Hailey Bieber Is Responsible for the Return of This Controversial Legging Trend
When fashion items are deemed "out," they fall into one of two categories. Either they've simply hit their peak for the time being and are expected to return to grace in the future, or they're so hated by then that we collectively promise never to wear them again. Leather leggings, similar to extra-low-rise jeans and whale tails, fell into the latter group. But just like its neighbors on the list, the controversial legging style is unexpectedly back. For proof, see Hailey Bieber.
During her and Kylie Jenner's holiday trip to Aspen for New Year's Eve, the model and Rhode founder was spotted downtown wearing an all-black après-ski outfit consisting of an oversize, belted Saint Laurent coat, sunglasses, and a Le 5 À 7 shoulder bag as well as Loewe leather puffer boots and matching leggings—leather leggings just like the ones she used to wear on repeat back in the late 2010s. Oddly enough, this time around, her choice of skintight bottoms didn't result in the ick like it would have even just a few months ago. Instead, I get the feeling that leather leggings will be back to reigning in the fashion world in no time now that they have Bieber's stamp of approval.
Check out her Aspen look and shop leather leggings below.
On Hailey Bieber: Loewe Padded Leather Boots ($600) and Nappa Leather Leggings ($1700); Saint Laurent SL 557 Shade Sunglasses ($395), Le 5 À 7 Hobo Bag ($2400), and Belted Single-Breasted Coat ($5970)
Shop leather leggings:
Next up: 7 Legging Trends That Feel Surprisingly Fresh
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
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