Guest blog by – Julia DiNardo, the founder/editor of Fashion Pulse
The basic black legging has served its function well; but like all trends, it must follow the fashion cycle and evolve to the next stage of its lifespan. The legging prototype was transformed on the fall 2009 runways to include such transformations as the leather piece meal and laser cut looks at Rodarte, to animal prints galore at Diane von Furstenberg. New fabrications, textures, and exotic skins are being explored, while the leather/pleather/liquid legging trend continues to appear. We’ve found several ways for you to get the new legging look for $100 or less, starting with the animal print legging and leading into the liquid legging trend. If you absolutely must get the DVF legging look, we recommend trying the Crop Legging in Leopard from Express or the Snake Printed Legging from bebe; for $29.50 and $49 respectively, its not a huge bust if you only get a season or two of wear out of them, or decide you feel more like Peggy Bundy than Gisele! If you’re big on the punk reincarnation of slashed leggings, try these Mary Meyer Black Spine Print Leggings ($96, Oak) or the David Lerner Ripped Leggings ($99, Shopbop). More into prints than anything else? Go for the Dark Harts Safety Pin Legging ($34, Urban Outfitters), or the Groovy Tulip Leggings ($11.80, Forever 21). The last trend we can’t forget to mention is the leather/pleather/liquid legging; go for a versatile solid black, or funk it up with an even shinier metallic. We’re fond of the Hue’s Liquid Leggings ($30, Bare Necessities), the Romeo & Juliet Couture Black Faux Leather Leggings ($35, Bluefly), and the Factory Girl Silver Leggings ($48, emoda.com).
Still consider yourself a legging skeptic? Don’t go overboard, but add a new tiny detail to freshen up the basic legging look, such as a zipper or button; check out the Comfort Zone Zip Vent Leggings ($19.95, New York & Company) to build a new legging outlook into your wardrobe.
I really love the rodarte leggings!