It’s that time of year again. Leaves are falling. …and other seasonal stuff. You live in the world too, you know about weather.
But MOST importantly, it’s leggings-as-pants season! And I’m going to wear them! I am going to wear leggings as pants. World. I am.
Ever since leggings came back in style, (don’t ask me what year, all I know is that it was a confusing time for all of us) there has been an ongoing debate. Eh, debate’s not the right world. Conversation? Not really. Verbally-violent-girl-against-girl-talking-behind-backs-extravagenza? Close enough!
For those of you who live under a rock, welcome! I love welcoming people from all kinds of homes to the Hercampus community. Now that that’s out of the way, for those of you who aren’t familiar with the leggings-as-pants conflict, I’ll try to explain.
Many people follow the mindset that because leggings are made of a thin and stretchy fabric, they are not meant to be worn as if they are pants. Meaning, there are many who believe that leggings should not be worn with shirts and dresses that do not cover their butts and upper thighs. Because they are not pants, they do not provide the proper support. These people who follow this mindset are also extremely vocal about their opinions on this matter.
Seriously, though. The amount of anger girls can feel when they see other girls wear leggings for pants is astounding and kind of impressive. I’ve heard girls range from a quiet scoff to putting a curse on the leggings-as-pants wearer’s future/current children’s children’s chicken sandwiches. I’ve seen girls stare bedazzled daggers of judgment and sass when confronted with a leggings and short t-shirt combo. If you want real entertainment, I suggest sitting on a bench outside of a Starbucks next to a girl in jeans and watch her face as a parade of butts that are only supported by a thin cloth go by.
I get it. You don’t think leggings are pants. Leggings aren’t pants. Pants aren’t leggings. Leggings posing as pants killed your goldfish Sammy and slept with your cousin also named Sammy. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions about fashion and pants and goldfish names.
But this whole “legging shaming” ordeal is just adding to that long list of things we make fun of other girls for. It’s a couple notches below “slut” and a few notches above “talking about video games in front of boys.” But you know what, I’m not even saying we have to be nicer to each other to fight the patriarchy. (The patriarchy needs to be fought. To be very clear, it needs to be fought. People. It needs to be.) But what I’m saying is that legging shaming is just kinda mean. And dumb. Maybe you don’t wanna see the outline of that girl’s butt and thighs. Cool. Awesome. Don’t look.
Leggings aren’t pants. People wear them as pants.
Who cares?