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• Are leggings and leotards acceptable outside of the dance studio?

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If there is one lesson in this entire article, it is that leggings are not pants.

Over the past century, retailers such as American Apparel have created a fantasy world where ‘80s dancewear-inspired clothing is fit to wear on 21st century city streets. Unless the dancewear is integrated into an already stable look, it most certainly is not.

Despite the appeal of a good leotard and pair of spandex pants, they are simply not flattering on the majority of bodies. The two styles were created to facilitate maximum exposure of any and all lines of the body, an obviously desirable aesthetic for those refining their dance technique.

When worn on the street without a long tunic or top leggings create a drastic imbalance; the torso hulks over an awkward streamlined shape in the lower body. In addition, the design’s body-hugging nature creates a level of intimacy that is neither desirable nor flattering.

Rompers can also be overly intimate, depending on which manufacturer you choose; the definition of this one-piece garment can vary drastically. To some designers, rompers are a one-piece garment with a shortened pant length. To others, rompers are tight, leotard-like lingerie. This tighter style is often referred to as a bodysuit and can be found at retailers like American Apparel. If you are next in line to try the bodysuit trend, here is to hoping that you do not frequent the ladies’ room. The inconvenience speaks for itself.

Yet, in dance fashion, it is not about convenience. Take, for example, the ballet flat. Ballet flats, a fashion trend with roots in the late 1950s, came back in style more recently with the return of skinny jeans. These shoes resemble the soft ballet slipper and feature a string tie that adjusts and tightens the shoe. Flats have a small heel or no heel at all and offer little orthopedic support. Ballet flats are often uncomfortable and ill-fitting, yet they remain popular due to their simple design and their low cost.

So what is it that makes dancers so influential on the fashion world? Many people idolize the dancer’s body — often defined as slender and toned, with a sexy overall quality — and therefore wish to approximate its allure. Since most people cannot hit the (ballet) barre every day, dressing like a dancer is the next best thing. While this concept makes sense in theory, it is often poorly executed.

Another area of poor execution exists in the realm of marketing dance-inspired fashion. American Apparel’s website features a slideshow of model Hyunha, a Spanish gymnast, in a slew of Playboy-esque pinup shots demonstrating the flexibility of both the leggings she is wearing, and more notably, of her own two legs. “Sex sells” is a cliché that all have heard, but who knew that soft core pornography was now being used as a marketing tactic for dance-inspired fashion?

It seems that the fashion industry has a long way to go when it comes to a seamless integration of dancewear into the mainstream. In the world of hip-hop, however, broad strides have been made toward producing designs that are both fashionable and functional.

The most important accessory a hip-hop dancer can have is a pair of funky kicks, and brands such as Lugz, Baby Phat and Nike have created lines of brightly-colored, highly-embellished shoes that are guaranteed to make a statement. Hip-hop crews may use their shoes, in addition to other articles of clothing, to display a logo or symbol that represents their style. Famed hip-hop choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo have even created their own clothing line, Nappytabs. The line offers sweats, tanks, tees, hoodies, shorts, couture and accessories that cater to the dance audience.

The next time you dress like a dancer, think about your own audience. Think about what statement you are making with your clothing, and, most importantly, remember that leggings are not pants.