It's the end of leggings, so what now? Less bound bodies and freer silhouettes: Is it really the end of the leggings craze?

Some loves never end, they take long detours and come back, as a famous song goes. The same could be said of leggings, which – loved and hated – have never really disappeared from women’s wardrobes, spanning generations. Now, after more than a decade as the go-to choice for casual outings, travel, workouts, and lounging at home, it seems their era might truly be coming to an end. Taking their place are looser, deconstructed, and overall more comfortable pants. This shift is undoubtedly influenced (at least in part) by Gen Z, which favors a more relaxed fashion over athleisure and a "performative" aesthetic. Ironically, this approach seems to have spilled over into activewear itself, where leggings were the undisputed stars for at least a decade: now we see wide sweatpants, parachute styles, or just comfy shorts rolled at the waist. Silhouettes are no longer skin-tight, embracing greater freedom. But how did the free fall of yoga pants, once the symbol of Millennials, begin?

The Origin, Boom, and Burnout of Leggings

To trace the origins of leggings, we have to go back to the 1950s, when they were still known as fuseaux. The name – still familiar to our grandmothers – was coined by Emilio Pucci, who was the first to design a pair of very tight trousers to wear with maxi dresses. Pucci also created the Viva style, with stirrups under the feet, and the Capri cut, with its signature mid-calf length. Then came Mary Quant, who paired fuseaux with miniskirts and platform shoes. In the 1980s, leggings became bright and fluorescent, the ultimate symbol of the aerobics boom and sporty fashion (ever heard of Jane Fonda?). After a period when fits became looser and waistlines dropped, leggings – now under a new name – made a big comeback in the early 2000s. First worn under denim miniskirts, then as pants in their own right. Black at first, then more colorful (who could forget the galaxy print?) and increasingly technical, perfect for working out, catching a flight, or brunching with friends. They became key to the “girlboss” aesthetic – widespread in the mid-2010s – which combined crop tops and oversized blazers to signal a blend of fitness, career, and personal branding. Then came the pandemic, and Gen Z’s influence. After months at home, we chose comfort. Meanwhile, the girlboss aesthetic – built on hyper-performance, individualism, and often exclusivity – began to show its cracks. Many left it behind, in favor of more authentic, fluid styles that aren’t obsessed with constant productivity.

The Comeback of Pants: Soft, Yet Chic

And so, leggings weathered the tides – ups and downs – until now. A quick scroll through activewear and casual clothing sites shows that brands are shifting: even Lululemon, a global leader thanks to its spandex leggings, or Skims, born from Kim Kardashian’s love of body-hugging styles, are adapting. Recently, leggings have become more flared, then gradually replaced by soft trousers – now the clear favorite in pilates classes. In everyday life, meanwhile, cotton or linen trousers with elastic or drawstring waists, wide at the bottom, are being worn just like leggings: with a sweater, oversized tee, sweatshirt, or button-down shirt. They’re everywhere – from fast fashion (with Uniqlo leading the way) to indie brands tapping into the new demand for a balance between elegance and comfort. Like Leset – founded in 2019 and seeing 200% growth in 2024 – whose best-selling Kyoto Carpenter Pant is made from poplin with a drawstring. Or Donni, viral in the U.S. for its elevated basics made from premium materials like pima cotton, linen, terry cloth, and flannel – the ultimate expression of a new, more refined comfort.

The End of an Era – or Just a New Chapter?

Rather than a complete disappearance, the retreat of leggings seems to mark a shift in paradigm: we’re not letting go of comfort – we’re letting go of the performative idea of comfort. The kind that demands tight bodies, sculpted abs, and productivity even during downtime. Today, we dress for relaxation differently: more relaxed, more real, more ours. Soft, deconstructed pants in quality fabrics are the new uniform for those who’ve stopped chasing magazine-cover multitasking. And if leggings do come back (because they will), it’ll likely be with a new spirit: less gym uniform, more conscious choice.