Whenever you say legwarmer there could be several images popping up in your mind: a ballerina training, Madonna in her video, and Jane Fonda doing aerobics.

So let’s explore a bit those two concepts.

Girls’ legwarmers were created for dancers to use during training. Then the movie Flashdance came to be and legwarmers were everywhere.

In the 1980’s girls in legwarmers were nothing to worry about. They would wear them with their school uniform, at a concert, and even over jeans. Some would be just about the fashion, and some would keep the girls’ warm, but they had nothing to do with the initial purpose of these accessories.

There was a time, right before 1980, when legwarmers were trending. It was the late 70s with its penchant for fitness. America was going through a period of sports craze when everyone was doing something active. Fitness, aerobics, jogging, you name it. That was the time when Jane Fonda started her fitness programs and brought to life the dancer's outfits: leotards, thighs, legwarmers.

But their popularity was on the rise, mainly because of the character from Flashdance. Jennifer Beals wore them graciously while interpreting an exotic dancer wanting to be a ballerina.

By the end of the 1980s, legwarmers for girls were out of style and people forgot about them.

Types of legwarmers

Made of wool or cotton, legwarmers are usually knitted. They look just like a giant sock without the foot part.

When they were made to be a fashion accessory the patterns were amazing, from geometrical knitted shapes to simple ones, they came in different colors and shapes.

For dancers though, legwarmers need to be a certain way.

For once, they are meant to warm the legs while allowing the performer to put little clothes on for freedom of movement during rehearsal. So the fabric from which they are made needs to insulate and keep warm while allowing the skin to breathe.

How to choose legwarmers girls will love?

The construction of these legwarmers will be different according to what you will use them for. For a cyclist, for example, the legwarmers need to be a little longer so they have protection higher on the leg. For dancers, legwarmers need to be flexible and integrate multiple layers of fabric.

Our Sansha legwarmers are textured and patterned with multiple layers of acrylic, cotton, spandex, and nylon for flexibility.

Tightness is another factor in choosing a pair of legwarmers. They need to fit perfectly when used outdoors, otherwise, they will have lost their ability to keep you warm.

Dancers need to be careful about what type of legwarmers they pick so they won’t bunch around the ankles and inconvenience them.

Crochet girls’ legwarmers are pretty and have that Do-it-yourself feeling. However, they are not practical for a dancer since they can sometimes bunch and hinder the little ballerina.

On the other hand, plush girls’ legwarmers will be good for your little one in winter, when she’ll need warming up until she gets to the studio.

Sophia’s Style made it its mission to present you with the best dance apparel for little girls.

Therefore, our Sansha brand of dance attires and accessories are both practical and cute, not to mention durable.

Made from a combination of cotton, acrylic, and nylon, these legwarmers are perfect for dance training.

Those made only from acrylic have the advantage of being easy to wash and dry, and are greatly insulating and lightweight. The colors are both vivid and great looking with any attire she might choose.

She could use them for ballet, dance, jazz, or any type of movement.

Sansha is a well-known brand around the world, creating dancewear and dance shoes for almost 20 years now. Sansha’s founder was the first to create a new type of ballet shoe that innovated and changed the way ballet dancers would feel in their dance shoes. Since then, ballet dancers all around the world are using these types of shoes.

At Sophia’s Style, you can find a wide range of dance apparel and dance clothes along with dance shoes and accessories from many brands.