I do not wear pants. That’s not a punch line or, necessarily, the truth. I am addicted to leggings. Jeans are no longer a staple in my closet; instead I turn to the stretchy, comfortable black fabric and I see many girls are choosing the same route as well.
I have 12 pairs of black leggings. Just counting black. I wear leggings for all occasions, from class and sleep, to work and going out. I get anxiety about what I’m going to wear when I realize on the second week of not doing laundry that I have no clean black leggings left (regardless of the seven pairs of jeans that have not been worn in months or the multiple pairs of colorful leggings I own). I will fight the “leggings aren’t pants” argument, and anyone who agrees is no longer a friend of mine (maybe that’s a little extreme).
So what’s the fascination? Sure, leggings match with everything, but so do jeans. Leggings are comfortable but so are sweatpants. Leggings aren’t necessarily attractive, they’re just a plain fabric to cover your legs. Leggings aren’t even unique; does any girl ever compliment you on your leggings? No, she has the same pair that you’re wearing to your 8 a.m. because you’re too lazy to wear pants that don’t stretch.
Maybe I’m slightly biased. Being someone who hates cold (and endures a lot of it by living in the north), I believe in being warm and comfortable. Being a basic girl, I like wearing essentials that are accessorized to my own style. Truth be told, I’m too lazy to wear constricting pants and am reminded of this whenever I make the mistake of wearing jeans.
For those who disagree, I get it. Sure, some leggings are see-through and many people push the boundaries on when it’s okay to wear them, but remember the pros. Leggings are versatile, leggings are cheap, and leggings are comfortable, but like any basic article of clothing, can always be dressed up.
From the gym and class, to going out, your leggings can be worn in any situation. From when it starts to cool down in the fall and frigid temperatures in winter, to fluctuating temperatures in spring, and the cold fronts that randomly come in the summer, leggings can be worn year round.
To my beloved leggings, I want to thank each individual pair of you. You’re always there, whether it be minus 8 degrees, or 70 degress. Whatever my plans are, you can be worn. You can be paired with a sweatshirt or a nice shirt and neither looks out of place. From me, and thousands of girls around the world (especially college students), we thank you for being an acceptable pants option to wear in public, without constricting normal movement.
And for those of you who still believe that leggings are not pants, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines pants as: “an outer garment covering each leg separately and usually extending from the waist to the ankle.” Sounds a lot like leggings, doesn't it?
