Yoga pants

Lululemon's boot cut and flared yoga pant.
Lululemon crop, fitted style yoga pant.

Yoga pants are a type of flexible, form-fitting pants designed for the practice of yoga as well as other physical activities that involve a lot of movement, bending and stretching. They are typically worn for sports and physical exercise, martial arts, dancing, pilates, or aerobics. These pants are generally made of cotton, lycra spandex, nylon, polyester, wool, or a similarly light and stretchy synthetic material giving the pants a very smooth and silk-like finish when worn.[1] They are usually black, tight-fitted, and have an elastic waistband folded over at the top. Although designed specifically for yoga, the pants are also worn casually by many women.[1][2][3][4][5]

Types of yoga pants

Yoga pants are commonly used in activities involving physical exercise, such as yoga.
Woman wearing "gingerbread man" print yoga pants

According to Anu Hastings with the product database Indix, over 2,700 types of so-called "yoga pants" are now available on the market.[6] There are various types and styles, including the traditional boot-cut and flared yoga pants with waistbands.[7] The traditional boot-cut and flared yoga pants with waistbands are the most well-known and most popular type, generally used for casual wear, active wear, lounge wear, maternity wear, clubwear, or for physical activities.[8][9][10] There are various types and styles of yoga pants in addition to the traditional.[11][12][13][14] Crop-fitted yoga pants lie above the ankle (similar to capri pants), and are oftentimes utilized for a more flattering, versatile, and dressier look.[15][16] They are used commonly as casual wear, activewear, for making errands, lounging around the house, yoga class, or as clubwear on a night out.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] The boot-cut/flare yoga pants are often paired with flip-flops, running shoes, flats, or Ugg boots, with hoodies paired and a tank top or shirt tucked inside the hoodie.[29][30] Due to their high elasticity, yoga pants are comfortable enough to be worn during many different occasions. Yoga pants were originally created for use practicing yoga but over the years, due to their increased popularity, they have developed into a mainstream clothing item that can be found in classrooms, gymnasiums, restaurants, shopping malls all to way to the dance floors of nightclubs.[31][32][33][34][35]

The flat and fold-over waists are utilized to provide flexibility, comfort, coverage, style, breathability and versatility. Flat and fold-over waist boot cut and flare yoga pants are commonly used as casual wear, workout and exercise wear, maternity wear, making errands, lounging around the house, yoga class, or as clubwear on a night out.[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][45][46][47] Typically, the more spandex contained in the yoga pants, the more likely they are to be used as exercise wear. The more cotton fabrics are more commonly used for loungewear.[48][49]

Controversy

Demand for comfortable athletic wear increased in the early 2000s[50] and into the next decade. Nike, Inc. reported their women’s business comprised 7 billion in 2010[51] and the larger market grew to $33.6 billion by 2015.[52] Nike claims the driving factor has been by the demand for fashionable workout gear that is also flattering. New colors, patterns, and structural design of yoga pants created more versatility and increased their wear in public settings. Author Mae Anderson described the new craze of yoga pants outside the gym by calling them the "new jeans."[51]

Yoga pants in public schools

In the United States, reaction to the wider adoption of yoga pants proved somewhat controversial for schools.[53] Some schools adopted dress codes banning yoga pants for all students, or banning them only for female students.[54][55][56] Bitch Magazine argued such bans are largely gendered, focusing on the damage caused by "distraction" by girls;[57] similar complaints caused a ban in Rockport, Massachusetts to be quickly reversed.[54]

School bans

Girls from middle school to college wear yoga pants to classes because of their high level of comfort. However, not everyone is accepting of the new trend. In February 2015, representative David Moore from Montana proposed a bill that would make wearing yoga pants in public synonymous with indecent exposure, which would be punishable by a maximum of 5 years in jail and a $5,000 fine. Moore received immediate backlash from the public and media and he quickly claimed that including yoga pants in the bill was a joke. The bill was unanimously tabled. [58]

At Rockport High School in Rockport, Massachusetts, the principal announced that the school would be tightening the rules on yoga pants. Their dress code stated that students should avoid wearing clothes that are “inappropriate in the business and workplace as well as the school.” The principal is under scrutiny for not only the rule, but for how he addressed it. After an assembly including the whole student body, the principal dismissed only the male students and spoke solely to the female students about the dress code enforcement. He claimed that females wearing these tight-fitting pants were distracting the male students. The female students were offended and felt that the way they were singled out was sexist. The male students were also offended because they felt that it was implied that they lacked maturity, self-control, and consideration. After the instant backlash from students and parents, the school district quickly revoked its increased enforcement of dress code and apologized for how the assembly was handled.[59]

