Hi Ladies! Earlier this fall I partnered with Talbots to bring you a fabulous Fall jacket that’s a real traffic stopper! Check out this fun marching band jacket that I’m having a ball with! The whole outfit is on sale for Boxing Day!
It’s starting to get a little nippy out now we’re into September, and a great fall jacket that you can throw on with jeans makes the perfect transitional piece. I’m in love with this darling, red marching band jacket with it’s snappy tailored fit and cool military vibe.
Whether it’s impromptu drinks with the neighbors, a small, casual Christmas Eve at your sister-in-law’s, or a holiday lunch a couple of girlfriends, the holidays always seem to be chock-full of informal, fun gatherings with family and friends. What do you wear that is casual but in the spirit of Christmas?
One thing that comes to mind is a festive holiday tunic to wear with leggings. And when I say festive, I’m thinking modern, classy. No tacky holiday sweaters allowed! (LOL)
Here are 5 Festive Holiday Tunics to Wear With Leggings
1. Luxe Velvet Tunic
Velvet is a luxurious winter fabric and so glam for holiday time when you want to elevate the look of leggings. This beautiful stretchy velvet tunic has a lovely draped neckline that sits off to one shoulder and a flowy bottom. It’s elegant but also soft and cozy.
2. Holiday Red Sweater
Turtlenecks are always popular this time of year and one of the nicer ones I’ve seen is this red one.
I love the button up shoulder and elegant fold-over collar that gives this tunic an artsy look. The ribbing adds some nice texture and the length is perfect for leggings since it covers your bottom and your front.
Here’s a pretty tunic with some lace and sparkle to light up your Christmas. This is a black velvet burnout fabric, and as you can see, it looks quite dressy with a pair of leggings and some embellished slides.
Love the sleeves that give you some upper arm coverage without looking heavy.
4. Green Asymmetrical Tunic
A pretty blouse is lovely at Christmas with a pair of leggings, and this teal asymmetrical one is rich and exciting. This would look fabulous lounging around by the tree, and you’ll be sure to look fab in all your holiday photos!
5. Knit Color Block Tunic
Color block your Christmas in this chic black tunic trimmed in white. This beautiful knit turtleneck has a sleek modern look and looks fab with a pair of classic black riding boots.
How to Rock Leather Leggings at 40, 50, and Beyond
Leather leggings are edgy and sexy, so they can be challenging to wear after 40, 50, or more. Nailing the look, so you appear chic and not cheap, depends on what you wear them with. For example:
Don’t wear leather or faux leather leggings with:
short tops
tight tops
flimsy and see-through tops
very sexy tops with deep V-necks and cutouts
tall, leather high-heeled boots
anything with biker gang details like buckles, studs, and chains
weighty, masculine pieces
too much glitz, shine
cheap fabrics
too much jewelry
too many accessories
piles of make-up
big hair
stilettos
head to toe black
DO wear Black Leather Leggings with:
tops that flow and are not too tight, so the silhouette is broader, looser on top and narrow, skinny on the bottom
tops that end below your hip bones (minimum) or cover your bum, or go even longer
cozy, loose, slightly oversized sweaters
narrow cut ( but not tight) blouses and shirts
tunic style dresses or tops
blazers layered with a long top or sweater underneath
sporty and classic pieces
feminine touches like lace or peplum
long boyfriend cardigans and cascading sweaters
rich fabrics like cashmere, silk
trench coats, peacoats
color- brights or neutrals
tops with details at the neckline if you are wide below to draw the eye upwards
few accessories- leather pants are a statement on their own
Shoes or boots in black like your leggings to create a long, lean line. Flats like smoking slippers, ballet flats, and booties work well.
By pairing leather leggings with elegant classics, instead of other sexy, trendy pieces, you’ll balance out the edginess and create an ageless, hip outfit. Spanx faux leather leggings are a favorite of mine.
Need ideas for tops to wear with leather leggings? Try a bright jacket or a boyfriend cardigan. Yes, that is Martha Stewart wearing leather!
What Tops should you wear with Leather Leggings?
