Sun 9 Jan 2005
Yes, legwarmers are back. Two and a half years ago only grandmas shopping for their grandkids would ask for legwarmers at Christmas time. We laughed quietly to ourselves: “Silly Granny, don’t you know legwarmers have been out of style since Whitney Houston sported them with jeans?” Well the last laugh was had by all dancewear shopping grandmas out there. This last Christmas not only did dancers purchase legwarmers in vast quantities but young F.C. hipsters perused our vast selection of striped and solid warmers.
I can’t do legwarmers, I just can’t. They’re hot, they’re itchy, they’re not worth it and as a dancer, I feel like a terrible sell-out wearing them. But because I am always curious about how dance trends effect mainstream fashion, I did some research and found some appaling abuse of the new legwarmer trend. Like attaching a legwarmer cuff to boots and shoes:
With the growing trend of legwarmers comes the reintroduction of the pointy-toed high heel. This saddens me deeply. I had grown to love and be spoiled by chunky platforms, round, sturdy Dr. Martins, and thick soled sneakers. Not to mention the complete acceptance of Birkenstock as fashionable AND comfortable. Perhaps it’s my grunge upbringing (I came into my own at the height of flannel and denim), but I never had to pull my pants closed with needle nosed pliers or slide on a foot-mutilating pair of pointy heels.
The problem is now I am faced with a fashion dilemma: Do I buy a pair of pointy boots because, damn, they make my legs look great? Or do I wait until the trend passes and stick to my comfortable Dansko clogs…
Granted, I pick and choose my trends…sometimes I’ll go with one if I think I can get away with it. Most of the time I’ll wait the trend out because I know if I buy a piece it will not become timely or classic.
For example, trends I decided to bypass:
1) Shawls with huge floral pins.
2) Mini-skirts (this was a tough one because I’m still not sure if I’m too old for minis. They’re also very difficult to wear at work and even with shorts underneath there is a fear of the token muff shot).
3) Fake Fur trimmed coats, shirts, etc.
4) Horizontally Striped polo shirts.
5) Ugg Boots (You know, those hideous furry, well-insulated, boots people have been wearing? God, I hate those ugly boots).
Trends I decided to jump on:
1) Capris and short pants.
2) Flip Flops
3) One shouldered tops.
4) Wearing scarves as belts.
5) Shrugs.
A note about shrugs; Dancers have been sporting these legwarmers for arms for years now:
All of a sudden the Morning Show is showing NY socialities sporting shrugs.
Other trends that dancewear has started? Well, for example:
1) The ballet slipper flat.
2) Wearing leotards under jeans, (this died in the mid-90s thank God. Did anyone wear one of those leotards with the button crotch?)
3) Extensive use of mesh.
4) Tights. Dance makers introduced supplex tights that were a far cry from the nasty, baggy, nylon tights that people used to forgo for pantyhos.
Any that I’ve missed?
January 9th, 2005 at 9:14 pm
Layers was the only thing that I might add, particularly the tight tank top underneath a sweatshirt or t-shirt with the neck cut out.
And the legwarmer trend is not the only dancewear trend I find disturbing (all the girls in my dance classes are about 18-20, and very trendy). I also hate the little shorts that have writing across the butt. It is very disturbing when you find yourself at the barre and you keep staring at someone’s ass that says “Brat” or “Ducks” (the school mascot) or whatever. Whatever happened to pretty ballet skirts, people? Luckily, there are a few diehards in my ballet class like me.
January 11th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
I have to agree on the hotpants issue.
Here’s an awful pair now:
http://216.237.7.59/image/419×450/187318.jpg
I think I hate those almost as much as those god-awful tacky “Born to Dance” or “I’d rather be dancing!!” cheese-ball shirts I see at all the little-kid dancing shops. (Sorry if you sell those Mara ^_^;; They just drive me nuts.
On the other hand though, I love that heels are comming back in! I think they are totally classy. And I really dislike thick-soled shoes. Sorry! Don’t hurt me!! You always do have good fashion sense Mara!!