9 Stylish Alternatives I'll Be Wearing Instead of Leggings This Season

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 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 star-print flannels five days a week could become an unhealthy habit. 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 eight pieces that fit those criteria? I know, even I was impressed with myself.

Scroll on to see nine 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:

1. Loose 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. Tube Dresses

Style Notes: Legging alternatives don't have to fall within the trouser category. Currently, my favourite outfit consists of a soft tube 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. Knitted Trousers 

Style Notes: How is it that I didn't own a pair of knitted trousers until this year? I live in my woollen strides throughout the cooler months as they make me feel snug as a bug in a fashionable rug. Just add your favourite jumper and trainers into the equation to complete the low-key cosy aesthetic.

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4. Shorts and Tights

Style Notes: Okay, hear me out—I find shorts very comfortable to wear in the summer months, so why wouldn't that be the case during the cooler ones, too? With a pair of black tights to hand for warmth, I promise you, this combination will work just as well with whatever you've been wearing your leggings with up until this point.

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5. Drawstring Trousers

Style Notes: The closest thing to pyjamas that I'll allow myself to wear for days on end is a pair of drawstring trousers in either cotton poplin or linen. With a fresh white tee and a tailored blazer, they look surprisingly elevated. My shoes of choice? Birkenstocks.

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6. 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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7. Maxi Skirts

Style Notes: Having dominated the runways, there's no doubt about it—maxi skirts are one of the biggest trends of the year. Look for fitted styles that will give you the same clean lines as a pair of leggings, or reach for fuller-skirted options in knitted weaves.

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8. Relaxed Tailoring

Style Notes: If, like me, you treated yourself to a pair (or three!) of wide-leg tailored trousers in 2023, you're in luck—the silhouette is still key this year. 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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9. Leather Trousers

Style Notes: It might seem like 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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This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.