To even utter the word “leggings” is to invite a barrage of commentary on their appropriateness or place in fashion. But this is the year it all changes, with the leading trends of 2026 taking the style from a piece you haphazardly throw on to run errands to an essential in any well-edited wardrobe.
Once relegated to your activewear drawer and rendered in cheap polyester, leggings have transcended this degraded status and become a chic silhouette in their own right. There’s truly no more exemplary parlay than this, with refined options able to suit both Cat-Cow stretches in your Pilates class and the confines of a sleek cocktail bar.
Whilst they’ve certainly not reached timeless status, high-quality iterations are proving to be the hard-working backbone of a trend-proof closet. More than being reserved for Yoga studio and Barre classes, the best leggings convey an air of elegance and sophistication that demand to be flaunted at Saturday evening dinner or Sunday morning brunch.
Because of their versatility, the options for what you can pair this basic with have increased tenfold. No longer are they only able to be teamed with viral trainers or quarter-zip fleeces. Now, leggings are being opened up to a whole new world of styling possibilities, including, but not limited to, the biggest trends of 2026. Think: Polished funnel-neck jackets, gathered-effect ballet pumps and tasselled motifs that add a decorative accent to anything they’re worn with.
In fact, I’d contend that these design elements are so polished that you’d never consider wearing them any other way, let alone to the gym. (Talk about doing the heavy lifting for you!). From classy blazers that offer a slick and cinched figure to shoes ornamented with pierced details, uncover the 7 key trends to wear with leggings in 2026, ahead.
The 7 Chicest Trends to Wear With Leggings in 2026
1. Waisted Blazers
Style Notes: Blazers are part of the business casual attire of the 2010s that have firmly bucked the passing of time and held their own in the 2020s. However, for this decade, minimalism is certainly more desirable than the indie sleaze sensibility of yore, meaning the styles of today are more clean-cut and body-conscious than ever before. Enter: Waisted blazers. A style that began bubbling up last year, they enhance the razor-sharp shape of leggings no other, whilst also injecting any ensemble with a tapered outline.
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Aligne's Daphne blazer is a cult favourite, beloved by fashion editors and tastemakers alike.
Subtle acts of layers make such a difference, and this Stine Goya piece does the hard work for you thanks to the built-in collar.
A jacket that has Nara Smith's stamp of approval.
This is the exact piece worn by Simone Ashley, and is also approved by Alexa Chung after she wore it with capri jeans to the Chloé spring/summer 2026 show.
2. Gathered Ballet Pumps
Style Notes: Ever since ballet flats stepped out onto Miu Miu’s autumn/winter 2022 runway, they’ve remained a crucial part of the footwear landscape. Now, things are being taken to new heights, both literally and figuratively. Enhancing your look thanks to their sculptural demeanour, gathered ballet pumps will also have you looking more intentional and elegant thanks to their slight heel.
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The contrast between the buttery leather and the wooden block heel is so sumptuous.
The high-vamp and tapered effect is such a refined detail.
Such an affordable option for those looking to invest in a chic pair of shoes, without the hefty price tag.
One of Reformation's best-selling styles, and this chocolate brown option proves exactly why.
3. Tassel Accents
Style Notes: Who thought the realms of savoir-faire and sportswear could ever cross over? Well, when it comes to the chicest trends to wear with leggings in 2026, it was bound to occur when discussing the rising tassel accent trend. What originally began as a decorative trim for ostentatious garments and opulent interiors has transformed into a subtle addition that offers flair and sumptuousness to any wearer. Simply throw on over a pair of flared leggings et voila, a look that can take you from the grocery store to an art gallery.
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Tassel belts are the 2026 answer to the 2025 silk belt trend.
A piece of jewellery that will have you emulating one of Truman Capote's swans.
Now, opulent accessories like this certainly aren't a necessity, but it is a gorgeous investment.
Pair with stirrup leggings and a white button-down shirt.
4. Faux-Fur-Trimmed Jackets
Style Notes: In the words of Almost Famous’s Penny Lane, it’s all happening. And when I say it’s, I mean the return of her favourite style of jacket; fur-trim coats. A perennial staple of Kate Moss and Kate Middleton, the shape has been cast back into the spotlight thanks to beloved London-based outerwear brand Charlotte Simone. But with many modern iterations, which have all quickly become cult staples, cropping up at Queens of Archive and the now-defunct Scandinavian fashion brand Saks Potts, it’s not surprising to see these grungy, albeit bohemian, styles rise to the fore.
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With a cropped and curved hem, this H&M style certainly draws inspiration from Valentino's celebrity-adored piece.
This will pair perfectly with capri leggings.
Grey coats are always chic, but the fur-trim really elevates this colour further.
Watch this space, dalmatian print will replace polka dots in 2026.
5. Funnel-Neck Jackets
Style Notes: Whilst funnels were once a word solidly excluded from fashion’s lexicon, the reign of the funnel-neck jackets has certainly kept it on everyone’s lips. This jacket style, which started doing the rounds late last year, offers a neckline that creeps far about the clavicle and sits right under the chin, with the apt title drawing from the shape it shares with the kitchen appliance of the same name. As a result, the casual yet fitted style has become a go-to for dressers seeking that elusive effortless elegance and, by extension, a worthy partner for any pair of leggings.
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Ripped straight from the runway.
If I were to crown the 'best funnel-neck' title, this style would certainly win.
The panelling on this piece is such a refined touch.
With a boxy shape and aviator-inspired silhouette, this Mango style certainly feels inspired by the leather jackets designed by Saint Laurent.
6. Pierced Heels
Style Notes: Jewellery is a category that exploded in 2025, thanks to this shift in consumer behaviour towards accessibly-priced and designer-looking pieces. From this, we saw pendant necklaces, drop earrings and tennis bracelets come to the fore. But who said this had to stop at your wrist or décolletage? Well, according to Tory Burch, they shouldn’t, with the American designer’s pierced shoes quickly becoming an It item in the few years since their launch in her spring/summer 2024 show. With a studded finish, they bring an element of contrast and accessorisation to even the most mundane of leggings looks.
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There's not a pair of leggings that wouldn't be made more chic if worn with this.
The inverted heel makes a lovely design choice, says Who What Wear News Writer Natalie Munroe, who adores her pair.
Take the early 2000s t-bar sandal trend to the next level with these pierced accents.
A more demure version that will team wonderfully with stirrup leggings.
7. Wool Bucket Hats
Style Notes: Leggings feel like something you’d see someone wearing whilst wandering around Star Hollows in the background of a Gilmore Girls episode. Lean into this autumnal charm by pairing them with an equally nostalgic piece: woollen bucket hats. Despite being updated for 2026 by the likes of Kendall Jenner and Jennifer Lawrence in styles from The Row and Loro Piana, respectively, they still are etched with this home-made and hand-crafted quality that makes them feel so sweet and refined. Of course, for those who adore a late-90s and early-00s romantic comedy, what could be better than this?
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A novel knit if I ever saw one.
Wish-listed.
How refined is this?
Such a transeasonal staple.