What Are 'Meggings'? Leggings for Men Expected to Become Mainstream Male Fashion Trend
We have already seen leggings appear on menswear runways and worn by confident rock stars. A new fashion label takes the unlikely trend for men leggings, also known as "meggings," into mainstream.
Chicago-based Adam Freck and Andrew Volk launched a brand-new online company called Meggings Man Clothing in December. The founders explained that meggings are meant to enhance men's best features.
"The truth of the matter is, spandex is flattering. It compliments people well," they said. "With meggings, people ask about their crotch all the time. The response that we get a lot, once people try on our meggings, is, 'That's not as in-my-face as I thought it would be.' Once guys actually try meggings on, the fear goes away."
"Meggings are much more comfortable than super tight jeans, and more stylish and appropriate to wear out in public than fitted athletic pants," they added.
Meggings Man advertises its products as being "functionally and aesthetically tailored to the male physique." Unlike traditional leggings, which are typically worn by women, meggings are designed with the male body in mind. For instance, they have inverted triangle panels on the hips to allow more room in the thigh, as well as flat wide waist bands and a faux zip detailing on the front.
The company suggests pairing meggings with T-shirts, tank tops, jackets, and hoodies -- "We also see a lot of our customers layering with their meggings: under shorts, or even wearing two pairs of different colors and pulling up the leg on one side to expose a different color underneath."
MeggingsMan.com holds a range of bold designs, which have been a hit with customers. There are currently 14 different styles in the collection -- including metallic finishes and camouflage print -- in sizes M to XL, priced from $29.95.
"Men want to wear them, and that's a fact! There are always naysayers with any new piece of fashion," the founders said. "Living in Chicago, we know that meggings are a possibility. It would be dumb of us not to take them seriously. Look at the way skinny jeans started out. A band probably started wearing them and everyone questioned it, and now 50 percent of people in their twenties are wearing skinny jeans. We see the potential in meggings, and we hope that people use them as a serious fashion piece."