To be frank, we’re not proponents of everyday leggings. Hold your gasp, we have reason. The casual albeit comfortable staple has a time and place, and for us, it’s off-duty, not when going for a big sartorial finish.
So, you can imagine our shock when we witnessed a number of leggings—bold ones we might add—on the runways during Milan Fashion Week. First at Etro, in the form of athleisure-inspired sets in jaunty colors and prints. Then, a sparkly appearance at Missoni rendered in bright hues and pastel shades. Finally, at Dolce & Gabbana in cropped silhouettes both capri- and bike-length (yes, bike shorts—we’ll explain shortly) in basic black—the capris had laser-cut detailing for a saucy spin.
Okay, so bike shorts. They initially caught our attention during New York Fashion Week, and we see them as a designer’s way of acknowledging the leggings trend is anything but tired in the minds of consumers. With a tunic, sandals and a big hat, we can totally envision them working for laid-back sunny days.
So will leggings go entirely bold for spring? Probably not completely (hold onto your trusty black pairs for now), but with nostalgia playing a huge role in fashion at present (see the rise of stirrups this season), It girls like the Hadid sisters and Kendall Jenner are already embracing the look with everything from flats to stilettos.
Here, peruse the runway, then shop our picks and get a leg up on the trend.
Fashion-Forward Leggings
Etro
Etro
Etro
Missoni
Missoni
Missoni
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana
Shop Bold Leggings
