The layer trend makes it possible; dresses over leggings, short-sleeved tops over longer shirts or brand new at the high street stores – arm- and legwarmers. Designed to keep your calves and underarms warm, they make you feel cosy and stylish at the same time.

Left Marc by Marc Jacobs - Right Marc Jacobs

Shorter than stockings, but footless, legwarmers are a typical and functional clothing item that is usually worn by dancers while warming up. Due to the aerobic hype of the 1980s, legwarmers advanced to an everyday clothing item. However, by 1989 they almost completely disappeared from the fashion scene. The trend was reinvented with armwarmers in the form of cut sleeves or fingerless gloves that are perfect for the time in-between seasons. Materials range from wool over cotton to synthetic fibres.

Several designers, including Marc Jacobs accessorised the outfits of the Autumn/Winter 06/07 collections with leg- and armwarmers. His creations showed a very casual approach, similar to the 1992 grunge look. Inspired by the music and art scene, Jacobs showed more elaborated and grown-up urban looks for which leg- and armwarmers remain an essential style item. Combined with knitted jumpers and capes in luxurious materials as well as robust boots – he demonstrated that basically everything goes.

His edgier and younger label Marc by Marc Jacobs, established in 2001, also comprised grunge inspired outfits, including armwarmers for men. This is quite a new idea, as before the trend was almost exclusively aimed at women.

Italian fashion guru Miuccia Prada showed a more sophisticated and individual look on the runway. Armwarmers along with parkas, in thin materials like cashmere or innovative fabrics, gave the chic look an urban touch.

New Zealand born designer Karen Walker, who is known for her simple, yet original style, came up with very small legwarmers for the ankles – you could even call them anklewarmers. Their size could be compared to wristbands as seen on tennis players. 

Left and right Karen Walker

The trend has already reached the high street stores, e.g. TopShop, Asos.com and New Look have all stocked up on leg- and armwarmers. Having been part of the punk, rave and gothic scene for a long time, this look has already found its imitations among celebrities such as singer Ashlee Simpson and on the streets of London.

Tabio, a shop exclusively renowned for socks, offers a wide range of different styles, from Gucci sparkling to ornament prints as those seen on the catwalk by Anna Sui. Tabio sells at 94 Kings Road, London SW3 4TZ. Further information is available on www.tabio.co.uk or tel: 020 7591 1960.

By Christa Catharina Muller