I Love Leggings, But These 11 Elegant Alternatives are Tempting Me to Ditch Them This Winter

First things first, I'd like to profess my love for leggings. Honestly, I don't know how I would have gotten dressed over the past three years without them. Prior to that, I'd never really have worn them out of the house save from going to the gym or dashing out for a coffee. Now, however, I wear them whilst working, heading to the shops and meeting my friends for brunch on the weekend, they're a staple in my capsule wardrobe and always will be.

Still, I believe that you can have too much of a good thing, and I worry that I'll tire of leggings at the rate I'm currently wearing them. The solution? To find other items I can wear just as easily and, crucially, that are as comfortable as leggings.

Pyjamas might seem like the closest relative to leggings, but I think working from home in my flannels five days a week could become an unhealthy habit, despite how chic they've become. Instead, I've been looking for sleek alternatives to leggings that I can pull on with my basics and feel put-together in. And would you believe I found 11 pieces that fit those criteria? I know, even I was impressed with myself.

Scroll on to see 11 solutions for the what-to-wear-instead-of-leggings quandary I, and I'm sure many of you, currently find myself in.

What To Wear Instead of Leggings? 11 Chic Alternatives to Try

1. Wide-Leg Jeans

Style Notes: Ordinarily, I wouldn't consider jeans to be as comfortable as leggings, but since investing in a loose-fit pair from H&M, I've been convinced otherwise. The roomy silhouette makes them more feasible for lounging in, and you can always make them even more comfortable by looking for pairs made with stretchier denim weaves.

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2. Knit Dresses

Style Notes: Legging alternatives don't have to fall within the trouser category. Currently, my favourite outfit consists of a soft knit dress, which I pair with knee-high boots and a boxy woollen blazer when I head out. Polished and akin to a second skin, jersey dresses have become my go-to.

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3. Barrel-Leg Trousers

Style Notes: Leggings are second to none when it comes to comfort, but the right pair of trousers can give you the same effect, especially when they're barrel-legs. Just add your favourite jumper and trainers into the equation—bonus points if you tie a flannel shirt around your waist!—to complete the low-key cosy aesthetic.

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4. Lace Trim Skirts

Style Notes: While leggings originally were reserved for Pilates studios or trips to the grocery stores, they've since become a loungewear staple in their own right. And while this category makes a sound substitute, I'm taking inspiration from boudoir adjacent motifs, like lace-trim skirts. Slip skirts might've been restricted to the home around the mid-twentieth century, but they've since broken free from these confines and become one of the more elegant designs of the past few years. But as Scandi influencer Ingrid Edvinsen proves, they pair perfectly with athletic styles like windbreakers and rain jackets, too.

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5. Joggers

Style Notes: If optimum comfort is what you seek, then sweatpants need to be on your agenda. They might be more casual than leggings, but I've seen a flurry of influencers styling them in new ways this year already (slingback kitten heels, anyone?). However, if you ask me, it doesn't get better than joggers, trainers, crew socks and a fleece, as seen on Sasha.

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6. Straight-Leg Jeans

Style Notes: Having dominated the street style, there's no doubt about it—straight-leg jeans are one of the biggest trends of the year. Look for tapered styles that will give you the same clean lines as a pair of leggings and reach for darker colours for more versatile wear.

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7. Relaxed Tailoring

Style Notes: If, like me, you treated yourself to a pair (or three!) of wide-leg tailored trousers in 2024, you're in luck—the silhouette will still be key in 2025. I'm seeing wide-leg trousers in more relaxed and fluid fabrics coming through, making them even simpler to throw on day-to-day, just as you would your leggings.

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8. Leather Trousers

Style Notes: It might seem like an unlikely choice, but gone are the days of uncomfortably stiff leather trousers that you want to peel off the moment you put them on. The high street now has a multitude of styles that not only look chic with blazers, t-shirts and jumpers alike, but are also incredibly comfortable to wear, no matter the occasion.

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9. Balloon Pants

Style Notes:

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10. Cargo Trousers

Style Notes: One thing that leggings often lack compared to other trouser options is the often lack a certain level of polish that other styles possess. Enter: Cargo pants. Both functional, loose-fitting and boasting an abundance of pockets, which is something else leggings lack, this option makes a great stand-in.

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11. Cotton Dresses

Style Notes: Okay, hear me out. I personally find leggings an incredibly breezy silhouette to wear and style. Blame it on the stretchy fabric or the fact that you can pair almost anything with them and they'll still look considered. Matching this piece in terms of relaxation and languidness, albeit on the other end of the spectrum, are floaty cotton maxi dresses. Their throw-on-and-go nature makes them incredibly appealing, just elevate with a humble trench coat and contrasting sweater.

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