While you might already be wearing your leggings with sweatshirts, tees, and other activewear staples, there are so many other ways to sport them—including outside of your workouts.
So what’s the trick to wearing workout pants outside of the gym? It’s all about proportion: You want to keep things oversized on top to balance out the fitted feel of these bottoms. Not only will doing so add a cool factor to any outfit, but it’ll make you feel more comfortable about wearing a less-structured pant.
In terms of styling, think about your leggings almost the same way you would your go-to pair of denim. Below, some inspiration for 10 ways to wear leggings outfits IRL.
Game Day
Danielle Daly
This look is very varsity. You can’t go wrong with an oversized denim jacket. And underneath, this sweatshirt gives off a throwback, cheerleader vibe.
Personalize it: Swap in a retro sweatshirt from your favorite team or your alma mater to put your own spin on this look.
The stripes in the legging echo those in the top and help pull the look together. Finish it off with a pair of chunky-soled sneakers to add to the retro effect.
Game Day Outfit Essentials
Boyfriend Denim JacketLevi’skohls.com$79.50SHOP NOW
Women’s Fleece Crew Nikenike.com$50.97SHOP NOW
Chevron LeggingsTory Sportamazon.comSHOP NOW
Trideca 200 ShoesReebokreebok.com$110.00SHOP NOW
Date Night
If you want something that’s kind of sexy but not OTT, a pair of faux leather leggings with a pretty camisole is a cool combo of tough and sweet. (You’re showing some skin, but not too much.)
How to pick the perfect cami: Opt for one that doesn’t look like lingerie by going with an animal print or a darker-toned top (like midnight blue or emerald green).
Mix in a boyish quilted bomber jacket to add a casual element. Complete the look with a little metallic bag and a pair of heels.
Date Outfit Essentials
Classic Quilted Jacket Short Bomber Jacket Zeagooamazon.com$30.99SHOP NOW
Snake Print Camisole Aquabloomingdales.com$34.80SHOP NOW
Faux Leather LeggingsSimply Vera Vera Wangkohls.com$31.50SHOP NOW
Jonah Block Heel SandalChinese Laundrychineselaundry.com$74.99SHOP NOW
Crossbody BagDeDe Divaamazon.com$12.99SHOP NOW
Weekend
Danielle Daly
Wearing logos head-to-toe is very much a street style vibe at the moment. I would wear this out with friends or running errands. Pair it with a big, puffy sneaker.
Pro tip for pulling of logos from head to toe: Keep the logos all the same so that it looks intentional.
Of course, this look is not for everyone, and if you want to dial it back but still get in on the trend, you can break it up by wearing either the top or bottom by itself, paired with a more subdued separate.
Weekend Outfit Essentials
Champion Life® Men’s Reverse Weave® Crew, All Over LogoChampionchampion.com$39.99SHOP NOW
Champion Life® Men’s Reverse Weave® Joggers, All Over Logochampion.com$60.00SHOP NOW
Women’s Air Max 95 Premium Low-top SneakersNikebloomingdales.com$119.00SHOP NOW
Gym
Danielle Daly
Tie-dye is another trend that’s happening right now, but you don’t see it as often in a hoodie or in darker tones—which go so well with these burgundy leggings and a statement sneaker in wild colors.
How to make colors coordinate, not clash: Create continuity by sticking with tones in the same color families, so all blues, purples, and greens, or reds, oranges, and pinks, for example. That way, even though they’re all a little different, they each go together.
This puffer coat in sunshine yellows adds a pop of color and a bit of contrast to an otherwise muted palette.
Gym Outfit Essentials
Puffer Coat Norozeamazon.com$24.99SHOP NOW
Women’s Tie Dye Long Sleeve Hoodie Wild Fabletarget.com$8.40SHOP NOW
All Day Comfort Yoga LeggingCore 10amazon.com$29.00SHOP NOW
Air Max 270 React Nikedickssportinggoods.com$149.99SHOP NOW
School Drop Off
Even if your second stop after taking your kids to their classrooms is the gym, that doesn’t mean you have to look like you’re on your way to work out. Feel put-together in front of the other parents by layering a lightweight anorak jacket with a slight metallic sheen over a matching set.
How to look put-together in a pinch: It’s a cinch, literally. Look for a coat with a belt or drawstring that can define your waist and keep an otherwise athletic topper feeling tailored.
Invest in a jacket that’s a little lower in the back and hits at mid-thigh. Color-blocked leggings add a cool factor, especially when they coordinate with your sneakers.
Drop Off Outfit Essentials
Women’s Puma Roma Amor Heritage Casual ShoesPumafinishline.com$85.00SHOP NOW
Cropped Stripe PulloverPerfashionamazon.com$15.99SHOP NOW
Circuit LeggingMichicarbon38.com$175.00SHOP NOW
Ultraboost 19adidasdickssportinggoods.com$143.97SHOP NOW
Brunch
Danielle Daly
This is that cozy weekend look you’ll want to live in all season. Orange paired with olive green is always cool, and a fuzzy teddy bear jacket adds a fun layer. Finally, the hiker boot is the boot of the moment for fall. Wear yours with some wooly, knit socks and you’re good to go.
