By: Ian Roach and Megan Chapman
There are many reasons why men don’t wear leggings. They’re afraid of looking feminine or they feel as though they’re on display. Men don’t realize that all these excuses keep them from being the most comfortable that they can be. There was a thread on Reddit discussing this question and one person made a great point. “They used to wear them back when King Henry VIII reigned” so why don’t they now? If kings, who were considered the most powerful people in the 14th century, wore them back then why do men feel that it is too feminine now? Even the New York Times agrees with this. Vanessa from New York Times discusses how men wore leggings from the 15th to 18th centuries and all of a sudden they aren’t wearing them because they’re “too” feminine. However, there are some groups of men like, “rock stars and superheroes that never abandoned them.”
Through some digging, it can be known that leggings were actually created for men. In the 14th century, men in Scotland would rock leggings proudly up until around the 19th century when women started to wear them more. As time progressed women were wearing leggings more than men and the style of clothing changed for both men and women. A primary reason of the times was the durability concerns with leggings. Since leggings are primarily softer materials designed to stretch and be simple and lightweight the whole design was undermined compared to jeans in men’s everyday work life. Not only this but around this time is when fashion started to play a role in their modern lives
Just this past year Alessandro Michele of Gucci designed what they call “meggings” with formal jackets for their “Love Parade” collection. From this, we can see that companies like Gucci are trying to break the mold of what men can wear. They’re trying to show that leggings aren’t feminine. Along with Gucci many other sports companies followed this trend. Companies like Adidas, Nike, and Under Armour have always had options for sports with compression leggings but now they are starting to create more options along the line of comfort and all-day style. Although it’s still not that common for men to wear leggings more and more are wearing them today. NBA players are using them during their games, runners are using them for the cold, and some even admit to wearing them around the house.
Leggings have practical values and after reading lots of articles from men around the web we can say that men aren’t wearing them mostly because of public stipulations. Since men have a slightly different build than women it has created a more diverse problem for the design and creation of “meggings.” These are leggings that are more built for the male body and include features like; a more triangle-shaped middle connection, cups and supports for the valuables, and other considerations like height and length adjustment.
One site discussed that they bought a pair of leggings and wore them everywhere for a whole week. He wanted to see if anyone would question him and bring any concerns to him about his looks. Throughout his week he not only got no raised concerns but said he enjoyed his time wearing them and said he will be wearing them more often. The biggest benefits he lists are their practicality, they don’t ride up, have good groin area support, flexibility, and breathability.
From a woman’s point of view, I can tell you that leggings are extremely comfortable. I want others to feel the same comfort as well so I see there is no problem with men wearing leggings. Especially with the changes in gender identity today, we believe that there should be more gender-neutral clothes. You shouldn’t be bullied for the clothes that you wear. Clothes shouldn’t be gender specific if it brings comfort to only one gender. Clothing is a way for people to express themselves and be the true version of themselves. As the saying goes you should feel comfortable in your own clothes.
As a passionate fashion and cultural historian with a deep understanding of clothing trends and societal norms throughout history, I'm thrilled to shed light on the intriguing topic of men's leggings. My extensive knowledge in this field allows me to provide a comprehensive analysis of the concepts presented in the article by Ian Roach and Megan Chapman.
The authors touch upon a fascinating aspect of contemporary fashion—the reluctance of men to embrace leggings despite their historical precedence. Let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article:
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Historical Context:
- The article references a Reddit thread discussing why men avoid wearing leggings and highlights an insightful point made by a participant. It draws parallels with historical figures like King Henry VIII, emphasizing that men did wear leggings in the past. This historical perspective challenges the modern perception that leggings are exclusively feminine.
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New York Times Perspective:
- Vanessa from the New York Times is mentioned, affirming that men historically wore leggings from the 15th to the 18th centuries. The article argues that the shift away from men wearing leggings is a relatively recent development, and even reputable sources like the New York Times support this viewpoint.
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Evolution of Leggings:
- Leggings were initially created for men, as evidenced by their popularity in 14th-century Scotland. However, a shift occurred in the 19th century when women began wearing them more frequently. The article explores the evolving styles for both men and women, attributing the decline in men's leggings to changes in fashion and durability concerns.
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Modern Fashion Trends:
- Notably, the article highlights recent efforts by fashion powerhouses like Gucci to challenge traditional gender norms by introducing "meggings" in their collections. Other sports brands like Adidas, Nike, and Under Armour are also mentioned, signaling a broader trend toward creating comfortable and stylish options for men.
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Practical Benefits of Leggings for Men:
- The article touches on practical benefits of leggings for men, citing examples such as NBA players using them during games, runners utilizing them for cold weather, and individuals wearing them for comfort around the house. The practical values include flexibility, breathability, and support for the groin area.
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Challenges and Solutions:
- The article acknowledges that men face unique challenges in adopting leggings, given the differences in body types. It discusses the emergence of "meggings" designed specifically for the male body, addressing concerns such as middle connection shape, support features, and considerations for height and length adjustment.
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Personal Experiences:
- A personal account is shared, where an individual wore leggings for a week to gauge public reactions. Surprisingly, there were no negative comments, and the wearer found leggings to be practical, comfortable, and supportive, dispelling some common misconceptions.
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Gender Neutrality in Clothing:
- The article concludes with a perspective on gender-neutral clothing, emphasizing that clothing should not be restrictive based on gender. With changing attitudes toward gender identity, there is a call for more inclusive and comfortable options, challenging the notion that certain clothes are exclusively for one gender.
In summary, the article presents a well-researched exploration of men's leggings, blending historical context with contemporary fashion trends and advocating for a more inclusive approach to gender-neutral clothing.
