It Seems the Fashion Set Has Upgraded This One Wardrobe Staple for the Season

Leggings are one of those wardrobe staples I lean on harder than ever once the temperature drops. They are warm, comfortable and frankly, just make getting dressed on dark mornings a little easier. What started life as a purely practical piece has really earned its fashion stripes over the years, promoted to a proper classic that works just as well with an oversized shirt and heels as with a chunky knit and trainers.

But on my recent IG scrolls, I noticed that something had shifted. Yes, leggings are still very much a ‘fit favourite amongst some of the most stylish women we follow, but—shocker—they’re not black. Instead, we’re seeing them everywhere in every other colour under the sun.

One look that stopped me mid-scroll was a full red moment: red leggings, a matching cardigan and a chic bag. Festive? Absolutely. Surprisingly wearable? Also yes. I’ll admit that I’ve always been a little sceptical of coloured leggings, because if done wrong, they can skew a bit young or ‘80s-gym-class-coded. But lately, I’ve been very happily proven wrong. The trick, it seems, is treating them like trousers rather than workout gear. We’re talking richer tones, better fabrics and well-thought-out styling. This way, burgundy, chocolate brown, slate grey, soft butter yellow and even powder blue suddenly all feel fair game.

What I love most is the versatility of this trend. Coloured leggings can be styled casually with knitwear or dressed up with tailored layers, shirts and heels for dinners, offices with flexible dress codes and even festive plans. There’s also variety in the silhouettes: classic full-length, capri styles that fashion people are doubling down on and slightly flared hems that feel very now.

Below are the non-black leggings I’ve already bookmarked, inspired by the influencers wearing this trend so well. Scroll on if you’re ready to rethink your go-to black pair.

Shop Coloured Leggings: