# LAP-ing is not allowed. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 26, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122 "2010-09-26T18:39:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bayesian\_Empirimancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@Bayesian\_Empirimancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayesian_Empirimancer)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/1 "2010-09-26T18:39:56Z")
I’m noticing this annoying trend with most women around my age. I would be off to classes, and along the way, without fail, there would always be a random woman wearing leggings as pants (LAP). It’s gross and annoying, even more so if they are overweight. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/2 "2010-09-27T20:58:40Z")
Random Woman found a pair of level 41 leggings! This wondrous godsend has accelerated them 0 days, 01:05:27 towards level 37. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/3 "2010-09-27T21:19:59Z")
Well, I can’t exactly wear them as hats. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/4 "2010-09-27T21:35:20Z")
I don’t think I’ve seen this. Have any pics for an example? ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_of_the_Lake)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/5 "2010-09-27T21:58:35Z")
> [@Bayesian\_Empirimancer](#): > > I’m noticing this annoying trend with most women around my age. I would be off to classes, and along the way, without fail, there would always be a random woman wearing leggings as pants (LAP). It’s gross and annoying, even more so if they are overweight. Yeah, I’ve noticed this trend. I blame Lindsey with her [custom line of leggings](http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/go_fug_yourself/2009/09/612fug093009.html). Though worse is the trend of wearing [tights as pants](http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/go_fug_yourself/2010/09/freaky_fugday092410.html#more). Fashion tip: Some of the more cutting edge leggings come with built in kneepads, as modeled by [Paris](http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-search.cgi?search=built+in+kneepads&IncludeBlogs=1&limit=10), because clearly you need kneepads on your leggings just in case you’re going to suddenly decide to be kneeling on the ground for extended periods of time. Though I suppose with kneepads is better than without, [(I’m talking to you Mischa)](http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/2010/09/20/45157PCN_Barton05.jpg)… ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/6 "2010-09-27T22:13:06Z")
Eh, another wanna-be Fashion Police. The only fashion rules I tend to follow any more are laws about indecent exposure. I don’t wear leggings as pants, but only because I’m too old, uncool, and dorky to own any leggings. I do wear Crocs in public, and Birkenstocks, sometimes WITH WHITE SOCKS! And I’d like to know what you, or anybody else, is going to do about it! Nyaah nyaah! I fart in your general direction! ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/7 "2010-09-27T22:15:32Z")
> [@Mr.Accident](#): > > I don’t think I’ve seen this. Have any pics for an example? Yeah, what the hell are leggings anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/8 "2010-09-27T22:19:22Z")
Those aren’t pants? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/9 "2010-09-28T01:45:14Z")
You’ve never experienced true leggings-as-pants till you’ve had an overweight girl in front of you in the weightlifting class wear a pair of almost-sheer ones that became actually-sheer ones when she leaned over for deadlifts. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/10 "2010-09-28T02:07:39Z")
Leggings are opaque, not always form-fitting pant substitutes that are appropriate to wear under some blouses, dresses and tops that do not fall well over regular slacks or jeans that might have bulky waistbands, pockets, zippers or other stuff that would ruin the line of the top. They shouldn’t be sheer and revealing. That’s my take on it. Tights - well, I think of this more of a 70s term - lighter weight fabric, maybe more like sheer-ish exercise wear for under a leotard or a slightly more opaque choice where you might wear pantyhose. Certainly should not be worn as pant substitutes. Gym-goers should wear fabrics or rags made for working out - that don’t go sheer with sweat! ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/11 "2010-09-28T04:12:29Z")
I cannot, for the life of me, figure out a way to wear leggings that doesn’t make my legs look fat and short. Somehow the way it cuts off at the ankle is most unflattering. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/12 "2010-09-28T05:28:09Z")
