Leggings have been a college wardrobe staple for years now. You’ve probably worn them under dresses, tucked into boots, and with cute tunic tops. Undoubtedly, you’ve seen them all over campus.
Alternatively, maybe you haven’t tried leggings because you think they won’t flatter your body type. Or maybe you don’t want to be one of those girls with leggings tucked into Ugg boots with a North Face fleece jacket and a Vera Bradley bag. That’s totally understandable, of course!
Whether you’re looking for new ways to wear leggings you already own, or just don’t know if leggings are right for you, read on! Here are my top tips to help anyone rock the leggings look, as well as a few outfit ideas to get your inspiration going.
Tips on How to Wear Leggings
Start with basics, expand for variety.
Leggings come in every color under the sun, feature different prints, washes, and finishes, and can be worn in all different ways. (Proof: see our list of legging trends for fall!) If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend a solid, opaque pair in a neutral color like black or brown. Sheer, footless tight styles are also great to experiment with, especially under shirt dresses.
Try different lengths.
Leggings come in all lengths, from capri to ankle. Ankle length leggings are definitely the hottest style right now, but play around with proportions and decide which length looks best on you. Leggings that hit mid-calf might look adorable on a tall, skinny girl, but might make a shorter leg look wide.
Consider your shape.
If you’re curvy or just worried leggings might not be flattering to your body type, you may want to stick to slimming black and dark brown. Of course, you can still have fun with solid-colored leggings with fun details as well. If you’re still feeling self-conscious, try your leggings with a minidress or a top that hits just below mid-thigh. That way, the largest part of the leg is covered! If all else fails, I firmly believe that self confidence is really all you need to pull off even the craziest outfit, so if you feel good, you’ll rock your leggings.
Invest in key pieces for pairing.
You need to wear leggings with something! Plan to invest in flowy dresses, tunic tops, and shorter skirts – they pair perfectly with leggings. Some girls love the look of sheer leggings under shorts as well. If you’re planning to wear a shirt with your leggings, it should be long and have some volume to balance out the tightness of your bottoms. Dolman sleeve tops, for example, are perfect with leggings.
When it comes to heel height, less is more.
The combination of sky high stilettos and tight leggings can go from zero to 80’s in 60 seconds flat. This can sometimes work if that’s your desired look, but can also go very wrong. Fortunately, leggings provide the perfect opportunity for you to bust out your favorite flats–ballet style, boat shoes, moccasins, low-heeled boots, and even oxfords all look totally chic with leggings.
Remember: Leggings aren’t pants.
I know they’re comfortable and cute, but traditional leggings are not pants and should not be worn as such! (With the possible exception of jeggings, of course.) Leggings as pants = overexposure. If you’re going to wear leggings, make sure you’re wearing a top, skirt, or dress that covers your butt and your front! You should also avoid wearing anything that’s too tight over your leggings for the most flattering look.
Outfit Inspiration
The beginner: The beginner is wary of leggings, may be self-conscious about her body, or just hasn’t worn this style much. Because of this, leggings are not the focus of this outfit. Her neutral leggings are covered up not only with her banded tunic tank, but also with her long black cardigan. Her leggings are long, and puddle at the ankle, showcasing her adorable Minnetonka Moccasins.
Product Information: Leggings with riding pant detail – Piperlime, Banded tank top – Buckle, Cardigan – American Apparel, Minnetonka Moccasins – Zappos, Star stud earrings and bamboo bangles – Charlotte Russe.
The intermediate: The intermediate knows how to wear leggings already, but wants to take her style up a notch. This look illustrates a sophisticated way to wear a totally comfortable outfit. It would be great for a night out or a day of shopping with the girls – the choice is yours! Just grab some big sunglasses and you’re good to go.
Product Information: Bandage Strapping Tunic Vest – TopShop, Calf-length Leggings – Charlotte Russe, Silver flats – Aerie by American Eagle, Jeweled bib necklace – Fred Flare, Feathered headband – ModCloth.
The expert: The expert is a legging lover. She’s an advanced fashionista who’s not afraid to take risks. In this outfit, leggings are the center of attention! I kept it pretty tame with a black mini dress and brown jacket and boots, but the leggings still steal the show. For additional expert inspiration, check out a few of Vanessa Abrams’ outfits on past seasons of Gossip Girl. You can often find her in liquid leggings, a frayed denim mini, and hot pink Doc Martens.