At Devils Lake High School in North Dakota, the principal banned female students from wearing yoga pants. The ban was made in order to "keep students, and male teachers, focused on the classwork at hand." Students and parents questioned why the school was focusing on clothing instead of more important matters, such as cyber bullying. [60] The principal was under scrutiny for a comment he made regarding the female students wearing yoga pants. The principal had the female students watch two clips from the movie Pretty Woman, then compared yoga pants to the attire of the lead character in the movie, who is a prostitute. [61]

Another incident occurred at an Evanston, Illinois middle school. The principal announced that girls were no longer allowed to wear yoga pants to school. Parents argued that the dictating of what their daughters could wear contributes to rape culture and blames the girls as being a distractor to their opposite-sexed peers, which insinuates that boys' education is more important than girls'. When interviewed for their thoughts, one parent stated, "Boys need to be taught to respect women no matter what they’re wearing, and that's a big deal." Another parent said, "The problem is, yet again, another institution has decided it's easier to punish girls for what they wear because there is a chance someone of the opposite sex might sexualize them." The numerous policy and dress code changes that dictate what women can and cannot wear is a small portion of the bigger picture of gender policing.[62]

There are others who agree with the banning of yoga pants in public. Most often the reasoning for disagreeing with wearing yoga pants publicly is that they promote a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Amanda Hallay, professor of fashion and cultural history at New York City’s LIM College, was interviewed for her opinion on yoga pants being a replacement for jeans. She stated, “Yoga pants are a step above pajamas and we don't wear pajamas out to lunch, and we certainly don't wear them to work. Pajamas are for sleeping in, and ergo, not appropriate to wear in any other setting. The same can be said for yoga pants. Yoga pants are to be worn while doing yoga."Yoga pants being worn in public can be perceived as inappropriate and unattractive. According to Hallay, to promote a more business-like or mature persona, a person should dress as such.[63]

