Outfits That Go With Leggings

Spandex. The word strikes fear into the hearts of many women who have long avoided the return of the 80s fashion trend. The good news is these new styles are not the hot pink aerobic workout attire of yesteryear. Today's leggings are chic, sophisticated, and best of all, comfortable!

How will you wear your leggings?
There are two ways to wear leggings-as tights or as pants. If you tend to dress more on the conservative side, than you should wear your leggings as you would wear a pair of tights. This means pairing them with something that covers your behind, like dresses, skirts or even a long sweater. Wear your outfit with a great pair of boots or flats for a casual look, or make it work for nighttime by adding some killer heels.

If you're the kind of person who likes to make a statement or you're just feeling especially brave one morning, then wear your leggings as you would wear pants. The main difference between this look and the first approach is that you're not covering your behind. The most important thing to keep in mind is balance, meaning, if you're wearing something tight on the bottom then balance it out with something looser on top. A flowy sleeveless top or a blazer will add the perfect amount of volume to balance out this look. You can even tuck a long top into your leggings and blouse it a bit for something different, but make sure that the fabric isn't too thick or it will look bunchy.

If you opt for this approach you should keep two things in mind: first, your leggings should be thick enough that you don't feel exposed; second, choose the appropriate undergarments to prevent any visible lines or bunching.

Flattering your body
Stretchy fabrics can be your best friend or your worst enemy, depending on how you wear them. If you're thicker in the middle, opt for a pair of leggings with a higher waist and a control top that will keep everything tucked in and your stomach looking sleek.

If you're not as confident with your legs, make the length of your leggings work for you. Make sure that the leggings hit at the thinnest part of your leg, either just below the calf or at the ankle. If you have bigger calves, add some knee high boots to make your legs lean. If your thighs are a problem area, pair your leggings with some heels to elongate your legs.  

Have fun
The best part of wearing leggings is the endless possibilities that they present. Some of the newer styles have quirky touches, like zippers, knee patches and lace trim. You can also experiment with color, just don't go too crazy with neon shades or you will end up looking like you just stepped out of a Cyndi Lauper video. Add accessories like long necklaces and chunky bracelets to dress up your outfit for a night on the town and a look that is sure to make you the center of attention.