Product Information: Wild Rose Leggings – TopShop, Short black tank dress – Saks Fifth Avenue, Motorcycle jacket – Charlotte Russe, Coin chandelier earrings – Charlotte Russe, Boots – Piperlime.
What do you think?
Now I want to know – how do you girls wear your leggings? Do you have any tips for wearing or buying leggings? Let everyone know with your comments!
I really wish EVERYONE would realize leggings are not pants! My goodness it’s amazing to see how many people wear them as such. Major fashion faux-pas. Great article, very much needed!
Callie, a tunic is a shirt, that is long enough to cover your butt 😉 It may be more fitted, like a minidress, but casual tunics are very much like shirts, just not that baggy (however, a slouchy boyfriend tee can be worn as a tunic too, if pulled of correctly).
I love the last outfit, I’ve never thought about pulling off flowery leggins, I used to think they a little bit tacky, but this exact pair looks awesome.
I LOVE that you mentioned that leggings arent pants haha that is one of my major pet peeves! I’m not the biggeset fan of printed leggings, i usually stick to different styles of black leggings. I love the last outfit but i’d probably wear black liquid leggings with a different color shirt.
I love legging. The look you have displayed all are very nice. Gr8 post . thanks
Great post!! I love my pair and have been looking out for new ways of wearing it. The 3rd outfit is so incredibly street style chic! Love it.
Heyy nice post 🙂
I love leggings so much they’re the most comfy things wich can be wore in winter !
Ladies, THEY ARE TOO PANTS!! And yes, us guys DO wanna see your camel toe! Don’t wear a long top that covers your bum. We wanna see it too! Seriously, why be a tease… ?
i absolutly love leggings. i have a drawer full and they are all i wear. i find jeans unflattering for me for i have hips and do not lik to put them on center stage. but with leggings there is no uncomfy muffintop or low riding show. even in 30 below snow storms leggings are mi go to.. i would love too see more casual outfits that involve boyfriend clothes too!. your article is delicious! i love
this is proberly the best artical i have read upon for how to wear leggings but now i know a really simple but good oulfit that has benn in my wardrobe for monthes but i was just wondering can fat people wear leggings
It’s time that we ALL wear leggings. Get over the fashionista and body image constraints and just wear them. You know you want to, you know they’ll be more comfortable than the constrictive clothes you wear now. Go for it. Enjoy leggings and wear them. Choose a well made pair – not with cotton fibers that bag out over time but a high tech fiber that retains its shape. Go for the comfort and support. Leggings that go to the ankle have a greater positive visual aesthetic than capri style that chop the leg. Plus the full length leggings support you from your ankle to your waist and give you an energetic lift.
i love leggings.. its always in, especially when you learn how to experiment different kinds of what you can pair with it.
jeggings are also in! they’re combination of jeans and leggings.. more comfortable to start with..
Thank you so much i am only allowed to wear skirts and get cold in the winter this tells me how to wear leggings with my skirt. Do you know any stores that sell cute denim skirts that would go good with leggings.
My School has a strict dress code and you have to wear leggings under ripped jeans. So my favorite way to wear leggings is under skinny jeans with my uggs and Tennessee Vols shirt. It’s cute and comfy and it keeps you warm in the winter/
Love, Love, Love how you’ve put together Fashion Legging looks!!! I am a big leggings/tights fan and feel that they can be a timeless piece to any wardrobe, slim or heavy set-they are every girls best friend! As a Designer of (I think) some pretty phenomenal fashion leggings, I would make one addition to your looks, I’d like to see you show that, not only can leggings be worn with tunics, but also with dresses, shorts, mini-skirts and regular length skirts! I feel leggings are timeless because they can be the single piece that adds the “print, the pattern, the color, the sexiness, the rock star/biker effect” to an otherwise solid colored looks. You can also couple them with other prints to create a “tribal, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s or 80’s look. Leggings can even make an otherwise boring outfit standout!
I wear leggings as much as I can. I dance, and I like wearing dancer-y clothes around to class and stuff too because it’s the most comfortable, movable kind of clothing. I struggle with the butt-covering though, since I have a pear-shaped body and a big butt. Tighter shirts tend to ride up, and I’m forever having to pull them back down, and baggier shirts just make my butt look bigger, usually. I can normally save myself with a long cardigan though.
Maybe I should start wearing those tight mini-dresses from American Apparel as shirts…I bet that would work.
