4 Elevated Ways to Wear Leggings for Winter 2025

If you’ve spent a marginal amount of time online recently, you’ve probably heard some variation of the idea that leggings are officially out. It’s an arbitrary fashion rule that’s been championed by Gen Zers, according to publications like Business of Fashion, New York Post, and The Independent. But as a millennial, I’ve been around the block enough times to know leggings slander when I see it.

When I was in college, there were several campaigns to varying effectiveness that tried to malign leggings by declaring them “not pants,” and shaming the wearer into something like denim or khakis. However, I’ve always been a firm believer that these types of rules are intentionally reductive and designed to flatten individuality. They’re often made to convince consumers that their favorite pieces are obsolete, so they can make room for whatever is new and cutting-edge.