Just because the summer months areending, there is no excuse for getting rid of skirts and sandals.The new trend is a step back into the 80s as let-warmers make acomeback.
    This new garment is unique from anyother of its time. Resembling a shirt-sleeve, leg-warmers are wornon the calf, sometimes covering the ankles, but still revealing theknees.
    From polka-dotted neon to argyle andplaid, leg-warmers are creeping into a variety of stores, evenaround Baton Rouge.
    Journey’s, in the Mall of Louisiana,began selling leg-warmers in late April. Both Abercrombie &Fitch and Abercrombie Kids also started carrying the unique textilein June.
    ”They are an upcoming trend for fall,”said Chad Simmons, the manager at Abercrombie Kids in the Mall ofLouisiana. “They’re usually worn with a skirt and flip-flops.”
    Although the kids store is a carrier ofthe trend, Simmons said it is more popular for the college scene,particularly between the ages 18 to 23.
     Leg-warmers reach different buyersbecause of their ranging styles in colors and patterns.
    Hollister Co. features the “VintageCable” and the “Socal” leg-warmer, both offered in pastel colors.They are $17.50 for a pair, 100 percent cotton, andone-size-fits-all.
    Abercrombie & Fitch has over a dozenstyles in patterns to chose from. They have polka-dot, argyle,multi-stripe and “Moose,” which features the A & F logo nearthe knee of the garment. Abercrombie sells each pair of cottonleg-warmers for $24.50.
    Hot Topic, at the Mall of Cortana, alsosells a striped set of leg-warmers, as well as a fishnet pair.These are both offered in several colors and range in price from $6to $9 per pair.
    Journey’s offers its customers a pack ofthree sets of leg-warmers for $9.99. The packs come in either bold(magenta, green, gold) or pastel (white, sky blue, baby pink).
     Not only are leg-warmers sold in avariety of styles, they have a diverse group of buyers, too.
    ”It has its own following,” said MikeBroussard, a Journey’s associate at the Mall of Louisiana. “It’snot the usual clothing item you would see on just anyone.”
    Broussard noticed a certain trend amongbuyers, noticing more of the “emo-punk rock” fans purchasingleg-warmers, which also double as arm-warmers.
    Katie Jacobs, Hollister store manager inthe Mall of Louisiana, observed a slow liking to the clothing itemamong her customers.
     “I think people are hesitant to buythem,” Jacobs said. “Just because it’s something so different, theyare scared.”
    Jacobs, also a fashion merchandisinggraduate, said she wears them when she is working and people willbuy them on those days.
    ”People that don’t care what othersthink are the ones who are buying them,” Jacobs said.
    However, the decade trend is nothing newto the fashion industry. This summer, stores were filled withoversized sunglasses, large hoop earrings, pearls, and tailoredfabrics, all evidence of the 60s and 70s.
    ”It’s not rare for styles to cyclearound specific decades,” said textile and apparel instructorYvonne Marquette. “The 80s had very distinct features instyle.”
    Marquette is unsure of whether thisparticular decade will linger around the LSU area.
    ”Trends go in and out,” she said. “Theyare people reminiscing about the past, but they are also what keepthe industry fresh.”