I love to wear leggings with huge cozy sweaters and some cute boots. It’s so comfy but it looks cute in my opinion.
Right never worn leggins as I’m short and past 35 but I have to wear a black tutu for a hen night omg! lol Was wondering whether to wear black shorts over the leggins but what shoes or boots help pls. Oh I am size 10 though.
I’m just getting into the leggings trend and this helped give me some hot outfit ideas. I’ll definitely try out some floral leggings sometime soon. 🙂
I m a men i m practice classic dance i love leggings may i take leggings girls with tigh hight boots
I seriously live in leggings. No I’m not in violation of the “leggings are not pants” rule, I always make sure that the crotch area is well covered. But I LOVE wearing leggings whenever I can because they’re so dang comfy. To me the key is getting leggings that are thick enough that they’re not see through when you bend over – if by chance your top isn’t long enough or comes up when you bend over. The best ones I’ve found are on amazon. Super cheap too – no point in spending a lot of money on leggings. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LMI992Y
Laura- Buy a pair of white shorts perferrably denim, and cut it off into short shorts but leave enough that you can see it under the dress. So cute and makes you look even better!
Love the article
I would normally wear a baggy sweat shirt or sweater, with some uggs with my hair tied up. This is like a normal lazy day !
Or for a party look, wear one of the knitted sweaters with the black tights and some boots or flats !
I don’t want to start a fight but I hear person after person saying leggings are not pants. What makes them so different from yoga pants? The both show just as much.
I ADORE leggings. I was born and raised and California so I was a jeans, jeans, jeans girl, all the time. Jean pants, jean shorts, jean skirts. However, I moved to Hamburg, in Germany, this year, and discovered leggings! They’re basically all I wear now! My tips:
-Wear baggy sweaters over your blouse and leggings. Think American Eagle or logo sweaters. This looks chick but also cute enough for school or just hanging out.
-Wear long socks or leg warmers under your shoes with just the top showing. This is great for when it’s cold, because it adds an extra dimension to your outfit while keeping you warm.
-If you’ve got a super cute blouse, but it’s too short for leggings, wear shorts over the leggings. Or, wear the shirt under a (buttoned) cardigan or vest with a low neckline. The cardigan will cover up your butt while still showing off your top.
-Wear tights, too! When I go to a party or club but its super cold, I wear long black tights under my dress and wear whatever shoes I want, instead of just going in boots.
-Black is always classic. It’s really fun to wear a black top, jacket, and shoes and then bright, crazy colored leggings. It brings them out and makes a statement in a good way. Also, black leggings go with anything.
-When its cold, layer your leggings. At first I didn’t know how people kept walking around with skimpy leggings in the freezing (I mean freezing–coming from California sun to German what? sun? has been pretty hard) cold! But then a friend told me to just pile on two or even three leggings to stay warm and still look good.
There you go!
Hi Liza, thank you for this interesting article 🙂 I really like Leggings – its the perfect outfit for the the disco or just for shopping tours and i like to wear Leggings with high-heels and tunica vests like in your artikel. The blue Leggings are very looking nice 🙂 Lena
Almost TOTALLY AGREE!! My only points of difference is that heels are VERY chic with leggings, and they make the legs look longer, which many of us need. Flats are for casual use. Also, leggings are chic, but very much affected by the shoes and top–they can be casual, chic, or trashy. I love them with classy shoes and various types of boots (classy to warm and fuzzy). I also very much agree that most of us should have a top from mid-thigh to the butt, though I have seen some hard bodies that can show off their butt, but even then it is an edgy look. Below mid-thigh starts to look dowdy. I like the look of thick opaque leggings much better than tights, and they are great for being fashionable in cold weather.
Hi Liza, thank you for this interesting article 🙂 I really like Leggings – its the perfect outfit for the the disco or just for shopping tours and i like to wear Leggings with high-heels and tunica vests like in your artikel. The blue Leggings are very looking nice 🙂 Lena
Okay. So. I’m new to leggings. and I’ve always kinda been told that I should wear leggings because all I am is leg (5’10, 36inseam) and that I shouldn’t wear them because they hit me mid-calf- which is basically… not good right? But I bought an uberrrrr cute dress from Forever 21 yesterday, but it hardly covers my bum because its not made for my long torso. how can i pull off the leggings without me looking like i have toothpick legs etc? helppp pleaseeeeee? (:
I always love wearing leggings.. Thanks for posting this!