How to tie it all together: If your hiker boots don’t come with a pair of cute cord laces, swap them out for a bolder pair, which you can buy on sites like Amazon.
Brunch Outfit Essentials
Plush fleece bomber jacketJ.Crewjcrew.com$134.99SHOP NOW
Turtleneck Sweater PulloverBetuslineamazon.com$27.77SHOP NOW
Run Leopard-Print-Panel Leggingsadidas by Stella McCartneybloomingdales.com$120.00SHOP NOW
Broadway Fashion BootSteve Maddenamazon.com$95.60SHOP NOW
Girls’ Night Out
These jeans are designed to be worn unbuttoned and folded down like in the shot above, but you could replicate the look with a pair of high-waisted pants and a rope belt if you prefer. Just wear a pair of leggings with a label around the elastic waistband as a layer underneath to give the outfit a sporty element. On top, wear an off-the-shoulder sweater that’s cropped. Finish the look with a little ankle booty.
How to keep your balance: To make this look work, you need to go with a slightly looser fit on both the top and bottom.
Girls’ Night Outfit Essentials
Tall Slash Neck Crop SweaterBoohooboohoo.com£20.00SHOP NOW
Jessi Boyfriend JeanHudsonhudsonjeans.com$70.80SHOP NOW
Women’s Graphic LeggingsNikecarbon38.com$60.00SHOP NOW
Sianna Fashion BootSam Edelmanamazon.com$75.60SHOP NOW
Fall Festivities
Danielle Daly
Throw an oversized sweatshirt over a fitted, full-length sweater dress for an unexpected look that screams fall. Adding a legging underneath will keep you warm, and add a slip-on sneaker to the mix.
How to win at pattern play: Look for a similar pattern in two different sizes or scales and a complementary color palette.
The sweater dress brings out the red in the sweatshirt, which you could also tie around your waist or shoulders.
Fall Festivities Outfit Essentials
Printed Fleece CrewNikenike.com$35.97SHOP NOW
Fine-knit DressH&Mhm.com$29.99SHOP NOW
Bungee Cord LeggingCarbon38carbon38.com$89.00SHOP NOW
Classic Slip On Vansamazon.com$98.94SHOP NOW
Work
Danielle Daly
Add interest to a pair of plain navy leggings with an oversized menswear-style blazer. Opt for a fitted, striped turtleneck underneath.
How to style so it doesn’t feel stuffy: Leave the turtleneck untucked and only button the top or second button of your jacket to keep this outfit feeling easy instead of uptight.
Roll up the sleeves (you’re going to work, after all), and finish this outfit with a metallic flat like a mule or a slide.
Work Outfit Essentials
The Wool Oversized Blazer Everlaneeverlane.com$180.00SHOP NOW
Women’s Stripe TurtleneckSplendidamazon.com$56.97SHOP NOW
Show Stopper Yoga LeggingCore 10amazon.com$39.00SHOP NOW
The QuadratiniM.Gemimgemi.com$165.00SHOP NOW
JaneUrban Expressionsurbanexpressions.net$90.00SHOP NOW
Concert
This look was inspired by the ’80s movie Say Anything with John Cusack (one of my favorite movies). The jacket that hits just below the knee combined with the T-shirt are similar to what John Cusack wears. Here, it’s paired with a leopard-print skirt.
How to take leopard to the next level: Animal print’s been a thing for a while now. But finding one in an unexpected color adds a surprise touch. It’s super-feminine and feels badass paired with a beat-up rocker tee. French tuck just the front of your shirt into the skirt for added cool factor (hey, Tan France).
What’s really interesting about this outfit are the leggings, though. They’re from Stella McCartney and they’re mesh. So when you put them on under a midi skirt, you’re just going to see a little detail of it around your ankles. You could also do this look with a plain black leggings instead of tights. Pop on a cool platform sneaker, and you’re ready to go.
Concert Outfit Essentials
The Drape Trench Coat Everlaneeverlane.com$148.00SHOP NOW
Beatles American Tour 1964 T-Shirt Bravadoamazon.com$27.97SHOP NOW
Davis SkirtRebecca Minkoffrebeccaminkoff.com$168.00SHOP NOW
Warp Knit TightAdidas by Stella McCartneycarbon38.com$120.00SHOP NOW
Roma Amor Heritage Casual ShoesPumafinishline.com$85.00SHOP NOW
Photography: Danielle Daly Digital Assistant: Jim Josephs Fashion Editor: Kristen Saladino Soft Styling: Sharon Ryan/Halley Resources Design Director: Raymond Ho Associate Art Director: Trevor Williams Assistant Visual Editor: Jillian Sellers
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