently, Oprah told her to say it. During Oprah's week of "Live Your Best Life", she suggested everyone write down the life lessons they have learned so far. By airing your knowledge, you are open to new experiences. Somewhere along the line, Paula confused "write down your life lessons" with "verbally kill the leggings trend". Who died and made her Queen of All Things Fashion anyway? Last time I checked, I was still alive........ oh snap.

If leggings are not pants, what are they? They're certainly not a pepperoni pizza with extra cheese. Sorry to break it to all of you leggings-are-only-to-cover-fat-white-legs lovers, but leggings ARE pants.Ones with fashion style, at that.

Leggings aren't a new thing. They've been around since your great Aunt Dot, but over the past couple of years, they have just exploded onto the women's fashion scene. Of course, they are a controversial piece of clothing due to their tight fit. But just because they must be worn on a certain type of person with certain types of clothing, doesn't mean we need to rule them out altogether! In the words of the Devil Wears Prada's Art Director Nigel, "a little Chrisco and fishing line and we're in business!" Yes, I'm that serious.

With Paula as ruler of the world, leggings would actually go extinct. She says if we really need to wear leggings, we are allowed to wear them under a dress. Oh, Paula, what a generous gift. I don't think I can accept that?

Here I explain how I would wear the most popular types of leggings at the moment, as skinny pants:

1. High-waisted - Wear these as high as humanly possible with a tucked in blouse, lots of long pearls and beads, killer heels and one leather glove. Madonna anyone?

2. Lace - Wear these with a baggy gold shirt, red lipstick and messy crimped hair.

3. Coloured - Wear these with a oversized (even men's) white tee, flats and tinted sunglasses.

4. Ruched - Wear these for a night out on the town with lots of glam layers (clothing and jewellery i.e. chains)

5. Regular - As long as your top is long anough to cover your behind, you can go to town.

Take that haters! Leggings as pants, a fashion faux pas? I think not!

PS. A truly hilarious conversation about leggings between Daddy Likey blogger and fashion model that will make you want to wear them forever http://daddylikey.blogspot.com/2008/09/imagined-conversation-between-myself.html 

Photo: Pretty sure if leggings weren't pants, Lindsays line wouldn't be making her a squillionaire http://evilbeetgossip.film.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/lindsay_leggings.jpg

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