7 Leggings Trends to Adopt In 2026 if You Want to Avoid Looking “Dated”
After relocating to London from Sydney nearly a year ago, I knew that certain aspects of my life—and wardrobe—were about to change for good. However, the one thing that has struck me as similar between the two cities is their inhabitants’ shared love for leggings.
Indeed, leggings are somewhat of a uniform along the coastal enclave where I grew up. The activewear staple, especially paired with flip-flops, a casual knit and a takeaway iced latte, was commonplace for many outings, notwithstanding the essentials ‘errand run’ get-up. Now, in the city I call home, leggings are just as prominent, albeit styled in a much more put-together way.
It’s true, leggings make a more considerable appearance in the regular lives of those who reside in the English capital, and if the 2026 leggings trends are anything to show for, it’s that this appreciation and adoration for them isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
You see, leggings are utilised as a way to inject structure and practicality into outfits, rather than the casual and effortless approach to the style that I’m used to. In Hampstead Heath, this contouring garment adds a sleek polish to any silhouette when worn with knee-high kitten-heel boots and a faux-fur trimmed jacket. In Hackney, the approach feels more unfussy and elevated, especially when leggings are styled with cool trainers like the Nike AirRift and an oversized jumper of half-zip fleece.
But irrespective of your locale, the one thing we all have in common is that we collectively agree that leggings are no longer exclusively reserved for exercise. In 2026, the biggest leggings trends can be divided into two disparate categories, but neither of them prioritises fitness as the crux of their usage.
From split-hem to stirrups, these new shapes that are emerging for the next twelve months and beyond raise leggings off the gym floor altogether, making them a premium trouser choice deserving of a spot in any well-edited wardrobe. Similarly, other styles like 7/8 lengths and bootcut finishes make leggings dressy enough to be worn straight from the Reformer studio and out to brunch without having to make any changes.
Of course, to their core, leggings will always serve a functional purpose. But these days, the best athleisure and loungewear brands are considering aesthetic value alongside their utility, making them an invaluable essential for anyone who wants to look chic, feel comfortable and clock in upwards of 10,000 steps a day.
