Actually, the leg warmers did have a use. They were used to do exactly what their name suggests; they warm legs. This craze from the 1980�s was originally a functional garment that helped those athletic enthusiasts keep their muscles warm. This helped the muscles keep from getting torn and sore because of a workout.
In the days of the Jane Fonda Workout, the leg warmers were actually a practical item. They were designed to help those who exercised on a regular (and not so regular) basis avoid injury and soreness. With the popularity of physical fitness and health in the 1980�s, the leg warmers somehow segued into our everyday attire.