It is not at all uncommon for me to see women of all ages wearing what I think are yoga pants - essentially slightly more opaque than tights. The majority seem to wear shirts that cover part of their butts, but certainly in warmer weather, some wear sports bras. Yes, all the “important bits” are covered, but not much is left to the imagination.
Wear whatever you want, but don’t act surprised when your choices elicit certain reactions.
To me, yoga pants and all other form of athletic wear belong at the gym. I don’t mean to the extent that one should never, for instance, stop at the store on the way home from the gym or whatever, but as an actual outfit? Hells no(again, for me). I can’t quite put my finger on it, but yoga pants outside the gym annoy me in some vague, irrational way. No offense to all you ladies that enjoy wearing them. I know it is my stupid hang-up.
I don’t wear them in public either, but I find them less objectionable than sweatpants. And if I did need to run out fast, I could conceivably see myself going out in them. I don’t even own a pair of sweatpants, I hate them so much.
Such as? You are grown men and I expect you to control yourselves.
You guys have made me think about this, and I think the key factor is that people stopped wearing pantyhose.
Which is AWESOME because pantyhose look ridiculous and are only good for a couple of wearings.
That leaves, however, a problem in cooler weather. People still need to wear something on their legs if the are going to wear skirts.
Black tights are the answer, but you can only wear black tights with black shoes, which is boring and looks dowdy. So, back came leggings, which are footless and can be worn with any shoes.
As people started wearing leggings, they realized that they could wear MUCH shorter dresses with them. And even tunics, which have always seems kind of cool but never really looked right before. The came hi-lo hemlines, where the front and back are different heights. And also just big menswear style shirts. And among young folks, finally, just plain shirts.
Kids today don’t know that leggings were once taboo. They have never lived in a time that they were acceptable. It’s just clothing now.
What he’s trying to say is that yoga pants emphasize the female form very nicely.
Much like a buff dude wearing a muscle shirt.
Yes, that’s an apt spoof of the phenomenon in question.
I think the reactions are not going to be externalized (someone saying something), but people are going to be looking at you as though you are skimpily dressed.
That’s easy: back in the early '80s, with the aerobics craze.
I’m old enough to think that women wearing leggings as pants look like idiots who forgot to finish getting dressed, but I’m also old enough to remember the leotards and legwarmers fad…which was also pretty idiotic looking. Plus ça change and all that.
Such as look. Form opinions. Not just men, not necessarily complimentary, and certainly not confined to womens’ choice of yoga pants.
I can leave my house dressed however I wish. But I’d be foolish if I acted as tho my choices had no effect on how I’m perceived.
Sure, look, form opinions, whatever. You guys, I judge, too! That’s not a problem. But we’re telling you, that we aren’t wearing them with you guys in mind. We’re just wearing them.
I actually don’t wear yoga pants. I don’t own any. But that’s more because I’m not the demographic it seized - younger cute white girls. I’m almost 40, it kind of missed me entirely. But I still like them better than sweatpants, which were just gross.
My age group mocked people who went out in sweatpants. Now we are mocking people who go out in yoga pants. Next generation will find something else. I get it, it’s comfortable, and some people will adopt them and some will not.
Do yoga pants have pockets? If not, where do you keep stuff?
Most women’s clothing does not have pockets. Women generally carry purses.
You know, whatever we decide to wear, some people will think it looks stupid or immodest or unfashionable or whatever. My yoga pants, which I occasionally wear in public, fit almost exactly like my bootcut jeans. Like this. The only thing immodest about them is that they hug my ass. So do my jeans. I’m not sure what the big deal is.
I’m kind of over trying please everyone with my fashion choices. It’s impossible. If you want to look at my ass in yoga pants, whatever. As long as you don’t touch me, oggle all you want. Form your opinions, judge away. No matter what I wear, someone isn’t going to like it.
While I readily accept that for the vast majority of women, it would shock me if someone contended that NO woman EVER chose yoga pants out of a desire to elicit a reaction.
I guess I may be overly body conscious, but it always surprises me when people choose to present themselves in a manner that is (IMO) especially unflattering. For example, the woman who does not have a particularly fit butt, but does not choose a shirt that extends below the waist over skin-fitting yoga pants.
Or the old guy who takes his shirt off. Or the old guy on the beach with the banana sling. See, I’m an equal opportunity jerk. Generally it seems the first guy to take his shirt off, is the last guy you want to see without a shirt.
I guess I should be happy that these people are so comfortable with their bodies, or care so little about others’ opinions. I also acknowledge I may be considered “size-ist.” I react less to a large person in form-fitting gear at the gym. I respect that they are there making the effort. But I do wonder why someone who is very large chooses to wear something form fitting, instead of the very comfortable loose-fitting workout gear available. In no way am I relegating plus-sized women to caftans and mumus. But there is a wide range of fashion choices between those extremes.
[Paraphrasing Stephen Crane*]
A man said to the woman wearing yoga pants:
“Madam, you are carbonating my hormones!”
“However,” replied the woman,
“The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation.”
[/Paraphrasing Stephen Crane]
*actual poem = A Man Said to the Universe by Stephen Crane | Poetry Foundation
So? Go on ahead and look. Form opinions. Knock yourself out.
However, your opinions of me or my clothing are none of my damn business. Also, I don’t care if you think I’m “immodest” or whatever. You go right on ahead and think whatever the fuck all y’all want to.
But there is absolutely no reason for you to* tell me* about your looking, your thoughts, your opinions. Nobody cares about your boner.
My favorite pair of jeans have acquired a rather long rip (5" or so) just on the outside of the left butt pocket. Inspired by this thread, I’m going to keep wearing them, occasionally accompanied by a bright red undergarment in its natural spot in the rotation (I swear I thought there were 2 greys in the package!)
So if you’re out and about and see a tall American Indian flashing red or black or (yes) grey, I’d appreciate it if you kept your disgusting thoughts and comments to yourself. Thank you for your consideration.
And thank *you *for your butt exposing jeans
In all seriousness, I actually do prefer a pair of “authentically” ripped jeans to yoga pants.
^ This right here, actually.
Also, I think that in a lot of cases, a good many people are just flat out overestimating the amount of thought that goes into outfit selection. And are certainly overestimating the amount of thought that goes into the “what will other people think?” aspect of outfit selection.
Not that I don’t love me a nice judging when someone has failed spectacularly, mind you. It is a valued and cherished part of my routine for my husband and I to (discretely and strictly to each other) point them out to each other while going about our business (often while failing at outfit selection ourselves).
One of the best parts about living here is how often I see women doing exactly that.
Though per other ladies’ complaints above, they don’t hear me commenting, nor (I hope!) see me ogling.
Seconded!
Also, how *you *doin’? 
