Recently in Leggings Category

And here I thought it couldn't get any worse than jeggings! Boy was I wrong! Wow is all I can say about these ripped leggings. Who in their right mind would not only wear these, but could stomach paying $100 for them?? Even if you could pull these off, there's something so poseur-ish about wearing faux-ripped leggings. Not only are you wearing leggings meant to mimic actual pants or jeans, but then you have this fake wear-and-tear. I don't even think someone with a too-cool-for-school personality a la Erin Wasson could pull these off (and I sure hope she doesn't try!).

What do you think about ripped jean leggings? Snob or Slob?

Fake jeans that are actually leggings are gross. But super thin real jeans that can easily tuck into boots are awesome! My calves are such that when put in boots there is not much room left for jeans of normal thickness, so instead of pouting about not being able to wear boots over jeans, I have these J Brand Denim "Leggings". They are jeans in every way except wafer thin. They are stretchy and oh-so comfortable!! I have 2 pairs in gray and dark denim and they take turns being on me. At Net-a-Porter for $170.

A lot of people find this hard to believe, but there is no Target in Manhattan (a travesty if you ask me:-(). Luckily the folks at Target know that there are a ton of fashion obsessed folks in NYC that would do pretty much anything to get their hands on limited edition frugal designer collaborations, so they usually have some form of a pop-up shop when they launch one of their special lines. This time around - over a week before the line officially launched - Target helped take the hassle out of holiday shopping with a Target To-Go walk-up holiday shopping stand. Stationed under the High Line they had display windows with 50 items including three Rodarte for Target dresses (see image below) from which shoppers got to choose what they wanted and then ordered (like you would at a fast food drive-through), payed, and got the items all wrapped and ready-to-go...pretty genius idea if you ask me! I snapped-up the Rodarte Rip Cage dress ($49.95), and was surprised at how great the quality was. Of course my mother cringed when she saw it and asked that I please return it in favor of something else (no chance, I love it!), but even she was impressed by the workmanship given the price. Target definitely beats out H&M when it comes to quality and price of these designer collaborations and I anticipate people buying-up a ton of Rodarte today. I myself am logging-on to buy some lace cardigans!

Will you be shopping the Rodarte for Target collection today?

I've been wearing Alice+Olivia's Ponte & Leather leggings a lot this season-- they make everything in my closet instantly modern and edgy (even a ten year old Donna Karan cashmere tunic!)  Don't fear these leggings, the luxe leather details wrap around in a curve so your legs actually look long(er) and thin(ner).  Try them with the YSL booties or a knee high boot for a tough-chic sophistication.  Alice + Olivia Ponte & Leather Leggings here- $330

I'm pretty much over leggings/spandex. Unless I'm going to the gym, I rarely wear them other than when it's pouring rain and I don't want to get my pants wet. I guess designers have caught on to a slight legging backlash because they've been spicing things up with all kinds of twists on the classic, plain black ones. I can't see myself sporting any of the variations (ripped, accented with leather, equestrian-style...). They look too overtly trendy and uncomfortable! What do you think about leggings with a twist? Jump for buying info. 

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.

Leggings disguised as jeans have a new name: Jeggings (they are as awful as they sound!).   Just look at the photo sent to me from a PR person who touted the supposed 'chic' style of the celeb wearing this hideous thing.

I'm sure you can guess who this is-- what other celebutante heiress would venture to this side of tackiness? Okay, I'll just tell you-- it's none other than Paris Hilton. What the hell is she wearing you ask? It's Niki Biki's Seamless Denim Leggings in Blue. 

Knit from nylon, cotton and spandex, the stretchy faux denim leggings are popular with Paris + friends (and we know they are the arbiters of taste, aren't they?)

Niki Biki Seamless Denim Legging come in Blue, Black and Charcoal and are available at www.RepeatPossessions.com for $33.

And you thought jeans couldn't get any tighter or skinner!?!?

What do you think of Jeggings? Snob or Slob?

I joined the leggings craze as quickly as it came back on the scene after a 20 year hiatus despite parts of me that screeched "no no no, not leggings again!" I caved in because this time around they are much much prettier and the fabric now is a helluva lot better, too.  If you must know, I graduated high school in '87 so I was smack dab in the middle of the stirrup leggings craze-- there are more photos of me in stirrups with pumps than I care to count (stirrups were just so wrong!).

One of my favorite leggings right now is a pair I got by David Lerner; it has zippers so they actually look like pants and not just a pair of tights pretending to be pants. But what I love about them is the fit. The cotton/spandex mixture will hold you in like Kira in Zanadu!

They are really pricey for leggings (considering I've been wearing $19.99 Mossimo for Target leggings) but really worth it!    $108 at Singer22.com

I've been slowly acquiring pieces from The Row each season; they transition effortlessly through the next seasons so you'll actually keep and wear them over and over! MK and Ashley's line contains basics that we all need and love pulling on without thought. How easy is it to get dressed when you've got the perfect V neck shirt ($550) to throw on with a pair of slim pants ($590) and a tiny little leather jacket ($2,750)!?!? I want to live in this uniform this spring! I'll rock it with flats for day (yes, I'm slowly giving in to the flats, ballet or gladiator) and towering heels for night. This is a simple look you can take anywhere. At Barneys New York stores and online here.

What do you think?

I am currently obsessed with LnA, a line started merely a year ago by two best friends in LA, Lauren Alexander and April Leight. The line has every staple I need to wear with clothes in my existing wardrobe. Take these leggings for example, they are perfect to layer under sweaters and boots or one of my many coats. But when I go home to see family in LA, I can throw them on over a pair of flip flops or gladiator sandals. Easy! Sure the brand is trendy Hollywood but at only $99 a pop for the leggings-- I'll take trendy. The Olsen twins charge $500 for similar leggings from the Row but I like LnA's version so much better. The stretch cotton has a slight metallic shimmer, wide elasticised waist band and a touch of equestrian detail (the patch at the inside of the knees will control knee fat, sagging knees, and other knee issues). LnA Riding Pants, Noir at eLuxury.com

So tell me, are you still rocking skinny pants?