Annie, me, Matty, and Dave in Leicester Square
One of my favorite things about traveling, especially in a fashion-conscious place like London, is outfit-watching--Same as people-watching, emphasis on the outfits. It can be really inspiring and entertaining. In past posts, I've shared trends I've seen in more progressive places than Nashville. And that will continue here with a series of posts dedicated to fashion trends in London. Some of them you may be able to implement in your wardrobe and some, well, maybe they're not for you. They say that Europe is pretty far ahead of the U.S., so that means you'll be way ahead of the curve if for instance, you decide to go with part 1: Leggings as Pants.
I've earnestly been hoping for this leggings trend to just GO AWAY, but it keeeeeeps oooooooon going seemingly unabated and gaining steam all the while. In Nylon a few months back two writers faced off on whether leggings should be worn as pants even. I thought, "They're creeping into our lives and stealing away our affection for jeans?! Seriously, who wants their a@$ hanging out with only a thin layer of lycra as a boundary to the jeers of onlookers?" The answer is: every post-pubescent girl in London. I saw more leggings as pants concentrated in a single area than I daresay anywhere in the free world.
Even the Londoners who were covering their bums were still wearing leggings. And that's the take-home message. Even if you're not remotely interested in wearing a cropped t-shirt with your leggings, they are here to stay. And I'll give the little buggers this, they are pretty comfy. Pair them with a baggy t-shirt, a tunic, and really anything you'd wear jeans with. Just please, cover your rear. There are only a few of us who can get away with tights as pants: Giselle, Heidi Klum, and any King of Leon.
Some tips about leggings to make them current:
- I am going to suggest that you toss out all your tights that hit around the knee. Cropped tights just aren't doing it for me right now. I suggest the ones that reach all the way to the ankle only.
- Also, lose the lace-trimmed tights. These are reserved for preschoolers.
- To mix it up, maybe try ballet-inspired leggings. They loop under your foot and look really cool with sandals and flats and stay in place under boots.
- Patterned leggings are a must for fall.
- PUH-lease--no more dresses that reach the knee with leggings. It's soooo MOM. And not in a good way, like baked goods. Dresses with leggings must clear the knee by a few inches or the proportions are way off and you WILL. LOOK. DUMPY.

NOOOOOOO. no, no, no, no, no, no. NO. Seriously, no. NOOOOO. No.
