Take note of the date and time. Their departure was met with little grief, yet they were cherished by many.
Have you heard? Leggings seem to be on their last legs.
Sales overall are on the decline, and Lululemon, a key player in the legging market, cut 150 jobs last June for various reasons.
Reports from fashion enthusiasts in cities like London and New York indicate that holding onto activewear too tightly might be a sign you’ve aged into a certain demographic.
A 37-year-old acquaintance recently asked Chrissy Jones, the owner of the trendy yoga brand Sky Ting, for legging advice. “Honestly, I don’t wear leggings anymore,” she replied.
“If you’re wearing leggings, you’re probably a baby boomer.”
It’s a perspective that resonates, perhaps.
Fashion vets like Jess Cartner-Morley have noted, “I think leggings might be fading away,” while the Fashion Business declared, “The reign of leggings is over” earlier this year.
A report from the U.S. retail analyst group Edit asked if we’re witnessing the “Death of leggings?” along with a significant cut in legging offerings from brands like Nike and Adidas—by over 50%, mind you.
Sure, leggings are still around. You might even have a pair on right now—and so do I—but influencers like Miranda Priestly have made it clear that tight-fitting pants are out of style.
Leggings now share the fate of skinny jeans and ankle socks from the mid-1980s, appearing a bit outdated.
For two decades, skin-tight pants were in vogue, and it feels like just yesterday when people were debating who the worst president was.
Back in 2005, leggings surged from the gym to everyday streetwear.
Fast forward to 2007, when Lululemon went public and made a stunning profit in just one day.
Denim companies were in a panic. “We’re scrambling,” the former CEO of Levi’s remarked back in 2013, labeling leggings a “breakthrough threat.”
The awkward omnipresence of leggings was humorously critiqued by Skitbox in 2015, highlighting the absurdity of activewear—viewed over 7.6 million times.
By late 2019, as the world was blissfully unaware of the pandemic, Vogue declared leggings emblematic of the moment.
Times are indeed shifting, but nostalgia plays a part—young people often reject what their predecessors embrace.
Fashion cycles through trends at a dizzying pace, often driven by social media’s rapid dissemination.
I can’t help but sense something deeper happening here.
Leggings became a symbol intertwined with identity and the rise of wellness culture. They radiated a sense of health and self-care—think of those Instagram posts showcasing pristine smoothie bowls.
Gen Z seems less interested in such external validation.
In the ’90s, the debate about body image was significant, and one could argue that leggings and skinny jeans were at the heart of it.
The current trend among young women seems to indicate a shift away from clothing that emphasizes their bodies in ways perhaps meant to attract attention.
With the popularity of styles like nap dresses—intended for lounging rather than showcasing—they’re valuing comfort over conforming to the pressures once enforced by previous generations.
Marcia Lindsay of Nobu Pilates pointed out that while Millennials operated under a “beauty is pain” mindset, Gen Z seeks authenticity and uniqueness in their wardrobe choices.
Baggy apparel has overshadowed leggings, reclaiming the spotlight. Research shows that interest in loose-fitting gym clothes has surged by over 400 percent among those aged 18 to 24.
Terms like “boxy” and “loose” have also gained traction, suggesting a broader shift in preferences.
As Shakira aptly put it, “The hips don’t lie.”
