As any true fashion lady like yourself understands, knowing the origin of your favourite trends makes wearing them all the more gratifying. And there’s arguably no bigger trend right now than leggings. We’re all well aware of the fashion circle everything comes back again. When it comes to this pant, it turns out they’ve been “coming back” for centuries. While researching the history of long tights we were surprised to discover that the origin of the trend dates way back to the 14th century, and men were actually the first to wear them. But since the mid-20th century, this pants have been a closet staple for it girls and others who love them. Given their lengthy tenure , I have decided to take an in-depth look into the storied history of the long tight craze, which was largely dictated by celebrities then just as it is today.
Below Are Fascinating Facts About The History Of Leggings
Leggings In 14th Century
Surprisingly, the first known appearances of leggings were on men in 14th-century Scotland. Initially, the leggings they wore were two separate, hip-high, boot-like apparatuses made of either leather or chainmail, intended for both casual and military garb. They eventually evolved into thick garments, like tights, that men wore under their cotehardies during Renaissance times. This pant remained a predominantly male trend up until the 19th century when women began wearing iterations of their own.
Leggings In 1950s
The modern-day evolution of this pant really began in the 1950s. One of the original fashion girls Audrey Hepburn, is as much associated with the rise of Capri pants as she was with her iconic cat-eye sunglasses. Hepburn donned the slim, waist-defining cropped black pants for 1954’s Sabrina, and many other women followed suit throughout the decade. While they weren’t quite the stretchy pants that come to mind today, they were a distinct departure from the wide-leg styles that were popular in the 1940s.
1970s/1980s On Leggings
By now, this pant has become a full-blown trend. Thanks to some of the decade’s biggest celebrities like Debbie Harry, Olivia Newton-John disco pants. The transformation of the long tight craze of the 1970s carried over into the 1980s when Madonna adopted them as one of her wardrobe staples, staples, frequently wearing them on stage and infamously featuring them in her like a virgin video. During the ‘80s, the Capri length became popular, and leggings were often colourful and patterned in keeping with the bold look of the decade.
Leggings in 2000
After fading from relevance for a few years at the turn of the 21st century, leggings were back with a vengeance, as the decade’s biggest girls started wearing Capri versions of the trend again, often under dresses and skirts. Toward the end of the decade, full length liquid leggings replaced pants for the most part.
