Now’s the Time to Return to Fashionable Leggings
When it comes to leggings, you either love or hate them. And even though stretchy leg-clinging styles are a polarizing item, they’re having a moment in fashion. In fact, the best leggings aren’t the ones you wear to yoga or on lazy days, but rather the pairs that can really elevate your style. It doesn’t come as a shock that high-end minimalist brands (be it The Row or Wardrobe NYC) are offering their own versions; it’s all the more reason the stretchy garment has earned a well-respected spot as a wardrobe staple. Plus, the category has even become acceptable for practically every occasion; remember Kim K. at the Met Gala? Need we say more?
It’s also to be noted that Vogue Runway dubbed “luxury leggings” one of the top trends of the resort ’22 collections; and this follows other spandex-y styles that emerged during the pandemic, including spring 2021’s second skins and Prada’s fall 2021 full-body long johns. And while resort’s pairs came in bright colors and graphic prints, the sense of ease they give is the same as their more muted counterparts. So why go basic with this basic? Consider a pair that includes elevated details like, say, a flared silhouette, visible front seam, ankle slits, or stirrups.
A little extra thought goes a long way and the outfit opportunities are endless. Styling a pair of stretch pants can be as simple as pairing them with an oversized menswear button-up shirt, sweater vest, and ballet flats. Or slip them under a midi dress—we’d opt for an ankle-length pair here to avoid looking too 2008 here— on colder days with a heel. Otherwise, leggings with an ankle slit or stirrup legging look great with a tailored blazer and a pair of loafers. And if you can’t figure out just what pant to wear with your new ankle boots? Might we suggest the stretchy flared legging?
The best leggings should make you feel like you’re wearing a pair of tailored trousers instead of something you’d spend all day on the couch wearing. From classic black to fashion-forward, let’s hear it for our edit of leggings that can do no wrong.
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