Word on the street is that the eighties are back, and it seems, here to stay a while.

With the return of the hubba bubba bubble skirt, metallics, stonewash skinny jeans and everyone from fashion students to yummy mummies wearing oversized jumpers over leggings, is it really time to reintroduce “Choose Life” tees (thank-you Katherine Hamnett) into our wardrobe again?

Finding my fashion feet during the (original) eighties has perhaps slowed my embrace of the black footless tights. But it was with a sense of abandon last week that I danced into Witchery and handed over 30 bucks for a pair of black leggings. Still under the flash dance influence, I hit Target for a pair of Madonna inspired, ankle length tights with lace detail at the ends, $17 and a pair of opaque footless tights $5.99. I figure if I’m going to embrace a trend, I may as well jump right in, leather slouchy boots and all.

After years of wearing nothing above my knees, it was time to brave the wide world with a pair of leggings, lightweight Country Road camel knit and ballet flats. What was I thinking!

Footloose and fancy free, I decided I couldn’t live without a black linen bubble skirt from Country Road, or the oversized button front knit from Sportsgirl, or the shapeless jersey shift from Witchery, all to wear with my leggings.

When does a trend become more fashion victim than fashion?

Sometimes a trend becomes a classic, and often not. But I do think leggings are here to stay a while. If you aren’t keen on the footless version try a pair of opaque stockings under everything teamed with patent ballet flats.

The three quarter legging must be a chain store invention - perhaps designed to save on the cost of Lycra? While full length leggings can be very flattering, there is really nothing right about cutting your leg off at the slimmest part, is there?