Claire's Picks

← Trousers Worth Hanging in Your Wardrobe

Leggings Worth the Closer Look

0 items

Leggings have a reputation problem and most of it is earned by bad ones. The fabric that goes see-through the moment you bend over. The waistband that rolls down all day. The pair that looked sleek in the photo and arrived looking like opaque tights. We have worn enough of those to know exactly what separates genuinely good leggings from the ones that disappoint before lunch. What makes a legging worth buying is a short list. Fabric that holds its shape and its opacity. A waistband with enough structure to stay put. A fit that smooths without squeezing. The best ones do all three and manage to look like an actual style choice rather than an afterthought. We have pulled together the leggings that consistently pass every test. Some are built for movement and do that job brilliantly. Some are polished enough to wear with heels and a blazer and mean business. A few are genuinely flattering in ways that feel almost unfair for the price. Every single one has earned its place here. Good leggings are not a compromise, they are a decision.

Claire's Top Picks

Green Leggings That Don't Ladder on Sight KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Sculpt Leggings Pine Green Jump to section ↓

£25.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

Grey Leggings That Actually Last PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Basic Grey Marl Structured Contour Rib Leggings Jump to section ↓

£11.20 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Gym Leggings That Just Do the Job VIADUCT CLOTHING New Balance Womens Sports Style Select Leggings Jump to section ↓

£34.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

Leggings That Earn Their Keep SOCK SHOP Pair Black Thermal Leggings Ladies Large Jump to section ↓

£12.99 SOCK SHOP

Leggings That Just Do the Job OXYGEN_CLOTHING Nanino Leggings Jump to section ↓

£38.70 OXYGEN_CLOTHING

Orange Leggings That Don't Ladder on Sight GODDIVA Printed Sheer Leggings - Orange by Goddiva Jump to section ↓

£10.00 GODDIVA

Pilates Leggings That Just Do the Job PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Black Sculpt Pedal Pusher Leggings Jump to section ↓

£14.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Green Leggings That Don't Ladder on Sight

Green leggings have a quality problem and most of us have lived it. You wear them twice, they bobble, the colour fades to something murky and unrecognisable, or the fabric goes sheer in places it absolutely should not. So we took the colour seriously and did the work of finding the ones that actually hold up. Green is worth that effort. It is one of those colours that looks genuinely striking against most skin tones, works across seasons, and has a freshness to it that black simply cannot offer. Olive, forest, emerald, sage. Each shade does something different and we have opinions about all of them. What we have pulled together here are the green leggings that are properly constructed, made from fabric with real weight and recovery, and cut in a way that stays put when you move. No slipping waistbands. No transparency issues. No colour that gives up after three washes. These are the ones we would actually recommend to a friend without hesitation. Green leggings done right are a wardrobe upgrade. These are the ones that prove it.

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Sculpt Leggings Pine Green £25.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

WEIRD_FISH Weird Fish Lilliane High Waisted Leggings Olive Green Size £24.00 WEIRD_FISH

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Womens Hyperglam High-Rise Long Leggings - Green - Green £24.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

THE_DOUBLE_F Green organic cotton leggings £29.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

MISSPAP_UK_IE Koral Women's Preloved Lustrous Leggings in Green Polyester Pants £86.00 MISSPAP_UK_IE

SNEAKIN UK Women's leggings Clotsy Brand £62.08 SNEAKIN UK

BLACKS Women's Kiwi Pro Thermal Leggings - Green R £49.00 BLACKS

THE_DOUBLE_F Light green wool leggings £36.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

BLACKS Women’s Power Piping Gym Leggings £52.77 BLACKS

ROSELINLIN_UK Women Casual Plain Winter Polyester Daily Mid Waist H-Line Medium Elasticity Fleece Leggings £26.99 ROSELINLIN_UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Ribbed striped cotton leggings £29.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

RED RUN Sculpted Leggings - Skyline - Green Petite £65.00 RED RUN

Grey Leggings That Actually Last

Grey leggings sound unglamorous and we are completely unbothered by that. What they actually are is the most useful item in an active wardrobe, the thing you reach for on gym days, long walks, early morning runs, lazy Saturdays when you still want to look put together. The problem is that grey specifically exposes everything a bad legging gets wrong. Pilling after three washes. Fabric that goes thin and see-through the moment you bend. A waistband that rolls down the second you start moving. We have been ruthless about filtering those out. Every pair in this edit has been chosen because it holds its shape, keeps its colour, and stays opaque in all the positions that matter. The fabric quality is the whole point. We favour high waisted cuts that actually stay up, and we have included options across different fits because not everyone wants the same level of compression. Some of us want sculpted. Some of us want soft and comfortable. Grey leggings done well are not a compromise. They are the first thing you pack.

