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2020 Is the Year of the Reimagined Legging

Here’s every twist designers are putting on the classic silhouette.

Trends
modern leggings
Odds are you probably already have more than a few sets of basic black leggings in your repertoire—we’re definitely nearing double digits. With the rise of athleisure, the simple style has surpassed trend status and cemented itself as a long-term wardrobe staple. As that market becomes more and more saturated, designers are attempting to reimagine what a “legging” can look like, adding new elements like ruching, stirrups, or split hems.

These modern iterations offer up new sartorial potential within the realm of comfort-meets-fashion—the perfect ingredient for a WFH outfit upgrade. “I was inspired to redefine the average day legging without sacrificing comfort, to remain stretchy yet form-fitting and flattering on the body,” says designer Danielle Guizio of her ruched rendition. With the refinement of a pair of trousers but the comfort of sweats, a legging is our favorite pant of the season. Not to mention they can be paired with anything from a blazer to a sweatshirt (or both). Continue scrolling to discover every iteration filling our carts at the moment.

Split Hem

Wardrobe NYC catapulted this style onto the sartorial scene a few years ago, and many designers have since released their reinterpretations. They now range from a subtle split near the foot to a break that starts mid-calf and extends to the ankle.

Fitted Zipper Leggings

& Other Stories
$69

Stirrup

Stirrup leggings have been trending for a few seasons now, but they are currently a great way to add a sartorial update to your WFH wardrobe without sacrificing style. Most days we suggest opting for a loafer or ankle boot to wrap the stirrup around, but once we start dressing up again, swap those styles out for a kitten-heel pump.

Ruched

A touch of ruching breaks up the sleek effect leggings typically have. Typically gathered around the hips or the ankle, the bunched accent creates more of an hourglass-like silhouette and can even resemble leg warmers at the bottom of the leg.

Flared Leggings

According to TikTok, Gen Z-ers are disguising what the rest of us know as yoga pants with a new title: flared leggings. Young celebs like Emma Chamberlain and Kaia Gerber are kicking the style into the spotlight with simple, lounge-centric styling.

The Kaia Pant

Bleusalt
$130

Leather Effect

Leather-effect leggings were a big hit on the Saint Laurent fall ’20 runways with ’80s-reminiscent styling—oversized blazers and feminine blouses. The high-low mix is a great styling trick to make the simple style look polished.
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