WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT LEGGINGS...

The weather has warmed up just enough here to actually wear them. Now, I know some of you feel quite strongly about leggings. I remember them the first time round too. (Oh, nostalgia for those white leggings with turquoise polka dots that helped me win the disco dancing competition in 1980 something!) It's just that, fast forward 20 years, one's legs are without a hope of ever wearing anything above the knee. The backs of my knees have actually been diagnosed as 'pre-varicosal' - thanks! Although my pins are quite shapely and I can't complain about my ankles and feet, from the calf up they should really never be seen without cover. Ever. So it was knee length all the way. Until, like a gift from the heavens, leggings came back.

The first time I actually thought they were a good idea was when Laura Bailey was pictured in ES magazine about six months ago wearing a pink strapless dress with mid calf leggings and heels. She looked superchic, a bit punky/edgy and the leggings saved the dress from looking too saccharine. So there.

I bought some black leggings (Wolford, £16 the style is called 'Velvet' but they are not, obviously made of velvet - that would be hideous. They are matt opaque footless tights basically.) But the English winter prevented me from wearing them until now. 'Cos, er socks and leggings are never a good look and boots kind of defeat the entire purpose. Unless you can do that leggings/socks/legwarmers/boots/ and pull it off thing, which I definitely can't. Too many items.

Now is the perfect time for leggings. It's still pretty cold but there's a glimmer of springiness which lends itself so well to layering. So I have been wearing my leggings, so far just in the evening with a dress or skirt and heels. I also have some grey ones and I'm looking for some in petrol blue or burgundy for day time. I have seen plenty of 13 year olds doing the whole ballet pump/leggings/cut off denim mini thing and it's cute for that age group but not for me. And haven't we DONE the cut off mini to death already?

I think the best way to wear leggings is to inject a bit of newness (did I just write 'newness?!') let's say freshness (although it seems like leggings have been around for ages) to an otherwise classic outfit or so that you can wear an otherwise out of bounds babydoll dress whilst still retaining some dignity. And PLEASE, (although I'm not usually one for rules) for the love of Kimberley Stewart and camel hooves, make sure your top/dress comes down to at least the top of your thighs.