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Basic Grey Marl Structured Contour Rib Leggings £11.20 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

SPARTOO.CO.UK adidas Essentials -Stripes Cotton Leggings women's Tights in Grey £29.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

SPARTOO.CO.UK Emporio Armani EA TRAIN SPORTY EVER W LEGGINGS - TRAIN SPORTY EVER W LEGGINGS women's Tights in Grey £76.50 SPARTOO.CO.UK

COTTSBURY Organic Cotton Leggings Classic Full Length - L Black £70.00 COTTSBURY

EGO (UK) Embellished Cowl Neck Top And Low Rise Leggings Co-Ord Set In Grey, Women's Size £5.00 EGO (UK)

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Womens FORMOTION Sculpt Leggings - Magic Grey - M Blue £39.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

OXYGEN_CLOTHING Zebra Leggings £13.50 OXYGEN_CLOTHING

SPARTOO.CO.UK Puma ESS No. Logo Leggings women's Tights in Grey £26.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

RED RUN Active Sculpted Leggings - Slate Grey - Slate Grey Petite £54.99 RED RUN

COTTSBURY Organic Cotton Leggings Classic Full Length - M Black £70.00 COTTSBURY

RED RUN Active Sculpted Leggings - Slate Grey - Slate Grey L Regular £54.99 RED RUN

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Grey Marl Seamless Melange High Waist Capri Leggings £9.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Gym Leggings That Just Do the Job

Most gym leggings promise too much. Sculpting, contouring, second skin technology, some kind of magic compression that apparently changes everything. What you actually need is a pair that stays up, doesn't go see-through when you squat, and still looks pulled together enough to wear to the coffee shop afterwards. That is genuinely the whole brief and it turns out a surprising number of leggings fail it completely. We have done the work here. These are the pairs that pass the basics without fuss. Good waistband that sits where you put it and stays there. Fabric that holds its shape through a session and a wash. A fit that works whether you are doing something structured or just moving through your day with vague athletic intentions. We are not precious about price either. Some of our favourites are genuinely affordable and perform as well as leggings that cost three times as much. A few are worth the investment if you train regularly and want something that lasts. No gimmicks. No questionable claims about what lycra can do for your silhouette. Just leggings that earn their place in your rotation.

VIADUCT CLOTHING New Balance Womens Sports Style Select Leggings £34.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Womens Primeblue Fast Tights Leggings £29.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Sculpt Leggings Deep Red £25.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

SOCK SHOP Women's Pack Tavi Noir High Waisted Leggings Garnet Pearl £75.99 SOCK SHOP

GHOSTBIKES.COM Fox Racing Tecbase Fire Base Layer Leggings £79.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Shape Purple Diamante Sculpt Leggings £16.75 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Studios Leggings Black - Size: £24.49 SUPERDRY_UK

SOCK SHOP Women's Pack Tavi Noir High Waisted Leggings Garnet Python £69.99 SOCK SHOP

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Black Sculpt Wrap Waist Gym Leggings £15.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

LA REDOUTE UK Mila High Waist Gym Leggings £32.24 LA REDOUTE UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's leggings Fila Casania £22.98 SNEAKIN UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's leggings Sofie Schnoor £21.37 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Leggings That Earn Their Keep

Leggings have a reputation problem and it is entirely undeserved. When they fit properly, when the fabric has real weight and compression, when the waistband actually stays where you put it, they are genuinely one of the most useful things a wardrobe contains. The problem is that most of them do not do those things. They go sheer when you bend. The waistband rolls down by midday. They look fine on the hanger and slightly defeated in real life. These ones do not do that. We have been ruthlessly selective here because the category demands it. What we have pulled together are the leggings that hold their shape through a full day, that look intentional rather than provisional, and that work whether you are heading to a class, running errands, or wearing them under an oversized knit on a cold weekend. Some are high performance. Some are purely about looking and feeling good. All of them have earned their place by actually delivering what leggings promise but rarely manage. Good leggings are not a compromise. They are a choice worth making properly.

SOCK SHOP Pair Black Thermal Leggings Ladies Large £12.99 SOCK SHOP

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Fleece Lined Tights Leggings Extra Thick Fleece + Black Stirrup £10.16 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Validate Essential Leggings In Black £14.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

GHOSTBIKES.COM Fox Racing Tecbase Compression Base Layer Leggings £64.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Validate Essential Leggings In Purple £14.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

INSTOCK UK Ladies Ribbed Sports Leggings for All Sports - S Black £51.99 INSTOCK UK

DAMART Damart Women's Energy Thermolactyl Leggings £41.30 DAMART

SPARTOO.CO.UK Emporio Armani EA TRAIN SPORTY EVER W LEGGINGS - TRAIN SPORTY EVER W LEGGINGS women's Tights in Brown £76.50 SPARTOO.CO.UK

SPARTOO.CO.UK Izabel London Denim Skinny Ankle Grazer Leggings women's Tights in Marine £45.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Validate Essential Leggings In Blue £10.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Sheer Tights Stirrup Leggings With Lining - Pantyhose - Black - g £9.14 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's Balance Leggings Athlecia £18.12 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Leggings That Just Do the Job

Most leggings fail in one of three ways: they go see-through the moment you bend over, they bag at the knees by lunchtime, or the waistband folds down and spends the rest of the day being quietly annoying. We have worn enough disappointing pairs to know exactly what we are looking for now. Fabric with actual weight and opacity. A waistband that grips without digging. A cut that holds its shape through a full day rather than giving up halfway. Nothing complicated. Just leggings that work properly. This collection is not about performance gear or athleisure branding or any of that. It is about finding the pairs that earn a permanent place in your rotation because they are genuinely reliable. The ones you reach for on a Saturday morning or a long travel day or any occasion where you want to feel pulled together without any real effort. We have picked across price points because a brilliant pair does not have to cost a fortune, it just has to perform. The bar is not high. It just needs to be cleared every single time.

