What’s not to love about leggings?
They’re comfortable. They hold everything in. They’re great at making lazy outfits look sleek and stylish. They’re inexpensive. And there’s something so retro fabulous about them.
I for one am a huge fan.
But one of the most prolific fashion rule to emerge over the last few years is the danger of wearing a pair of leggings as pants. From Blair Waldorf to Conan O’Brien, it seems like everyone has a passionate opinion on the right way to wear this humble garment.
But as with most pressing debate in life, nothing is black and white. What if you’re wearing a tunic? What about running tights or yoga gear? What’s the rule on jeggings? Aren’t really tight pants pretty much the same thing?
Is it ever OK to wear leggings as pants? Or, why is wearing leggings as pants so frowned upon?
I’ve researched both sides of the argument, and have developed a few guidelines of my own to help steer me in the direction of what I feel good and confident wearing. After you read, leave a comment and tell us where you weigh in on this argument. Ready to debate this out? Read on, girlfriends!
Related reading: How to Wear Leggings: The Ultimate Guide to Cute Leggings Outfits
Table of Contents
Arguments In Favor of Leggings As Pants
With heavy fabrics, interesting styles, and the popularity of “skinny” cut pants, it’s understandable why some people would embrace the idea of wearing leggings as pants.
First of all, they’re super comfortable. The elastic waistline will feel good on your body all day long, no matter if you’re sitting at a desk studying for finals or lounging on a couch watching movies with your girlfriends. I love each and every pair of jeans that I own, but nothing compares to the stretchy goodness that a nice pair of cotton leggings can provide.
Second, a quality pair can support your hips and backside enough to function as a pair of pants. As long as the leggings are thick and supportive, I don’t see a need to discriminate against a piece just because it’s less structured than others.
Also, leggings have been a staple of chic girls’ wardrobes for decades. Remember how beautiful Audrey Hepburn looked in her signature pair of cropped ankle-length leggings and ballet flats, paired with a crisp white button-down shirt, or a black turtleneck? My mind also goes to ’80s bombshells like Cyndi Lauper and Paula Abdul wearing brightly-colored, high-cut leggings with spikey stilettos. The legging is such a cool throwback item!
Lastly, you have to admit that the right pair of leggings can make you feel super sexy and ultra cool. Both the shiny and matte lamé leggings from American Apparel are so badass that just wearing a pair will make you feel like Catwoman! Dark-colored leggings are very flattering and will make your legs look miles long, especially when worn with a pair of heels.
Related reading: The Best Leggings Outfits for Work
Arguments Against Leggings As Pants
On the flipside, I can definitely understand why many girls regard leggings as pants as a huge fashion faux pas.
Generally, leggings aren’t the most supportive piece in your closet. They’re easy to spot panty lines though, and they don’t do the best job of, well, giving your tush the lift and shape it deserves.
Second, not to get super graphic or anything, but, well, wearing leggings as pants puts you in the danger zone of accidentally ending up with a frontal wedgie-type situation. Wardrobe malfunctions are never a thing you want to spend the day worrying about. They’re distracting to think about, not to mention pretty awkward — for both for you and whoever happens to witness them.
Another big reason some girls are against leggings as pants involves the potential for revealing too much. If the leggings aren’t thick and opaque, they can easily be see-through, and if said see-through leggings aren’t covered by an appropriately long top, they can give passersby a full-on view of your anatomy. This isn’t a fashion statement that most of us want to make, nor is it something we want to be subjected to on our 7AM walk to class.
Lastly, wearing leggings as a pair of pants is just…well, a tad bit lazy. Not that that’s totally a bad thing — obviously, if you’re studying and just vegging out with friends, looking sharp isn’t going to be your first priority. But, some girls liken leggings to sweatpants or yoga pants, and think they should be saved for days that you’re running late or feeling a little under the weather. While I definitely think leggings are usually better than wearing sweatpants or (yikes) pajamas in public, I can see where it’d be a little bit sloppy to constantly wear them.
Finally — My Tips and Tricks For Rocking Leggings as Pants
Taking the best of both worlds, I’ve compiled a few rules of thumb for rocking a pair of leggings. Check them out below! (And for more, see our post on how to wear leggings.)
- This is very obvious, but the safest way to wear leggings is with a tunic that hits about mid-thigh. This way, you’ll get the look of leggings, but still have plenty of hip, butt, and crotch coverage. Always a good thing!
- If you want to be bold and wear leggings with a thigh-grazing top, be sure to go for styles with thick, opaque fabric and a good amount of support. Like I mentioned before, the very stretchy lamé versions from American Apparel are a small miracle.
- I know this is kind of awkward to talk about, but you want to make sure to have full coverage (and at least an inch or two of some wiggle room) covering your crotch. This part of the equation is completely non-negotiable.
- However, if you happen to be so bold, you can be a little more relaxed about how covered your backside is. Of course, this depends on how comfortable you are with your body, your personal body shape, how thick and structured your leggings are, and what sort of a top you’re wearing. If you have doubts, recruit an honest friend to tell you how you look.
- Jeggings are tricky. Some of them look just like real jeans, so it’s sort of a delicate line to walk. Personally, I find them to be a little to thin and unsupportive to wear with shirts shorter than tunic length, but if you have a great pair that you love, more power to you!
- Dark-colored leggings are absolutely the most flattering. I’m not saying they can’t be worn, but I’ve yet to see a pair of white or nude-colored leggings look right.
- For a relaxed yet chic look, pair cotton leggings with riding boots and an oversized knit sweater. Finish with a top knot or a loose side braid.
