Love Them or Hate Them, Leg Warmers Are Back For Winter
Inspired by Balletcore, leg warmers are making a comeback as more Y2K trends are revived.
The recent 2000s revival is like a trip back in time, drawing from the many trends of that millennium. As each month passes, we are seeing the vest worn as a shirt, strap sandals, cargo pants, and light wash bootcut jeans. Balletcore, which is a precedent of leg warmers, also came back in full force during the month of fashion. And now, leg warmers are making a reappearance in fashion while trends continue to evolve.
Leg warmers were first used as a garment for classical dancers, ballet specifically, to keep the dancers’ lower legs warm during long periods of practice. The accessory then became the It accessory outside of its realm and made its way to fashion enthusiasts specifically in the ’80s with bright colors, neons, and a mix-and-match stylistic choice. Today, the trend has emerged with a different palette of colors, more so on the neutral side. Leg warmers, which were popularized on TikTok, are showcased with having different textures, monochromatic outfits, or making the leg warmer stand for themselves.
During the '80s, Madonna introduced leg warmers when she released the music video “Hung Up,” where she is performing in them, in an aerobatic style. Although fashionistas at the time were not enthusiastic about the trend, leg warmers survived and continued to dominate fashion during the ‘90s, and 2000s. From Bella Hadid to fashion week goers to It girls, scroll down for some inspiration on how to enter the Y2K trend.
