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Yes, you can wear shirts with leggings, if you promise to follow one very important rule. Say it with me, dear readers: "Leggings are not pants!" That means your shirt needs to be long enough to at least cover your derriere. As long as you steadfastly stick to this very important statute, you can definitely wear your leggings with shirts.
A Less Important Rule
Now that we've established the No. 1 rule in legging-and-shirt wearing, there is one more thing to address. Because leggings are, by their nature, super fitted, they tend to make the thighs look larger. Balance this out by going for a looser, more flowy shirt. You don't have to go crazy baggy here -- unless you want to. Just keep your top a little more loose for your best legging look.
Look to Celebs
Celebs have been rocking the leggings-with-shirts trend for a while. If you need a little inspiration on how to best wear the legging/shirt combo, look no further. Georgina Jagger threw a slouchy striped tank and sweatshirt over her casual black leggings. Pop star Beyonce got super trendy and paired her white T-shirt with studded leggings.
Ask the Experts
"Seventeen" magazine recommends pairing your leggings with a longer vintage tee and topping it off with a blazer for a fun, funky look. "Glamour" agrees that leggings look fab under a shirt. Look to the runways for proof, too. Designers like Derek Lam pair leggings with shirts constantly, whether they be simple T's or dressier blouses.
Other Options
If you just absolutely have to wear your leggings like pants, try ones that are more substantial. Go with either jean or leather leggings. They're thicker and look more like actual pants, so you have more options with what you wear on top. Actress Charlotte Gainsbourg pulled this look off perfectly, pairing her leather leggings with a shorter T and jacket. Longer shirts are still fine, of course, but shorter ones will be appropriate here, too. Just use your discretion. If you have to ask yourself if your outfit looks vulgar, it probably does. So keep it classy and keep it fashionable, and you're all set!
