How To Wear Leggings (without looking like an American Apparel reject)

I’ll be honest. I really used to hate leggings. I thought they looked ridiculous on most girls who used the glorified stockings as an alternative to pants.  Of course, with time, the testament of the eighties grew on me and I came to appreciate the thinner, American Apparel addicted silhouettes that were making down the streets of New York.

But how does the fashionably forward wear leggings today, now that most of the city has adopted a pants-free attitude?

Here are some new ways to wear the fashion staple…

ADD SHINE - This season leggings are going Lycra creating sleek, shark-skin shines that will add an extra bit of boom to your look.   The leggings pictured above by The Row (The Olsens line) is the perfect look for the urbanite looking for a bit more attention and set you in a leggings crowd all your own.  (On the model - The Row’s lambskin on cotton and Lycra leggings and viscose T-shirt worn with Don the Verb’s wool coat. Rise Up’s organic cotton shirt and scarf; Tashkent by Cheyenne’s boots.)

THAT 70’s SHOW - The seventies meets the eighties as tie dye influences add flair to the bland legging.  WARNING: Engage this look with caution. We will call you a reject if it looks like members of The Doors splugged all over your legs. (On the model -  Blue Blood’s leather jacket, Mark and Estel’s cotton T-shirt and Gary Graham’s cotton leggings. Low Luv by Erin Wasson necklace; Herve Lger by Max Azria boots.)

ZIP IT UP - Now your leggings can make you look like you’ve just come off the set of a S&M film.  I’m really in love with this look so if any of you indies are rocking this, please send picts to saynt@fashionindie so that we can share it on the site. (On the model -  Brains on Fire’s cotton T-shirt and Superfine’s cotton and elastane jeans. Ksubi sunglasses; Don the Verb scarf; CC Skye clutch.)

LEATHER LOVERS - I can’t get over how awesome this looks. I’ve never been a fan of leather chaps on women, but in leggings form the cowhide creates a look that is purely lux. (On the model - Miss Sixty’s cotton blazer, Mark and Estel’s cotton T-shirt and Blue Notch’s cotton and polyester leggings. Body chain from Low Luv by Erin Wasson; clutch from The Jack Rabbit Collection; Silpada ring.)

Images courtesy of WWD