Risky Business: Taking Fashion Risks

I remember enviously studying the image of Daisy Lowe in her black, wet look leggings. Wowza, she looked so good: sexy, cool… and slim. Still - not for me. Then came Jessica, Cameron, Lindsey, Ashlee, Cheryl, Rhianna, Posh…and shock horror, my friends. I'd thought this rather daring trend would be one for A –D listers, one that I could covet but discard as a trend for others, not us normal folk - or rather I hoped it would be.

Alas, since the trend exploded not one night out has passed without my boyfriend’s eyes being transfixed by a girl sporting the licked legwear with edgy aplomb. Don't get me wrong - I think it's a great look, but there is something quite wild, and risqué about these leg cinchers, and I wasn't quite sure that my rather tame self could carry off the look (although my Scorpio-an, secretive dark side was urging me to give them a try).

Some of you may have seen (or drooled over) the shots of Bond girl Gemma Arteron drowned by crude oil, her body smothered and dripping in the black, treacle-like liquid. The way the substance glides over her womanly curves, the light creates wavy strips of white and gives an uncanny smoothness to her body, mirroring perfectly the power of leggings in question and further persuaded me to avoid wearing on my less than Bond girl body. Why would I seek a garment that does the opposite of hide a multitude of sins, particularly as the winter months loom and the amount of sins inevitably increases!

Many of you will fondly remember your first viewing of Grease. Adoring the transformation of prude, prim Sandy to the big haired, slinky rock chick. Those iconic lycra sheened leggings showing off her ridiculously teeny frame, causing Danny lusty palpitations. At the time, the film’s cheeky double entendres and American slang flew way over our naïve minds, the whole Rizzo 'knocked up' storyline completely passing me by first time round.

But there were a few things we did know. We adored the songs and danced along, gazing into any nearby reflective surface and had our first celebrity crush, on the now depressingly old John Travolta (or the badboy Kenickie). We also knew and we wanted to be her (post makeover), thinking that a mere change of outfit could get us the man of our dreams (donning mum’s red lipstick and holding one of those fake party shop cigarettes to imagine the scenario). In our pure, impressionable years we didn't question the film’s somewhat shallow and unrealistic approach to romance!

I have to admit I have always veered closer to the original Sandy. Although not particularly conservative or straight laced, I am by no means overtly sexual, and any attempts to be alluring (which only occur when fuelled with alcohol) are frankly embarrassing. To me the thought that anyone could file me under the sex kitten category is simply laughable. This being the case I either embrace grown up elegant ensembles, the girly aesthetic with pinched waist and full skirt, or the scruffy bum look of beanie hat, hoodie, jeans and Converse. Body-con, mini, shiny and their ilk do not register with me… yet.

The awareness of my geeky/clumsy tendencies combined with the fact that when I put on so called sexy attire I feel like a child wearing a 'grown up' clothes swayed me to believe that perhaps the provocative wet look legging isn't for me. My insecure nature also worries that people will judge and think 'ooh look at her trying to be sexy'! Within these ramblings lies the major problem.

Certain trends require a confidence. It is not about size, as Beth Ditto looked her usual carefree and glamorous self in a pair of the ubiquitous wet look leggings - it is about seeming comfortable in what you're wearing and more importantly in your own skin. Some lucky people have either complete self assurance, a convincing yet faux disregard for others fashion critique, or huge resilience. I have always justified my rather safe approach to fashion by stating that being a celebrity somehow makes it how acceptable to wear the more extreme looks - the thigh high leather boots look fantastic on stage or at an trendy awards but to go down to get your lunchtime pasty at Greggs, it would be deemed highly inappropriate. Last week a friend made a very good point, suggesting as a lover of fashion I should make the most of the things that I protest to love so much about it!

Fashion gives us many wonderful things: innovation, fabulous colour palettes, intricate embellishment, architectural shapes, controversial statements - but one of it greatest talents is its ability to transform you into whatever you want to be. So, I'm going to embrace my, dare I say it, raunchy side and get my 'normal person' body down to American Apparel and get myself a pair of these leggings. I'll team them with my long crisp white shirt (lengthy enough to cover any indecent wedginess), prepare for the disapproving mother face, dance my new sexy bum off and perhaps even feel confident enough to flirt sans alcohol.

Wish me luck!

Want to join Sophie? Get your wet look leggings from American Apparel for £29 here!