The morning chill is a reason of why many of us should just go back to sleep. But even if the brave ones do decide to get up and get ready for class, it does not give them the right to wear barely-there pants. There have been numerous debates on leggings, and the fashion market has even come out with a reason to justify legging-wearers: it’s so common. Yoga pants are also another excuse — a marketing term to make girls think that there is indeed a difference (but there really isn’t). The real problem isn’t the notorious fact that sometimes people do need to cover themselves. The problem is: why wear these sheer leggings with warm and cozy sweaters? Yes, leggings are good for those lazy Mondays, and the style is totally justifiable if it covers the behind, but some people only go halfway. It has always made more sense to dress from head to toe in warmer clothes if the weather does not permit lighter fabrics, but it seems as though a majority of the female population goes the extra mile only to cover the top but not the bottom.
Once the winter rolls in, I realized that some students also roll out their comfy sweaters. UMD hallways begin to fill up with girls in tight leggings and loose fitting Bulldog sweaters. But sometimes there should be a limit as to how often this occurs. The way I see it, leggings should be worn at home or at the gym because they are designed for inside wear and warmer weathers.
The contributing factor to this legging issue might also be the fact that the UMD campus has the exclusive option of either walking indoors or outdoors. The school is connected, so students who live in the dorms don’t ever have to worry about walking outside to class if they choose not to. The thought of class being just outside of the dorms can be a tempting reason to eliminate any discomfort of dragging around a winter coat, but that doesn’t mean pants are optional as well.
Last year there might have been a “record-break” as to how many people have abused this unwritten rule. UMD has a reputation of students who tend to religiously wear sweaters and leggings, and although there is no condemnation intended here, it’s important to point out to some girls that if they are going to wear warm sweaters, they should match them with warmer pants.
There have been alternative options to substitute leggings for something more solid. As mentioned earlier, the fashion markets have tried to create more wearable leggings by coming up with jeggings: a pair of jeans that are made with the elasticity of leggings. They’re revolutionary, really, because the days of trying to find longer shirts are over. Jeggings have pockets, zippers, and even the colored seams found on a pair of regular jeans. They have also been revitalized in other fashion departments as black pants.
Here at school, there is a high demand for dressing warm because, for whatever reason, Duluth collects more snow than anywhere else near the Twin Cities. People who live off campus or in the apartments also have to trudge down the sidewalks in even the worst weathers.
Not all is doomed, though. Since the outdoor environment at school can be disheartening at times, that does force some of us to appreciate the collective textured fabrics that fall allows us to wear. It’s a great excuse to layer and pile on the scarves and knitted accessories. The Bulldog sweatpants at school are also manufactured in a way so that they can withstand the cold snow (because of the fleece on the inside), so there really isn’t any reason to dress halfway.
Leggings will make a good comeback during the winter because there might be those cold days that require some extra layering — worn beneath regular pants of course.
BY CINDY VU vuxxx142@d.umn.edu