Oh man, I hate this look. It seems like all anyone wears is black leggings with a frumpy loose shirt, perhaps with an unflattering wide belt to really emphasize how unattractive it all is. Now, I’ll admit I have a pair I’ll wear under short skirts and dresses to extend my summer wardrobe into fall. But never, ever, with just a shirt. It always looks like a little kid trying on her mom’s clothes from the 80s, except with a dash of pathos- what should be fresh and innocent is a lumpy, over-made up adult trying way to hard to do something she can’t possibly believe in. Everyone- even extremely attractive women- just look like the sad used-up ghosts of pop culture in this look. I swear this look makes otherwise good looking people suddenly spout acne, sagging breasts and stringy hair. It doesn’t look young, but it also doesn’t look mature. It doesn’t look fashionable but it also doesn’t look casual. It just looks like the inside of a nearly empty subway car around 9:00 PM- too late to be coming home from work, too early to be coming home from nightlife. It looks like a diet coke and a KFC double down, eaten alone. It looks like the lighting of an airport after hours. Exactly what are you trying to achieve? Nothing good. That is clear. Nothing good at all. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/13 "2010-09-28T05:41:43Z")
> [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](#): > > Leggings are opaque, not always form-fitting pant substitutes that are appropriate to wear under some blouses, dresses and tops that do not fall well over regular slacks or jeans that might have bulky waistbands, pockets, zippers or other stuff that would ruin the line of the top. They shouldn’t be sheer and revealing. That’s my take on it. > > Tights - well, I think of this more of a 70s term - lighter weight fabric, maybe more like sheer-ish exercise wear for under a leotard or a slightly more opaque choice where you might wear pantyhose. Certainly should not be worn as pant substitutes. Gym-goers should wear fabrics or rags made for working out - that don’t go sheer with sweat! I’m confused. Are leggings the same thing as stirrup pants or not? People used to refer to stirrup pants as “leggings” back in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/14 "2010-09-28T05:54:27Z")
> [@Bayesian\_Empirimancer](#): > > …without fail, there would always be a random woman wearing leggings as pants. Isn’t it always just the random woman? Why can’t it ever be a specific woman? ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/15 "2010-09-28T08:50:29Z")
My daughter sometimes wears leggings as pants, usually paired with a long T-shirt. She also owns a pair of leggings that look like they’re made of jeans fabric - “jeggings,” she calls them. God, I hate that word. ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_of_the_Lake)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/16 "2010-09-28T14:43:40Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I’m confused. Are leggings the same thing as stirrup pants or not? People used to refer to stirrup pants as “leggings” back in the 80s. They can be, as seen [here](http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&tag=stirrups%20are%20for%20equestrians%20or%20gynecologists&limit=10&IncludeBlogs=1). However, most modern leggings do not have foot stir ups. The dark side of the force here, as you can see from the second picture, (and as mentioned by **lindsaybluth** ): many leggings are so sheer that they really are tights. I personally am not judging you leggings as pants people (out loud), but I draw the line at tights as pants. \*\* Lucky 13\*\* …jeggings…because skinny jeans weren’t unflattering enough. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/17 "2010-09-28T17:17:47Z")
Pssh. Leggings are so out. [Skants](http://www.regretsy.com/2010/01/26/skants/) are where it’s at. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/18 "2010-09-28T17:23:14Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > > [@Bayesian\_Empirimancer](#): > > > > …without fail, there would always be a random woman wearing leggings as pants. > > Isn’t it always just the random woman? Why can’t it ever be a specific woman? I am Specific Woman! I wear leggings on the weekends all the time and I don’t care if you don’t like it. I wear them with long sweaters and sweatshirts because they’re extremely comfortable. So nyah. ETA - Mine are not see-through. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/19 "2010-09-28T17:48:54Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Are leggings the same thing as stirrup pants or not? People used to refer to stirrup pants as “leggings” back in the 80s. Big, loose sweaters and stirrup pants are back, but without the stirrups? I loved that look back in the 80’s. I generally wear loose-fitting tops now, because I like them. Maybe I’ll have to go clothes shopping sometime. I gave up on fashion at age 16, and never looked back. Never regretted it, either. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122/20 "2010-09-28T18:02:36Z")
Well, I approve. I also approve of the new look consisting of skin-tight jeans and knee boots. Please continue these trends. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lap-ing-is-not-allowed/555122.md?page=2)