Career Chic: Leggings at work?

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Dear Winnie, dearwinnie.com Leggings at Work, Net-a-Porter, Juicy Couture Corduroy low-rise jean-style leggings

(Juicy Couture/Net-A-Porter)

I was virtual window shopping yesterday— you know, when you add everything to your ‘favorite items’ list instead of your ‘shopping cart’ with the honest, yet rarely fulfilled intent to buy it later— and realized quite a few online stores mix leggings in with pants. I’m sure this enrages the pants purists who will never accept leggings as a sufficient bottom, but I’m not that orthodox. I’m more of a conservative pants-ist. I believe leggings can be worn as bottoms under certain shirt and location— a wedding is not one of those places, and work is still up in the air. This made me wonder, what would Winnie do?

Or, better yet, what would a Voguette wear? Are leggings allowed to be worn as pants (for lack of a better word) in the hallowed halls of Vogue or would any unwitting intern receive a scribbled “No need to come back tomorrow” sticky note, if your watchful eye happens to catch them sporting these still controversial bottoms?

I’ve worn leggings to my internship before. I’ll admit it, but never cropped leggings and always with my tallest heels, a shirt that qualifies as a tunic without argument, and a blazer. However, I’m sure the Ladies’ Home Journal offices are much more casual than those of Vogue.

Let’s say leggings are permitted to be worn at Vogue, is there a specific style of legging? Also, if only decorative leggings are to be worn, why not just wear tights? They’re pretty much the same thing, right? Are they only appropriate for Casual Fridays like jeans, or can they be worn any day of the week? Is there an age/job title limit on leggings?

Hells bells! I have so many questions. This is one of those times when I wish I knew someone who works at Vogue. I’m having a dilemma and need answers. What say you? Leggings at work, yea or nay?

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By | January 20th, 2011 | Posted in Career Chic, Fashion | |
  • C3dezyne

    I may not work for Vogue, but I have worn leggings to work quite often in both my previous corporate job (though I DID get away with pink hair there, too…) and my current job in the fashion industry! Although I agree with you about only wearing them with the appropriate outfit (tall boots, long tunics/sweaters/jackets), and have not dared to wear them with anything else at my place of work!

    • http://dearwinnie.com Chelsea Rae

      Pink hair? You’re ballsy, I like it!

  • http://www.iwantyoutoknow.co.uk Kb

    I think you need a top of an appropriate length and possible further layering. I just think they’re too tight to be worn just as pants, you need some mystery there.

    • http://dearwinnie.com Chelsea Rae

      I like that you used the wore mystery. I agree, they leave little to the imagination. And, layering seems to be a common consensus.

  • http://thosegraces.com Courtney

    Oh goodness! From an young professional’s Point of View (that being me, of course), I could never wear leggings to work. In fact, I don’t think anyone should wear leggings to work unless they are working out on a lunch break.

    • http://dearwinnie.com Chelsea Rae

      Do you think it depends on the type of industry you work in as well? When I was temping at my mom’s old job doing clerical work–it was a nurse home care service for elderly and sick people, but I worked in a corporate office– my mom almost freaked out when I decided to wear a skirt without stockings. It was just something she, having worked in the nursing industry for 20+ years, wouldn’t do. I explained that I would never even see a patient so the same rules didn’t apply. I wonder if the legging thing is something similar? I mean, would it be ok to wear leggings if yu worked for say, Terry Richardson, or do you just have a blanket “NO LEGGINGS” rule?