As if we haven’t already heard enough yoga pant and legging-bashing throughout the last few years (seriously, I thought we left this somewhere in 2015?), on Sunday, the New York Times published an opinion piece called, “Why Yoga Pants Are Bad for Women,” and let’s just say it did not go over well.
The piece, which was written by the Times’ senior opinion editor Honor Jones, includes multiple *pearls of wisdom* about why it’s apparently “bad for women” to wear yoga pants and leggings, alleging that the only real reason women wear them to the gym, yoga or bar class, is to look sexy. (Because, you know, it’s not like they’re comfortable or anything.) The “wisdom” dispensed by Jones includes this gem, “We may be able to conquer the world wearing spandex. But wouldn’t it be easier to do so in pants that don’t threaten to show every dimple and roll in every woman over 30?”
Instead, the author says women should stick to sweatpants that “no one looks good in,” later adding that she’s “annoyed by the entire booming industry around women’s exercise,” name dropping SoulCycle and barre classes as the supposed perpetrators of the leggings and yoga pants trend.
Considering that there are a lot of women that like yoga pants, leggings and attending exercise classes, the backlash was swift. Many were angry at the multiple parts of the article that seemed to imply that women only wear leggings to be sexy. (And as anyone who’s ever attended a hot yoga class or had to be ready in 15 minutes for an 8 a.m. class knows, this just isn’t true.)
As someone who has practiced yoga for years, it’s unbelievable that you think we wear yoga pants because they’re “sexy?!” We wear them because they allow us to maneuver in ways other clothing doesn’t. Alternatively, seeing if you aren’t in the proper position is just as important https://t.co/cy70QBWnrF
— kimmie caruba (@kimmiecaruba) February 18, 2018
Dear NYT, unlike all the ridiculous armor supposedly ‘designed for women,’ yoga pants allow for freedom of movement, such as when you need to roundhouse kick a moron. https://t.co/B0CWRCq7CS
— Kirsten Thompson (@katannthompson) February 18, 2018
Has anyone written about the fact that leggings and yoga pants are important because they don’t *hurt* to wear? Like, congrats if your jeans don’t leave red marks on you by the end of the day, but I’ve never known that life.
— Jaime Green (@jaimealyse) February 18, 2018
You’ve never actually done yoga if you are asking why people prefer to wear tight-fitting while practicing.
This may just be the most vapid thing I’ve read in a good while. You’re about as edgy as my nieces’ hand-me-down Fisher Price silverware, @nytopinion. https://t.co/Ya2Sm1FhxW
— Kylie (@KylieD87) February 18, 2018
Others were understandably not happy about the implication that women should be embarrassed to wear something that could possibly show off the fact that they have a flawed, real-life human body.
“Control-top exercise leggings that hold in your stomach won’t help.”
My 325-lb former self would like a word.
— Kylie (@KylieD87) February 18, 2018
I see someone has posted yet another op-ed on the perils of wearing yoga pants after 30.
Lemme clear this up for everyone:
Wear yoga pants if you want to. If somebody doesn’t like your over-30 dimpled rolls… tell them not to look. Dress for you, not for anyone else
— Kodi Kat (@puma_legal) February 18, 2018
In short, let’s stop telling grown-up women whether to wear or not to wear leggings or yoga pants, because ultimately, IT’S OUR PERSONAL CHOICE. Okay? Thanks, bye.
I will wear yoga pants whenever I damn well please. After that article I might just wear yoga pants even when I don’t feel like it. Don’t tell me what to wear. I am insecure enough without the NYT coming for my choice of pants.
— Ayesha McGowan (@ayesuppose) February 19, 2018