There are many tops you can wear with leggings, which I will show you below. What’s common about all of them is they cover your bottom. The best tops to wear with leather leggings are:
1. Long Shirts
A long shirt that covers, matte or silky adds a feminine touch to leather leggings, which have more of a masculine vibe.
2. Cozy Sweaters
A long sweater looks relaxed and cozy, while leather pants give your look an urban edge. This black turtleneck looks great with these brown leggings. Notice the cool faux croc print, which adds some nice texture and personality to this outfit.
3. Long Cardigans
A long open cardigan looks super sleek over black leggings and a tank top. This outfit looks super sporty with these athleticwear style leather leggings that are new from Spanx.
4. Dresses with Faux Leather Leggings
You can wear a dress with leather leggings, but it has to be the right dress. A short sweater dress with faux leather leggings is a chic look. Pair it with booties or your favorite slip-on statement sneakers.
5. Tunics and Knit Tunic Sweaters
Any tunic or tunic sweater looks great with leggings, particularly if it flares out a bit at the bottom. When it has an asymmetrical hem, it gives an artsy look. A solid color is always striking with black leather leggings or wear a print with a bit of black in it to tie in with the black leather leggings.
6. Blazers
Wear a slim fitting, but not baggy t-shirt ( untucked) + a blazer + leather leggings to look chic. This is a dressier version of blue jeans and a top. Layering pieces helps you create a wide to narrow shape that is very slimming.
7. Ponchos
A poncho is another knit that looks great with leather/faux leather leggings. A poncho + leggings + riding boots is a very chic look.
Not Sure about Leather Leggings? Try Suede Leggings, Instead
If you can’t quite wrap your head around leather leggings but want more of an edgy look than a Ponte legging, try suede leggings. They are hip, but also elegant.
One final note: I recently bought faux leggings, and after wearing them one, they stretched out, so you may want to think about going one size smaller. Check with the salesperson how much they are going to stretch.
Do you have ideas for what to wear with black leather leggings? If so, please comment or send me a photo. I would love to post it.
In Summertime the living is easy and getting dressed each day should be easy too. Whether you’re going for a walk on the beach or at the lake, sitting on a restaurant patio and sipping a cold glass of white wine with girlfriends, or relaxing in the backyard with a good book, you need easy outfit recipes that you don’t have to think about and can pull from your closet.
Here are some effortless, elegant, and casual outfits that always work in the summer.
1. Cute Sundress
When I think of summer, the first thing that comes to mind is a cute white or white print sundress. It’s just such a fresh and feminine look, and all you really need to complete it is a pair of cute sandals and a pretty bag. Continue reading “7 No-Fail Casual Summer Outfits”
The Coronavirus quarantine has everyone working at home. The only problem is…
When going to work is as simple as rolling out of bed and walking across the hall to your home office, it’s hard to feel motivated to get dressed. Your pajamas or workout clothes can quickly become your everyday business uniform.
Making an effort to get dressed for work is more important than you may think. Putting together a work outfit, even if it’s casual, creates a professional mindset that results in a more productive day. Here’s how to dress casually, be comfy, and get the job done when you are working from home.
Regular readers know I’m a fan of leggings for their comfort and versatility, but I’m also a stickler when styling them properly. Leggings are lighter and thinner than skinny jeans and pants, so they’re more revealing. This means you need a few long tops to wear with leggings included in your basic wardrobe.
The best long tops to wear with leggings cover your bum and your crotch. A longer top will make you look classy and feel confident wearing leggings over 40 and beyond. Here are a few styles of tops that work well with leggings and outfits to go with them. Continue reading “Best Long Tops to Wear With Leggings: 5 Outfits!”
Best Plus Size Tops and Tunics To Wear With Leggings
Finding the best plus size top to wear with leggings boils down to one simple thing – your body type. Not all styles of tops work for all shapes. Subtle details in the top you choose can make all the difference between looking o.k. or awesome.
Here’s how to determine your body type and choose the best plus size tops and tunics to wear with leggings.
Tops to Wear If you are an Hourglass
1. Plus Size Hourglass
If your shoulders and bust are about the same width and your waist is a lot smaller, then you have a pin-up girl hourglass figure. When dressing this shape, the goal is to show off not hide the waist for the most flattering look.