References

  1. 1 2 Smith, S.E. "What are Yoga Pants?". WG. wiseGEEK. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  2. ↑ Jessica Grose (Jan 3, 2014). "Workout Wear Friday Is Not a Thing". Slate. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Marguerite Ogle (October 8, 2013). "Find the Best Pilates and Yoga Pants for You". About.com. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Are yoga pants the new jeans? How trend-led workout clothes are making fashion statements outside the gym". Daily Mail. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Brodesser-Akner, Taffy (16 March 2011). "To Stretch or Not to Stretch". Fashion and Style. New York Times. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  6. ↑ Hastings, Anu (18 September 2014). "Indix". Indix. Indix. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Ashley Fern (Jan 27, 2014). "#DefaultOutfit: The 19 Reasons All Women Worship Yoga Pants". Elite Daily. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  8. ↑ Jessica Grose (29 January 2014). "Yoga Pants in da Club? Great Idea". Slate. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "Why Women Love Wearing Yoga Pants". Sadhana. March 4, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  10. ↑ Suzanne Wexler (April 18, 2011). "Yoga sweats are not pants". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  11. ↑ Brandon K. Smith, (October 10, 2012). "Uggs, Yoga Pants, and North Face: The Yugga Face Season at Penn State". Drunk Tuesday. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  12. ↑ Jessica Napier (September 20, 2011). "Uggs, crocs, yoga pants and now … leggings". Metronews.ca. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  13. ↑ Mary Ellen Riley (February 7, 2013). "February fashion forecast". JCUnews.com. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "How to Wear (or Not Wear) UGGs". Onward State. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  15. ↑ What to Wear with Yoga Pants
  16. ↑ "Unique Fashion Trends of Fold Over Yoga Pants". Yogagainesville. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  17. ↑ Nicholas Galczynski (February 26, 2014). "Real Live College Guy Nick Tackles... Yoga Pants". Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  18. ↑ "From gym to dinner? Workout clothes now high fashion". Capital Gazette. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  19. ↑ Jessica Camerata, (March 20, 2013). "Lululemon recall: What will you wear to brunch now?". HLN. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
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  21. ↑ "Yoga pants recall could be a good thing". Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "Foldover Yoga Pants". TextileInfo. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
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  25. ↑ Serena (April 23, 2013). "Living in Yoga Pants, Just Not to the Bar". WordPress. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
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  27. ↑ Fritz Hahn (January 28, 2014). "Ink Lounge and Tattoo Bar want to see your yoga pants in the club". Washington Post. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  28. ↑ Lisa Raphael (March 19, 2014). "From Yoga to Da Club? Lululemon Expands Line to Include Non-Workout Apparel". Brit+Co. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  29. ↑ Susan Wagner (March 27, 2007). "Yoga pants: dos and don'ts". www.blogher.com. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  30. ↑ "How to Choose Yoga Pants: 7 Steps (with Pictures)". Wikihow. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  31. ↑ Nicholas Galczynski (February 26, 2014). "Real Live College Guy Nick Tackles... Yoga Pants". Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  32. ↑ "From gym to dinner? Workout clothes now high fashion". Capital Gazette. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  33. ↑ Jessica Camerata, (March 20, 2013). "Lululemon recall: What will you wear to brunch now?". HLN. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  34. ↑ Alexandra Isenberg (September 22, 2011). "5 Instances Where You Can Wear Yoga Pants Outside of the Gym". Searching for Style. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  35. ↑ "Yoga pants recall could be a good thing". Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  36. ↑ "You Can Find them In da Club: Yoga Pants?". Yoganonymous. January 28, 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  37. ↑ "What do people wear at the club?". Tripadvisor.ca. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  38. ↑ "Back By Popular Demand". Girls In Yoga Pants.com. January 19, 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  39. ↑ "20 Places Moms Can Wear Yoga Pants Without Embarrassing Themselves". Yahoo. Nov 16, 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  40. ↑ "The fitness world’s little black dress: These 11 must-have yoga pants". January 8, 2013.
  41. ↑ "7 Reasons Yoga Pants Are A Mommy Must". Scary Mommy: An honest look at motherhood. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  42. ↑ "Keep On Dancing Until the World Ends". IWoreYogaPantstoWork. December 20, 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  43. ↑ "TOXIC Pipes yoga pants". Toxic Inc. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  44. ↑ "Clothing attire for Vancouver bars and night clubs". 3 January 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  45. 1 2 "Ombre". Yoga World. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  46. ↑ "Yoga Pants Party". Nearify. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  47. ↑ "Yoga Pants At The Club? Maybe One Day". Style Blazer. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  48. ↑ Alexandra Suhner Isenberg (January 3, 2011). "We Don’t Need Silver Lining". Searching for Style. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  49. ↑ Fritz Hahn (January 28, 2014). "Ink Lounge and Tattoo Bar want to see your yoga pants in the club". Washington Post. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  50. ↑ Stalder, Erika (2008). Fashion 101: A Crash Course in Clothing. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 59. ISBN 9780547946931.
  51. 1 2 Anderson, Mae (25 November 2013). "How yoga pants became the new jeans.". Denver Post. The Denver Post. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  52. ↑ "Will yoga pants have jean makers singing the blues?". CBS Money Watch. Associated Press. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  53. ↑ Foley, Heather (10 April 2014). "Your guide to America’s war on yoga pants". Boston.com.
  54. 1 2 Shemkus, Sarah (6 March 2014). "Rockport High School leggings-ban controversy still simmers". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  55. ↑ Lestch, Corinne (3 October 2014). "'Distracting' yoga pants banned by officials at North Dakota high school". Daily News. NY Daily News. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  56. ↑ "Parents Say School's Leggings 'Ban' Is Unfair To Girls, 'Contributes To Rape Culture'". Huffington Post. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  57. ↑ Chin, Elleanor (15 October 2014). "Instead of Banning Yoga Pants, Schools Should Crack Down on Harassment". Bitch Magazine.
  58. ↑ Frizell, Sam (11 February 2015). "Montana Lawmaker Wants to Ban Yoga Pants". Time. Time. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  59. ↑ Shemkus, Sarah (6 March 2014). "Rockport High School leggings-ban controversy still simmers". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  60. ↑ Lestch, Corinne (3 October 2014). "'Distracting' yoga pants banned by officials at North Dakota high school". Daily News. NY Daily News. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  61. ↑ Kutner, Jenny (3 October 2014). "High School Bans Dangerous Threat to Male Students: Yoga Pants". Alternet. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  62. ↑ "Parents Say School's Leggings 'Ban' Is Unfair To Girls, 'Contributes To Rape Culture'". Huffington Post. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  63. ↑ Rhone, Nedra (14 March 2015). "That's a 'no' to yoga pants; What we wear in public has to be about more than just our comfort.". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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