Are leggings fashionable in 2025-6 – even for older women?
Right now, in Fall/Winter 2025-6 leggings are having a moment! So do not be afraid of wearing leggings over 50 this winter. You’re in good company.
However, let’s be honest, the fashionistas wearing leggings are younger and likely slimmer and possibly taller than you. So, let’s look at some guidelines for how to look great in leggings even if, like me, you are well into your seventies. Not all stretchy pants are designed for us older ladies. So we’ll look at types and textures of leggings that work well for our body shape and lifestyle. It just takes a little planning to turn what could be a fashion disaster into a stylish outfit. So, let’s dive right in.
Build the right silhouette
If you follow this blog you will know I always stress the silhouette before anything else. For constructing a stylish age-appropriate leggings over 50 look, that means planning the whole outfit, not just pulling on some comfy bottoms then casting about for any sweater that’s handy.
Leggings are the closest-fitting bottoms there are. That means your bottom half will be the narrowest it ever is when clothed. When putting together an outfit you have two basic silhouettes available:
- The long rectangle – this emphasizes your height.
- The inverted triangle – wide at the top, contrasting with narrow at the bottom. This look helps balance wide hips.
The importance of your body type
- If you have a very low or heavy bust then the inverted triangle will emphasize this. Go for a rectangle shape instead.
- If your bust is small or average then use either the rectangle or the inverted triangle silhouette.
- If you have heavy hips, a large rear or large thighs minimize them by using the inverted triangle silhouette. Think carefully about the length of your top so it’s hem does not emphasize your widest part.
- If you have slim, or slim-ish, hips and thighs you can mark the divide between your top and bottom right on your waist, or anywhere below. You can use either rectangle or triangle outfit outlines.
How to select the right leggings for your outfit and your day
I’m not going to discuss leggings for sports or yoga here. I’m looking at which style of leggings are best for non-sport days.
Although patterned leggings, lace leggings, very fine leggings and denim leggings are all popular, I think they look better on young women. But that still leaves you with these styles:
- Classic ankle-grazer leggings
- Textured leggings
- Stirrup leggings
- Fleece-lined leggings
Buy classic leggings over 50 in a dark color. Navy and black should be in every woman’s wardrobe as they are so useful from Fall through to Spring. This year we’re seeing chocolate brown and deep plum as on-trend colors too. There are lots of paler colors on sale but they are much more difficult to style.
Select textured leggings to complement when you’ll wear them: velvet or shiny for evenings, suede or corduroy for a country look.
Ponte and fleece-lined leggings are useful for cold weather.
Classic looks with ankle-grazer leggings
The classic legging can go from an active loungewear or sporty look right through to a dressed up smart look today.
Here’s a great outfit for winter walks or local shopping. The inverted triangle is achieved by a large shirt under a boxy wool sweater giving a double collar to add bulk to the top. Note the pushed up sleeves which also add volume to the upper half. And look at how the hem of the shirt shows below the sweater hem to slightly disrupt the straight line across the top of the hips. The division between top and bottom lies well above this model’s widest part.
A slouchier cooler take on the classic leggings outfit. Plum and chocolate are top colors for Fall/Winter 2025-6. The big shoulders of the over-sized sleeveless jacket give the inverted triangle silhouette and the tunic comes well below the model’s widest part.
Although modelled by a very young woman, it helps us see the rectangular proportions of this classic sporty look. Because the model is slim she can use her natural waist as the division between her top and bottom. Few of us older women will be able to do this successfully (outside the gym) and would be better wearing a longer top or a long narrow cardigan over the tee with our leggings over 50
Leather, suede and corduroy leggings
Today, leggings use a variety of fabrics with added stretch. These can work well for casual or smarter outfits where their texture adds interest.
An over-sized white button-up shirt is one of this year’s classiest tops for black legging outfits. The shine of the leather works well for evenings too. These little pointed backless shoes are likely too difficult for many of us to wear, so add black ballet flats instead.
