Fashion Trend: liquid leggings

Rihanna wearing liquid leggings

The strong ’80s vibe in today’s fashion trends needs no introduction. We hardly need to single out pieces- as I’ve discovered, it seems that even self-admitted non-fashionable people can spot the ’80s influence.

This week, I was speaking with fashion-forward friends about my new pair of liquid leggings and I was surprised when a few asked me what exactly are liquid leggings.

Miley Cyrus wearing liquid leggings

I was bewildered; have the liquid leggings simply not been clearly labelled in fashion spreads and celebrity gossip columns? Surely everyone has seen pictures of Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Nicky Hilton, and others in the oil-slick version of the legging?

Or maybe this is a trend that falls under the general ‘leggings’ category and so fails to arouse particular notice by busy fashionistas?

I decided to investigate further.

At a social event this weekend, I did a little poll asking what liquid leggings are. The results: blank looks and a curiosity about liquid pants.

Nicky Hilton in liquid leggings. Perhaps not the best way to pair them.

Lauren Conrad in liquid leggins. Yes!

Today, I will help put liquid leggings on the style radar. The leggings trend has now persisted for a few years with varying takes on the style recipe: cropped at the knee, full length to the ankle, gathered at the ankle, with buttons, capri length, high waisted, low waisted, and not to mention in a variety of colours, weights, textures, prints, and fabrics far more creative than the staple black Lycra from the original 1980s aerobics craze. All this to say that in 2008, strutting out of the house in a baggy sweater and platforms is okay with leggings on.

As a friend pointed out, leggings make all sorts of fashion crimes passable. A skirt that short with pantyhose would be red light district, but a sweater that falls just below your rear end with a pair of leggings- you’re high fashionable!  Ah, the paradox of contemporary fashion.

Liquid leggings are the latest adaptation of the legging pant. The ‘liquid’ identifier is their oil/leather sheen/matte finish that makes them look edgy and slightly reminiscent of Trinity’s sexy getup in the movie The Matrix.

Trinity in the movie The Matrix. Liquid everything.

Wear them with platforms and yes, cover up your behind with a ’60s inspired mini-dress or an ’80s sweater-dress. However you choose to pair them, these leggings are the ‘it’ silhouette right now. Their sheen references leather and oil and make us feel a little more glam in gloomy financial times. Besides, it’s kind of like investing in oil. Kinda.

Liquid leggings at MembersOnlyStyle.com (about $60 on sale)

If you like what you see, visit Members Only’s website to order your pair of liquid leggings on sale for about $60. The National Jean Company sells ‘as seen on Rihanna’  liquid leggings made by Members Only and available for purchase on their website. With many variations on the liquid look, shop and compare liquid leggings at Shop Style. And if you want more ideas as to how to wear them, get your celebrity and leggings fix at this blog I found that is all about celebrity in leggings-! Who knew?

Leather leggings, anyone? Check out my new favourite leather leggings here.

Thank you to thehipchick.com for the pictures of celebrities in leggings.