Column: Put on some pants

By Christina Stiehl

Published Dec. 1, 2009

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

December marks the time when all the those scruffy tools can finally shave the unnecessary facial hair they decided to grow for "No Shave November" and the girls around campus gear up for another cold Columbia winter by breaking out the typical uniform: Ugg boots, a North Face jacket and leggings instead of pants.

Now, let me preface this by confessing I do, in fact, own a pair of Ugg boots, a North Face jacket and multiple pairs of leggings in various colors. To be fair, I chose to purchase said boots not for any sort of fashion statement — let's be honest, they are particularly UGGly — but because the sheepskin interior is very comfortable and keeps my feet extremely warm and dry.

And as for my North Face jacket, I didn't acquire it by typical means. My sister happened to find it in front of her home in Soulard the morning after Mardi Gras and after washing it no less than five times, she gave it to me. I guess I'm lucky some girls take their bead earning so seriously on this holiday and I must admit, North Face fleeces are much warmer than Columbia or any other brand I've owned.

But the whole leggings-as-pants, or "L.A.P." (as my friends and I have dubbed it) trend that seems to be the norm, especially into the fall and winter seasons, is not only tacky, but also illogical.

I would like to consider myself a fairly fashionable person when I make an effort and I view style as an expression of one's individuality. That being said, I've been wearing leggings for several years and I whole-heartedly embrace the trend but only under sufficiently long shirts, sweaters, skirts and dresses. When said sweater or shirt fails to cover your rear end, then your leggings become pants, and L.A.P. is not flattering.

Aside from the visual unattractiveness of L.A.P., I don't understand how a skintight layer of cotton and spandex is supposed to protect your legs and derrière from the harsh winter cold. Yes, stores do sell a thicker line of leggings meant for colder weather, but they shouldn't replace actual pants.

Another problem with this trend is though some nicer stores sell thick, well-made leggings, other low-end retailers such as Target and Forever 21 sell cheap, thin styles that not only provide a minimal barrier between the wearer's legs and the rest of the world, but also become virtually see-through in the sunlight. You might as well walk around in just your Uggs and North Face.

Although I don't believe L.A.P. is flattering on anyone — tall, thin, short, heavy or anything in between — there are always those girls who shouldn't own anything made from spandex, let alone wear L.A.P. in public. As I mentioned earlier, I'm all for freedom of expression, but leaving that little to the imagination is extremely distracting and an open invitation for stares.

My male roommates disagree with my opinion on L.A.P. and I don't think that's a coincidence. After all, why would young women choose to wear an item of clothing so tight and revealing if not for male attention? Maybe I'm just jealous because I'm not tall with long, thin legs, but even if I were, I think there's something to be said for modesty. In the meantime, as the temperature continues to drop, I'll continue to wear my leggings properly and not as a replacement for pants.