Leggings Have Taken Over the Front Row This Year and Look Surprisingly Chic

Fashion Week is best described as a sartorial carnival. Showgoers often spend weeks planning their ensembles, which often err on the impractical side. That said, we were pleasantly surprised when we saw a slew of high-profile fashion types wearing one of the items we wear on the regular: leggings.

Loyal Who What Wear UK readers will know that leggings have been given the stylish seal of approval of late, with many of our favourite influencers choosing to wear them outside of the gym. As for fashion week, leggings formed the base for just about every cool outfit going. Below, you'll find six of the best leggings street style looks we saw during New York and London Fashion Week. Never before has the staple looked so slick.

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(Image credit: @thestylestalkercom)

Style Notes: With this season's must-have buy, the shacket, a pair of leggings looks the height of cool. Add mock-croc boots and a leather bag for optimum luxe appeal. 

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: Is there anything a leather coat can't make look chic? Apparently not, as Pernille proves. Cinched with Bottega Veneta's iconic embellished belt and finished with mules, this is a look we intend on replicating well into spring. 

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(Image credit: @thestylestalkercom)

Style Notes: Leggings also make for a clever layer underneath breezy minidresses until temperatures begin to rise. We love how this attendee has broken up her black ensemble with a pair of ecru boots. 

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: One of the easiest ways to soup-up a leggings look is with a pair of printed boots. Case in point? Erika Boldrin. 

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(Image credit: @thestylestalkercom)

Style Notes: Stirrup-style leggings were all the rage a few years back, so when we spotted this showgoer donning a pair with nude heels and a duvet coat, we were pleasantly surprised. 

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: Leggings make for the ideal canvas for eccentric outerwear, particularly when they're paired with track-sole boots. 

Next, this £500-something Prada bag is following me around this year.

Maxine Eggenberger
Deputy Editor

Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.

Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.