A very long muffler adds a sharp accent to a simple outfit. ALL BUNDLED UP: Women Keep Warm with Long Mufflers and Leg Warmers January 16, 2002 This winter, young women are wearing bulky, long knit mufflers and leg warmers. In the past, when choosing winter outerwear, women have generally had to choose between keeping warm and looking fashionable. One explanation for the popularity of mufflers and leg warmers is that they solve this fashion dilemma by being both warm and fashionable. Superlong Mufflers The mufflers that are one of this winter's key fashion items are considerably longer than typical mufflers. Mufflers knit from low-gauge (bulky) wool yarn are especially popular. Until last year, the average muffler length was 1.8 meters (71 inches). This year the average is 2.3 meters (91 inches), and some mufflers over 3 meters (118 inches) long have appeared. In contrast to the thin pashmina (cashmere) shawls popular last winter, which were priced most commonly between ¥10,000 ($77 at ¥130 to the dollar) and ¥17,000 ($131), this year's mufflers are much more affordable, usually ranging from ¥3,000 ($23) to ¥5,000 ($38). Many people buy themselves two or three. The majority of buyers are women in their late teens and early twenties, but some young men can be seen sporting them as well. The most popular color choices are plain black or white, but the more trend-conscious customers are also snapping up multicolored mufflers. According to some fashion experts, women favor long mufflers because they add a distinctive touch to the simply designed clothing that is currently in style. This winter's leg warmers do more than just keep legs warm. Mufflers can create a wide variety of different fashion looks, depending on how they are wrapped. Some magazines targeting young women are even running special features on various muffler-wrapping methods. The most popular way of wearing a muffler is to wrap it around the neck several times. This raises the center of visual interest and creates a well-balanced look in combination with the short coats that are popular this year. For a more elegant appearance, the muffler can be wrapped once around the neck, with one end hanging down in back and the other in front, both at knee level. Leg Warmers Make a Comeback Leg warmers, which first became popular in the 1980s, have made a comeback, giving women another option for lower-leg fashion. The Tokyo and London collections for 2001 are said to have sparked the craze by showing leg warmers from famous designers. For the past 10 years, leg warmers have had a low-profile existence as an item used mainly for keeping warm indoors. But this year, the department stores are pushing leg warmers as a hot fashion item.   Your Name What did you think of this article? It was interesting. It was boring. Send this article to a friend In addition to the plain-colored, tube-type leg warmers of the past, new types of leg warmers, with different designs and patterns, are now available. There are flat sheetlike ones designed to be wrapped around the leg and tied at the back; there are animal-print or zigzag-patterned ones in velvet. Particularly popular are leg warmers trimmed with fake fur. The simple ones are priced at about ¥1,000 ($8), and even the more elaborate ones can be had for about ¥4,000 ($31). Word has it that one reason for the popularity of leg warmers is that they can breathe new life into the tights and shoes a woman already has in her closet. Women are layering them over last year's patterned and metallic tights and pairing them with high heels or mules (strapless sandals). Most of the girls and women buying leg warmers range in age from their late teens through their early twenties. Though these consumers do not remember the first leg warmer craze, they have had no resistance to adopting leg warmers. According to some fashion experts, this is because they wore baggy knee socks during their high-school years. The new leg warmers are also attracting some interest among women in their early forties, who wore them in their younger days, and older women, who use them to keep warm. Copyright (c) 2002 Japan Information Network. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.