Some of you will know that I love leg warmers and am on a mission to make others appreciate their worth. I first fell in love with what essentially is a long footless sock, as everyone did, back in the 80s. I wore them over my jeans and yes over my leggings, but I was hardly a kid from Fame.
More recently they have become a staple of my yoga wardrobe. I currently own two very different pairs but am looking to invest in more. I’m not entirely sure what triggered my leg warmer resurrection. There’s the obvious practical aspect but I also fondly remembered one of my yoga teachers, the wonderful Chrissie Joy, wearing them.
I found a pair at Urban Outfitters online – thick and off white in colour. They remind me of a cricket jumper. The other pair are from Sweaty Betty – soft, dusky pink and like everything I buy from that store were in the sale.
When you Google leg warmers it offers up a wealth of questions that apparently people ask the Internet. From the deep and meaningful “What is the purpose of leg warmers”? To the more practical:
Do you wear socks with leg warmers?
How tight should leg warmers be?
Why do dancers only wear one leg warmer?
At what temperature should you wear leg warmers? (Fact: the standard advice is when the temperature is 65F (18C) or lower so there’s still plenty of wearing time before summer).
Then there’s the fashionista perspective “When did leg warmers go out of style” – never!
Swiftly followed by “Are leg warmers in style in 2023?” Yes, they are! According to vmagazine.com “leg warmers are quickly regaining wardrobe staple status” and are the “latest it-girl-approved accessory” as seen on American supermodel Bella Hadid. Italian luxury brand Miu Miu pastel rose ribbed leg warmers retail at $725 and other designers offer denim or Swarovski crystal versions. A far cry from your fluorescent 80s fancy dress on eBay.
As someone who has always liked to be a bit different when it comes to dress sense, part of me wants to recoil at leg warmers becoming an “it-girl-approved accessory”. That’s not my thing. However, I know I will still be wearing my leg warmers long after Bella and friends have ditched them. In the meantime, the temperature hasn’t hit 65F/18C yet (and is going to turn Arctic next week) so if you fancy showing your lower legs some love with leg warmers, I look forward to seeing them in class.
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