Leg warmers are coverings for the lower legs, similar to socks but thicker and generally footless. Leg warmers were originally dancewear worn by ballet and other classic dancers. Leg warmers are thought by some dancers to warm the lower calf, but no proof as to any benefit has been proven to the effect of leg warmers.
Construction
Traditionally knitted from pure wool, leg warmers are more typically made of cotton, synthetic fibers, or both. Some are made of other materials, such as chenille. Other leg warmers are made of wool, camel hair and Old English Sheep Dog hair.
Leg warmers can vary in length, though not in width, due to the material's stretchiness. They are commonly worn to just below the knee, though many dancers prefer it to extend to cover the lower parts of the thigh. Some leg warmers cover the entire foot; these warmers usually have a pad that grips the floor so the dancer does not slip - however this has been known to cause injury. Some leg warmers are particularly short and made of thinner material; these are also known as 'ankle warmers'.
As a fashion
In the early 1980s, leg warmers became a fad, and wearing them was fashionable among teenage girls. Their popularity was partly due to the influence of the films Fame and Flashdance and the concurrent aerobics craze. They were worn with leggings, jeans, and tights or as part of aerobic wear. However, they had retreated back into relative obscurity by 1989, although they are still used by dancers.[1]
Around 2004, leg warmers made a comeback and were once again worn as a fashion item. Reflecting changing tastes, they were usually designed in more toned-down colors than the loud, often fluorescent colors of the 1980s style. Worn to dress up casual fall and winter outfits, leg warmers are often worn over tights or leggings and matched with a short or long skirt, or worn over jeans. Leg warmers may be worn with almost any type of shoes–even flip flops–although they more often worn with boots or flats. Leg warmers are frequently worn in the rave scene.
Leg warmers worn as fashion pieces generally do not serve any other useful function. This is especially true of those who wear leg warmers 'scrunched' around the ankles. A new take on leg 'warmers' has been arm warmers and cleaves (arm warmers with an attached neck). These were first seen as a wider fashion piece in the fall of 2004.
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