OXYGEN_CLOTHING Nanino Leggings £38.70 OXYGEN_CLOTHING

INSTOCK UK Organic Cotton TrouserLeggings: Womens - Ink Blue £42.00 INSTOCK UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's leggings Helly Hansen HP £53.79 MADE IN PARADIS UK

INSTOCK UK Organic Cotton TrouserLeggings: Womens - L Ink Blue £42.00 INSTOCK UK

SNEAKIN UK leggings Falke Warm £41.31 SNEAKIN UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's full grip riding leggings Ariat Tri Factor £100.49 SNEAKIN UK

INSTOCK UK Organic Cotton TrouserLeggings: Womens - S Forest £42.00 INSTOCK UK

SNEAKIN UK leggings Falke £40.55 SNEAKIN UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's flared leggings adidas Soft Lux £52.68 SNEAKIN UK

INSTOCK UK Organic Cotton TrouserLeggings: Womens - L Black £42.00 INSTOCK UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Roman Cropped Stretch Trouser Capri Summer Leggings Pedal Pushers In Blue £24.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Roman Cropped Stretch Trouser Capri Summer Leggings Pedal Pushers In Navy £24.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Orange Leggings That Don't Ladder on Sight

Orange leggings have a reputation problem and we think it's entirely undeserved. The colour is bold, yes, but bold is not the same as difficult. A really good pair in the right shade, whether that's a burnt terracotta, a warm amber, or a proper vivid tangerine, works harder than most neutrals because it does something neutrals simply cannot: it makes the whole outfit the point. No accessories required. No layering to make it interesting. The leggings do the work. What actually matters is the fabric. Leggings that pill after two washes, go sheer when you sit down, or lose their shape by lunchtime are not leggings worth buying in any colour. We have been ruthless here. Every pair in this edit holds its colour properly, keeps its shape through real wear, and has enough opacity to actually be trusted. Some are thick enough for cooler months. Some are lightweight enough for layering in summer. Orange is not a trend colour waiting to fade out. It has been a wardrobe staple for anyone paying attention for a very long time. These are the pairs that prove it.

GODDIVA Printed Sheer Leggings - Orange by Goddiva £10.00 GODDIVA

GODDIVA_UK Goddiva Printed Sheer Leggings £24.00 GODDIVA_UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's leggings Lanaform Cosmetex £24.94 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK Baby leggings Kite Quack Quack £17.67 SNEAKIN UK

INSTOCK UK Organic Cotton Sleep Leggings: Women - M Orange Stripe £19.00 INSTOCK UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's leggings Lanaform Mass & Slim £36.05 MADE IN PARADIS UK

INSTOCK UK Ladies Chunky Knitted Ribbed Polo High Neck Top Leggings Loungewear Suit Set - One Size - Cream £21.85 INSTOCK UK

SWEATY BETTY UK Sweaty Betty Ultimate Studio Yoga Leggings, Orange, Women's £80.00 SWEATY BETTY UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Enorsia Ribbed Crop Top & High Waist Leggings Set In Orange £42.99 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

INSTOCK UK Ladies Chunky Knitted Ribbed Polo High Neck Top Leggings Loungewear Suit Set - One Size - Orange £21.85 INSTOCK UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Roman Cropped Stretch Trouser Capri Summer Leggings Pedal Pushers In Burnt Orange £24.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Roman Cropped Stretch Trouser Capri Summer Leggings Pedal Pushers In Orange £24.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Pilates Leggings That Just Do the Job

Pilates has specific demands and most leggings fail at least one of them. They roll down during the hundred. They go see-through in a forward fold. They bag at the knee after twenty minutes or feel so compressive that you spend the whole class thinking about your waistband instead of your breath. We know because we've worn all of them. This collection is the edit we wish someone had handed us earlier. Every pair here holds its position, moves without restriction, and looks genuinely good in the studio rather than just acceptable. We've prioritised a mid to high waist that actually stays put, fabric with enough weight to be opaque but enough stretch to never pull. Some of these are investment pieces from brands that have clearly spent real time thinking about how bodies move on a reformer. Others are brilliant finds that perform above their price point entirely. What they all have in common is that they get out of the way and let you focus. Good pilates leggings should be invisible in the best possible sense of the word.

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Black Sculpt Pedal Pusher Leggings £14.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK