Leggings Are Losing Their Grip — and Not Just in Fashion
Once the reigning staple of closets and cardio, the mighty legging might be entering its final stretch.
For over a decade, leggings dominated our wardrobes. They blurred the lines between gym attire and brunch uniform, offering a form of soft armor for everything from hot yoga to final exams. But in 2025, the hold they once had—figuratively and literally—is slipping. And it’s not just a shift in style; it’s a cultural reset.
According to market analytics from the NPD Group, sales for leggings in the U.S. declined 5% in 2024 after several years of growth. Meanwhile, looser silhouettes like cargo pants, joggers and flare yoga pants are surging. A recent report from Edited found that wide-leg pants saw a 28% increase in new arrivals across global online retailers in the past year, while traditional leggings dropped by 12%. The trend forecast? Athleisure is pivoting, and leggings are no longer the default.
Goodbye, Second Skin—Hello, Movement
Post-pandemic, the last thing people want is to feel compressed. We traded freedom for fabric during lockdown, living in leggings that felt like a hug when the world was unraveling. But as life reopened, so did our desire for structure, silhouettes and a little breathing room. Oversized tailoring, boxer shorts, and ballet-core skirts flooded runways and street style feeds, proving that fashion is craving softness in spirit, not just in stretch.
Even in fitness spaces, leggings are getting benched. Google Trends shows a steady decline in “workout leggings” searches since early 2023, while “bike shorts” and “training shorts” have climbed. Major brands are listening. Lululemon, once the queen of compression, is diversifying its offerings with looser-fit “Softstreme” joggers and flared pants. Alo Yoga’s most viral pieces in 2024 weren’t leggings—they were its pleated tennis skirts and cargo sets.
Function Meets Fashion Evolution
Part of this shift stems from how we work out—and where. The rise of hybrid workouts (like mat Pilates on Zoom and strength training at boutique gyms) means people want versatile gear that feels like activewear but looks like streetwear. You want to leave reformer class without changing before heading to lunch. Leggings, once seen as that in-between piece, now feel dated—more locker room than lifestyle. Even Gen Z influencers are replacing the leggings with relaxed jeans or trousers paired with tube socks and Sambas.
Leggings aren’t gone—but they are no longer the hero piece. Like skinny jeans before them, they’ve crossed into fashion’s awkward middle age: still useful, still present, but no longer the moment. That doesn’t mean we’re tossing them. It means we’re rotating them—back to gym-only status, or wearing them under oversized sweatshirts on errand days.
Fashion is cyclical, and maybe the leggings will rise again. But right now, it feels like the world’s most loyal pant is finally getting the rest it deserves. After all, there’s only so long a piece of fabric can carry the weight of a generation’s style, workouts and mental breakdowns.