- Leggings are the perfect thing to pair with a dress that’s just a little bit too short to wear alone. If your dress is getting close to knee length, though, opaque tights will look much more chic with it than leggings.
- For a sexy look perfect for a night on the town, pair stretchy lamé or coated leggings with a longish tank top or silky blouse. Finish with edgy jewelry, your tallest pair of heels, and a box clutch.
- Wear black leggings with a chambray button-down and wedges for a breezy model off duty sort of look.
- If you dare to wear a regular-length top with a pair of leggings, balance it out with a long scarf and cardigan. You could also channel the ’90s and tie a sweater or shirt around your waist for coverage.
How do you feel about leggings as pants?
What are your thoughts on wearing leggings as pants? Would you ever wear leggings with a regular-length shirt? Do you think leggings come off as too casual for many occasions? What are the rules you follow to avoid a faux pas? Where do you fall on the legging debate continuum? We want to know how you feel about this issue! Let us know with a comment!
Just for the record…Audrey Hepburn wore cigarette pants, not leggings. I don’t think leggings as pants are a problem if they’re thick, opaque ones. Though I do think they’re more flattering with slightly longer tops, like ones that cover at least most of your butt. If they’re the right fabric, there’s really not much of a difference between leggings and yoga pants. It’s just like skinny of boot cut jeans. A friend of mine wear cheap ones though, I’ve told her that I can see her underwear and skin through them (I’d want to know!) but she continues to wear them, looks a bit tacky to me.
I feel like leggings as pants can only work on girls that are very thin and don’t have alot of curves. Idk, that’s just my personal opinion, because I have curves myself and don’t feel comfortable wearing leggings as pants. I do love jeggings though, the ones at AE look just like jeans and they super comfortable.
I frequently wear leggings as pants around campus, but I usually try and wear a shirt or cardigan that covers my bottom, just to be safe. I think that when worn correctly (with cute flats or riding boots and a cute top), they can look kind of trendy and cute more so than “lazy.” I’ll admit, I have days (like today!) when I just wear a t-shirt, giant cardigan and leggings and look kind of lazy, but most of the time I try to class them up a bit. I do agree that when they’re see-through, or when there is an excess of camel toe/wedgies, they can look kind of bad and aren’t suitable as pants. But when there’s full coverage, they’re fantastic!
Nope, to me leggings look like tights and when you wear them as pants you look like you forgot to put a skirt on. It’s just lazy.
I’m on the fence about this. I think leggings look better (classy!) when not worn as pants: either with a tunic or under a skirt/dress, etc. But as a dancer, I’m wearing leggings as pants a lot. So, only in the dance studio?
I think there are a lot of issues that can occur with wearing the almighty legging. That said, I personally find them to be amazing. I have severe abdominal discomfort issues and bloat to an insane degree during the day (literally to the point where I look pregnant. Lovely, eh?) and having leggings is a GODSEND.
I work in a very relaxed office (construction setting) where I’m allowed to wear leggings if I need to. I always keep a pair in my bag just in case abdominal discomfort strikes when I’m wearing pants or jeans with no give. I always try to wear a long top with some good finishing pieces like a scarf, earrings, and boots so I don’t look too messy.
Lots of people look great in leggings, and they’re really comfortable, but I personally think it looks like you forgot to wear bottoms.
I’m more of a tights person myself. I haven’t worn leggings since middle school, especially since my high school was all “NO LEGGINGS!!” But I can admire the style. I personally will never risk that wardrobe malfunction.
If the butt and crotch is covered then they are fine. Otherwise, no. I don’t want to see your butt and/or cameltoe. Honestly, while I like to lounge around in leggings and wear them for workouts, I wish the trend would die. They just aren’t flattering on many women and it just seems like very few people actually know how to wear them.
I agree, as long as you’re wearing leggings/jeggings with a shirt or dress that is mid-length, it’s fine to wear pants as leggings. What really bothers me is when a girl is wearing leggings and a short shirt and it shows her “frontal wedgie”. It’s just not a good look ladies.
I’m my opinion, leggings should never ever be worn as pants.
@Elle, I totally agree – I see this ALL the time on my campus! What’s worse, they wear them with short tops (belly-button length). I don’t have a problem with leggings as pants, as long as they’re worn properly (just like any piece of clothing, really. I’ve seen this with dress pants too, and it’s disturbing).
Reason why I don’t wear leggings as pants though is because I find them INCREDIBLY uncomfortable. They’re either tight or they fit well but fall down, among other reasons. I’ve tried lots of different kinds, expensive and cheap. I’d rather stick with my jeans I can wear belts with!
In my opinon, i think leggings as pants are okay as long as the butt isn’t hanging out! Yoga leggings are a different story though! Yoga pants material is much more thicker and opaque. Those can be worn in place of leggings if you plan on wearing a shirt that doesn’t cover your butt. 🙂
I’m still in high school (but love College Fashion haha) and my school doesn’t allow leggings as pants unless your shirt is fingertip lenght. To get my fix of wearing leggings, i just wear yoga leggings cause they kind of look the same! 🙂
I don’t wear pants to lift or shape my butt, and I don’t agree that leggings are lazy. Comfort isn’t always lazy. I think to wear them as pants you’d have to take in account the thickness of the leggings and how tight they are. If you can see a panty line/patterned panties there should be a longer shirt. If someone can wear it right, it shouldn’t be a problem.
I really like this article. Personally I’m not a huge fan of the leggings as pants trend, seen too many girls who don’t know how to wear it right. These tips are really helpful and makes me want to try leggins out more. Thanks!
The winter leggings from American Apparel are so thick they do not cause any of the problems mentioned above. Highly recommend checking them out.