There have been loads of fashion changes over the years, but this one took me by surprise upon my return to Canada. Perhaps it鈥檚 just a Lower Mainland or a 樱桃视频thing 鈥� the yoga pants or leggings phenomenon.听
Women are wearing them all the time, everywhere, as they are becoming the go-to pants for ladies. I figure if I had to pay around $90 for a pair from Lululemon I鈥檇 rock them all the time too. From what I understand they are crazy comfortable, very supportive and available in many colors and designs. I often catch myself peeking. Yeah, guilty as charged鈥� sorry.听
Do I see anything wrong with wearing yoga pants? Generally speaking, no I do not. Yoga pants are functional and serve a purpose. Besides, women have been wearing tight-fittin鈥� pants for years. Some can think back to the old Jordache jeans, the hip-suffocating bell bottoms, the 鈥�80s polyester short shorts (and knee-high, three-stripe socks).听
What鈥檚 the difference? I鈥檓 sure when leggings became fashion there was a gradual change, a change I wasn鈥檛 aware of when I was living in the Gulf (otherwise I would have invested in Lululemon stock), so coming back from a conservative region this was a bit of a head turner.听
On the Arabian Peninsula the local men most commonly wear an outfit called a dishdasha and the women wear an abaya. They are also comfortable to wear, come in different colours, but they are a lot more free-flowing.
听 In Oman, the locals don鈥檛 have to wear these outfits. They can wear what they like, but they wear it because it is their national dress and they鈥檙e proud to showcase their national identity and not for any religious purpose. Imagine all Canadians wearing a similar outfit to show how proud we are to be Canadian! However, they are still a modest people and I don鈥檛 think the yoga pants trend will be as prevalent as it has become here 鈥� although women do wear them over there while they are at home or when they do actual yoga.听
Could yoga pants be something we can all get behind as a national dress, perhaps? It seems even men鈥檚 yoga pants sales are on the rise. I don鈥檛 think I鈥檒l be rocking a pair, but I do love my track pants. I wear them everywhere mainly for the same reasons you ladies wear your leggings. Although when you drive around downtown Vancouver the suit and pencil skirts is still the norm, whereas here in 樱桃视频leggings can pass as professional attire.听
It seems we are ahead in a cultural shift in the way women are dressing and how they鈥檙e approaching their work style. Companies in North America have started to shift toward more relaxed environments and adopting policies to make room for a more casual wardrobe. Add in the recent wave of designer fitness apparel lines, and it鈥檚 no wonder women 鈥撎� especially those who have a mix bag of a day that includes desk work, errands and taking care of kids 鈥� are wearing their yoga pants from breakfast until bedtime.
- Originally a 樱桃视频resident, Marcus Monopoli left for the Middle East in 2008 for radio gigs in Egypt and Oman. He moved back last summer.听
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