The Leggings Contention

I don't write about fashion all that much, except when I'm griping about the horror that is shopping. There aren't many fashion trends that I have a strong opinion about one way or another, but I can think of a few that make me scratch my head (rompers, for instance).

You can't mention fashion trends without talking about leggings.  While I haven't owned a pair since elementary school--blasphemous, I know--it seems they've made a comeback within the last few years.  I can't say I quite understand the whole "leggings as pants" thing, but that's another topic for another day.  Right now, I'm talking about leggings as a layering tool.

Or sometimes, more appropriately, a "CYA" tool.

(Side note: if you don't know what "CYA" means, look it up.  I'm not posting it here.)

A lot of women and girls wear leggings (or tights) under a dress or skirt.  This gives them a little extra coverage (hence "CYA") if the dress or skirt is too short, or if it's chilly, the leggings provide an extra layer and some warmth on the legs.  At first, I didn't think the look was all that flattering but it has grown on me the more I've seen it.

Attractiveness aside, I still don't entirely understand this idea.  If it's too chilly to go without the leggings, then why aren't you wearing a longer dress or skirt, or even real pants?  And if you feel the need for the additional coverage, then the skirt/dress is probably too short to wear, anyway.  Throwing some leggings or tights underneath does not give you free reign to rock the miniskirt.

Maybe that's just my taste, though.  I always feel like I have to walk with my hands glued to my sides when I wear skirts or dresses, just to be sure I don't have a Marilyn moment.  I'm also extremely conscious about how much skin I'm showing at any given moment, but that's beside the point.

Going even further, I really don't understand pairing leggings (or tights) with shorts.  I saw this all the time when I was in London this summer.

...why

The point of shorts is wearing them when it's not cold outside.  My personal rule is I don't wear shorts if it's cooler than 75 degrees.  Anything below that is too chilly for shorts.  If you have to put another layer under the shorts, then is it really warm enough to wear them?  Better yet, is that even comfortable? Maybe with the right thickness, I guess.  No matter the reason, if it's cool enough that you need leggings under shorts, then just wear long pants.  It's one less item in your laundry basket at the end of the week.

I just don't get it.

If anyone has some insight as to why it works, is comfortable, whatever, please enlighten me.  But until then, I'm just going to sit here in my jeans and wonder.