In this picture the model wears the inverted triangle but, to show us how the front looks, she’s only untucked the back. We would untuck all of the shirt or just tuck a small section, perhaps to one side of the front, to add volume and movement. It’s key to the look to push up the sleeves and splay the cuffs to widen the top to the maximum.
Corduroy lends itself to an outdoor look. This image by Talbot’s shows a beautiful rectangle silhouette achieved by a tunic sweater under a long straight coat. Note the riding boots – perfect with stretch cord where a more substantial shoe looks better. Color co-ordination is key here. It makes the whole outfit look put together and stylish.
Why wear stirrup leggings
Stretchy pants with ‘stirrups’ – a piece of elastic to go under your foot – go in and out of fashion every few years. Their main usefulness is to keep the legging hem from wrinkling up and spoiling the tight neat line of the leg. Currently back on trend they work well for all ages, including us!
If you have swollen ankles they are a godsend as they pull the leggings down over them, without causing a big bunch of fabric in your shoe. This image shows a very tall slender model so the stirrup is pulled up high. On anyone with imperfect ankles the look you need is a longer legging and a shorter foot strap.
Stirrup leggings are ideal to wear with ankle- or knee-high boots or with big woolly socks – a favorite this winter. They will stop the leggings riding up and give a taut straight leg line against the sock or bootie. On top you can wear anything bulky to make your legs look longer and slimmer by contrast. Try two layers, each finishing at slightly different levels around the top of the thigh, or a sparkly black tunic top for the holidays. Just don’t let your top stop at your broadest part of the thigh.
Always buy high-rise leggings
A high flat no-roll snug waistband is essential for all-day comfort and to maintain the slim unwrinkled streamlined look that leggings offer. Cheap leggings may not have this.
The high waist is important for two reasons: it won’t make an indentation on your belly and it allows for styling with a shortish top which doesn’t stop at the widest part of your thighs.
If wearing with sneakers, ballet flats or loafers turn up the last half inch, if necessary, to give you a small area of bare skin. Ankle-grazers finishing just above the ankle really help make your legs look longer (weird but true!). But, as mentioned above, there is always the option of covering the whole lower leg by using a foot loop.
Should you cover your rear when wearing leggings?
If you make it bulky enough, you should be able to wear a top that stops above your thigh with confidence. Add volume to the top by using several layers, sweaters, over-size shirts, turned up collars, pushed up sleeves and fur or puffer jackets, especially sleeveless ones. And make sure you buy good quality totally opaque or black-out leggings. Thicker and lined leggings are ideal.
Many of us will prefer a longer top that covers out rear. You can still get the inverted triangle silhouette by wearing a top with a broad or structured shoulder-line. Jackets do this best. Wear one or more slightly longer top layers beneath. You could also wear a poncho which is a good way to camouflage a large belly.
If going for the rectangle silhouette then look for straight tunics and sweaters, fully buttoned shirts or long straight cardigans that hit mid-thigh or below.
The only mistake you can make is to go for ‘the happy medium’ and pull on a top that ends at the widest part of your anatomy. Sadly, this is exactly what many, perhaps most, women over 55 do. Only the slender models in retailers’ pictures can get away with this length.
What shoes to wear with leggings
You’ll have noticed that many of the retailers’ images I’ve used to show a specific brand of leggings, display sweet little black pointy slide-on shoes with kitten heels. Most of us don’t have the ankles for such shoes – but if you do, they are very on-trend right now. Wear them for date nights or to the opera.
What are definitely not on-trend are white high-heeled pumps or sling backs. Only celebrities entering expensive nightspots can wear these with leggings. The rest of us, whatever our age, just look desperate.
For parties over the holidays or evenings out, try ballet flats. They are comfortable and fashionable with all ages.
Around town you will find short booties look good. Keep them refined and sleek. Or wear loafers with or without thin socks.
For everyday outfits choose sneakers (UK: trainers) in any style.
For country outings whether to a welcoming pub or simply striding along with friends or the dog, choose Chelsea-style short boots with a thick sole, with or without woolen socks folded over at the top. Or wear riding boots or rubber wellington boots to the mid-calf or the knee.
If you enjoyed this post why not look at my post on Fall Sneakers.