Pent for sportsrelegated to free time, often overvalued: leggings come back cyclically in winter in the wardrobe, but almost never with a style project behind it. Nevertheless, if treated for what they are, that is, a technical, adherent, functional base, they can become the starting point for look surprisingly chic.
The key is all in the combinations. Statement coats, oversized knitwear, boots that cover or lengthen the figure. They don’t become elegant, no. But they stop looking casual due to distractionand they start working by choice.
Where we have already seen them
Leggings have never been a one-size-fits-all item. Born as a technical and performance garment (first in dance, then in sport) they have gone through the years eighties and nineties as a symbol of exposed body and extreme functionality. Over the years Two-thousand they become casual uniform, often misunderstood, while high fashion looks at them with suspicion. When they arrive on the catwalk, initially, they raise eyebrows: too tight, too everyday, too far from the traditional idea of elegance. Nevertheless, season after season, they creep into even the most refined wardrobes. Chanel, Dior, Valentino include them in their collections, demonstrating that the problem is not the garment, but the way it is combined.
From the Acne Studios Autumn-Winter 2025 2026 fashion show.
The answer for Autumn-Winter 2025-2026 comes from Acne Studios, which starts from the basic choice: the model. The one seen on the catwalk is a leggings only in shapetight-fitting and high-waisted, but elevated by a micro check weave that immediately distances it from the gym and brings it closer to everyday life.
How to combine leggings in an elegant way
Combining leggings in an elegant or rather credible way means first of all deactivating automatic reflexes. Acne Studios it does this by treating them like tailored trousers, with a cropped sweater with Nordic pattern and matching wool stole. At the feet, sharp pumps in dark leather, which immediately distances the head from the sporting sphere.
Elegant leggings by Acne Studios.
The point is precisely this: avoid the obvious. Where instinct would lead towards sweatshirtshoodies and sneakers, the styling suggests knitwear important, bold coats and high boots. Long blazers, leather jackets and soft turtlenecks that fall beyond the hips also work, perhaps to recreate layered outfits with contrasting lace shirts or blouses.
Comfort meets style: it’s all a matter of choice. Dressy leggings are form-fitting, but the context makes them grown-up, intentional, surprisingly chic.