Choose long tops and tunics that skim your body and gently nip in at the waist. Any kind of top with a belt, sash, or drawstring is also ideal for playing up your curves.
Avoid loose baggy tops at all costs since they add bulk and will make you look much larger than you are.
Necklines can make a difference too. The hourglass has a great bust, so show it off with a flattering V-neck, scoop neck, or button-down shirt.
Leather Pants are modern and youthful and a little edgy too. For gals who prefer a more feminine look, here’s how to style them.
1. Add a Dose of Red
A beautiful sweater in a bold shot of red is a beautiful way to accent black leggings. Just make sure your sweater is long enough to cover your bottom and private parts.
Hi Deborah,
I’m 54, and I wear skinny jeans but would like to try wearing leggings. Am I too old? Can you wear them year-round……Confused in Cleveland
Hi Confused,
The short answer is, you’re never too old for leggings but, you’ll want to style them in a way that makes you look sophisticated, not silly. If you read my post on leggings vs. skinny jeans, you know that the main difference between the two is that leggings are not pants. They’re lighter, thinner, and much more revealing, so it’s best to wear them with a long top. You can wear them all year round. In the summer, some women prefer legging capris. Here are a few examples of leggings outfits you’ll love.
1. Leggings + A Long Shirt or Blouse
The older I get, the more comfort matters. I’m not willing to settle for anything that doesn’t feel 100% soft and good on my body, which is why I’m a fan of leggings. But over 40, or 50, you’ll look best so long as you go the sophisticated route.
Here’s a basic style recipe for leggings that is classy and casual. Take a black pair of leggings and wear them with a gorgeous, silky blouse like this black roll tab tunic. Add some faux leather leggings, leopard print mules, and a tan crossbody bag, and you’ve got a great weekend look. Continue reading “Can You Wear Leggings Over 40, 50 or Beyond?”
Oh, you love your leggings! They’re super comfy, lightweight, they’re black, and they’re slimming. But aren’t they just too darn dark, too hot and too heavy looking to wear in summer? If you are not ready to give up on leggings just because temperatures are rising, the answer may be to switch to something very similar: capris leggings.
Capris Leggings
Capris leggings are just like leggings, but shorter. They end at the knee, just below the knee, and some even go to several inches above the ankle. Like regular length leggings, they look great with long tops, tunics and long shirts and shirtdresses.
Instead of wearing them with ankle booties or tall boots like you do in winter, throw on a pair of cute sandals or slides. Wondering what to wear with capris leggings? Here are three stylish ways to look classy and cool in capris leggings this spring and summer. Continue reading “3 Ways to Style Capris Leggings in Summer”
The holidays are over, it’s time to get back to work, but you may not be totally into it. What can you wear if you work from home to feel comfy, cozy, and motivated to get back to business?
Here are 5 different types of work from home outfits to help get you off the couch and onto the computer this winter.
Work from Home Outfit – Skype Call Day
If you’ve set some business goals for 2020, you probably have a few important Skype calls on your schedule. Keep in mind; you’ll feel more confident and look more professional if you put a bit of thought into what you’ll wear.
Your clients are probably not expecting you to skype them from your home office in a formal suit, but a casually elegant business look will impress. Dressing up working from home for important meetings will also put you in the right mindset to speak with confidence and authority. What we wear really does affect how you feel about yourself and how others perceive you. Continue reading “5 Work From Home Outfits”
Most of us think of leggings as pretty casual, but there’s a lot you can do to dress them up, especially this time of year. Leggings are a chic, comfy choice for a holiday party when you style them with a festive top and some holiday-themed accessories. Here are five classy Christmas party outfit ideas with leggings.
1. Slip on a Sparkly Tunic
Dressing head toe in shades of black and gray look sophisticated and slimming. Add a sparkly fabric with metallic fibers to your monochromatic look, and you create a holiday outfit that is glamorous and chic. Suede boots, a velvet bag, and swingy beaded earrings make you party-ready. Get ready to shine! Continue reading “5 Classy Ways to Wear Leggings this Christmas”
1. Cute Sundress
