Basic Definition

Jeggings are a continuation of the skinny jeans trend. Made thinner and with a lot more stretch, jeggings allow the closet fit without the extreme discomfort. They are typically made with a denim/spandex blend but other stretch fibers can be used. The invention of a fiber called Nylon PV1 allowed jeggings to come into existence.

edit

History

Spandex was first added to jeans to achieve a tighter fit in the 1970’s (check out our blog for the complete story). Eventually, as different fibers were combined to create various “new” textiles, a fabric that mimicked denim while giving a tight yet comfortable fit was invented. So when the trend of the last few years was tighter and tighter straight leg jeans the use of this fabric to create jeggings was a natural idea. The look was first popularized for exercise (jogging) wear but soon brought to the fashion mainstream by celebrities who wore them to make a statement.
edit

Style Advice

Because they lack bulk, jeggings can be worn in a variety of ways. Some people pair them under a dress or a roomy top, for a classic legging look. Since some designs include a faux zip fly and/or back pockets others wear the jeggings as pants with a cropped jacket or t shirt.
edit

Works Best For

Jeggings work best with Rectangle or Petite shapes because the legs are extremely narrow, this can make other body shapes seem disproportionate. However try jeggings on with a variety of tops and you could find a style that works for your body type.
edit

See Also

Stretch denim
Skinny jeans
Straight Leg Jeans
edit

References

Denim images from style.com and denimblog.com

Wikipedia: Jeggings
edit