How to Wear Sports Leggings Casually

Co-authored by Veronica Tharmalingam and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: February 12, 2021

Sports leggings are so comfortable that you probably want to wear them even when you’re not working out in a gym. Athleisure wear, or wearing workout gear when you aren’t working out, is super popular, so you’ll fit in just fine with fashion today. You can try pairing your leggings with a few different items from your closet to find a cute and casual outfit that works for you!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Sticking with an Athleisure Look

1
Put on a tank top if it’s warm outside. Pick out a spaghetti strap tank top and throw that on over a sports bra. Put your leggings on and tuck your tank top into the waistband to show off your figure.^{[1]
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- You can also wear a cropped tank top so you don’t have to tuck it into your leggings.
- Try wearing a patterned tank top with black leggings and sneakers for a cute and sporty look.
2
Choose a fitted T-shirt for an easy outfit. Put on your leggings and a sports bra, if you’d like to. Then, pull on a fitted V-neck or scoop-neck T-shirt and tuck it into the waistband of your leggings.^{[2]
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- Pair a neutral fitted T-shirt with colorful leggings for a cohesive look.
- Try a patterned or striped T-shirt with some plain black leggings.
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3
Add a long sweatshirt to balance out your outfit. Pull on an oversized sweatshirt that hits just below your pelvis area. This will cover your rear while you’re in public while you stay warm and comfortable in your leggings.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 13 May 2019.}
- Try wearing a brightly colored sweatshirt with some plain black leggings and sneakers for a comfortable and casual look.
Variation: You can also wear a crew neck if you don’t like the bulk of a hoodie.
4
Wear an oversized sweater and a scarf on cold days. Put on your leggings and then pick out a chunky knit scarf that keeps you warm. Pull that on, then wrap a thick scarf around your neck for extra warmth.^{[5]
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- Match your sweater and scarf together for a cohesive look.
- Try pairing colored leggings, like green or blue, with a cream or white scarf and sweater.
- Add patterned scarves and sweaters to plain black or white leggings.
5
Throw on a windbreaker to stay sporty. Find an oversized windbreaker that hits your mid-thigh and pull it on over your leggings. Leave it open if you want to show off your sports bra underneath, or zip it up all the way for a more cohesive look.^{[6]
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- Wear an all-white or all-black windbreaker with pink or orange leggings for an eye-catching look.
- Try wearing a patterned windbreaker with black or navy blue leggings.
6
Pair your leggings with sneakers to go from the gym to real life. To stick with an athleisure vibe, try to look like you could walk into the gym at any moment. Wear some running shoes or sneakers to keep your feet comfortable and stylish.^{[7]
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- Sneakers are also super casual, so they’re great for days when you don’t want to seem dressed up.
7
Accessorize with a baseball cap or a beanie. Adding jewelry might make your outfit seem less like athleisure wear. Instead, put your hair up into a ponytail and slide a baseball cap or a beanie over the top to look sporty.^{[8]
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- Try wearing a hat that matches the color of your shoes to look put-together from head to toe.
8
Put your essentials in a small backpack or fanny pack. Keep your phone, wallet, and keys together in a backpack that you can throw over your shoulder. Or, put them in a fanny pack and wear it around your waist for a cute, modern look.^{[9]
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- Try wearing a long sweatshirt, black leggings, black sneakers, and a fanny pack around your waist for the ultimate athleisure look.
- Pair a chunky blue sweater with a plaid scarf and green leggings with a black backpack.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Wearing Leggings with Casual Clothes

1
Throw on a long button-down for a cute and stylish outfit. Put on an oversized button-down that hits you at mid-thigh. Button it up all the way, then pull on your leggings.^{[10]
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- You can dress this look up with some jewelry, or keep it casual with a pair of sunglasses.
- Try wearing a denim button-down with some black leggings and black booties for a cute look.
2
Add a band T-shirt to make your look more modern. Put on some solid-colored leggings and then add a long band T-shirt on top. Tuck the shirt into your waistband to define your hips and your legs.^{[11]
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- Black band T-shirts go great with rich colors, like maroon and hunter green, white colored or white T-shirts go well with plain black leggings.
3
Wear a long cardigan over a fitted shirt for an easy look. Pull on your leggings and tuck a fitted V-neck into the waistband. Throw on a cardigan that hits at about mid-shin to stay comfortable yet stylish.^{[12]
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- Try wearing a pair of pink leggings with a white shirt and a tan cardigan.
- Wear a striped shirt with black leggings and a blue cardigan for a cute and cohesive outfit.
Variation: To look even more casual, forego the fitted shirt and just wear a sports bra underneath your cardigan.
4
Put on a sweater dress to keep your leggings comfortable. Pull on some plain black leggings and put a tight-fitting sweater dress on top. Add a thin belt around your waist to accentuate it and give yourself some curves.^{[13]
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- Try wearing a bright green or blue sweater dress with a black belt and leggings for a cohesive look.
- Pair plaid leggings with a black sweater dress to wear a pattern.
5
Elevate your outfit with a pair of chunky heels. Skin-tight leggings look great with chunky booties, heels, or wedges. Try to avoid wearing skinny stilettos, as they can clash with the skinny fit of your leggings.^{[14]
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- Try wearing a sweater dress, leggings, and some chunky booties for an outfit you can take out to brunch.
- Put on some wedges, a long cardigan, and a fitted shirt for a stroll out on the town.
6
Stay comfortable in ballet flats. If you don’t want to look totally sporty by wearing sneakers but you still want to walk around without heels on, put on a pair of ballet flats with any outfit you’re wearing with your leggings. Stick with a neutral pair, like brown or black, so you can pair them with any color.^{[15]
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- Put on your leggings, a long button-down shirt, a sweater, and some ballet flats for a look you can go out shopping in.
- Grab your leggings, a fitted T-shirt, black ballet flats, and tie a flannel around your waist for a cool and casual outfit.
7
Add some simple jewelry to elevate your leggings. Put in some small studs and a few bangles to make your outfit feel less like activewear. Try pairing silver jewelry with black leggings and gold jewelry with bright or patterned ones.^{[16]
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- Wear some silver studs, a turtleneck, a bomber jacket, and your black leggings for a cute and cohesive outfit.
- Pair some gold bangles with a puffy coat and a scarf to stay warm in the winter while you wear your leggings.
8
Carry a structured handbag to finish off your outfit. Put your phone, wallet, and keys into a large handbag to carry around with you throughout the day. This will make your outfit look more structured and less like you are heading to the gym.^{[17]
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- Try wearing your leggings with some chunky booties and a faux fur vest to look cute and casual with a handbag on.
- Pair a pink handbag with some tan leggings and a black oversized sweater.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I make leggings work-appropriate?

Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist
Veronica Tharmalingam is a Personal Stylist who runs her fashion consulting business, SOS Fashion, in Los Angeles, California and Paris, France. She has over 10 years of experience crafting stylish wardrobes for men and women. Veronica is also a professional model and has worked with international brands like Harrods, LVMH, and L'Oreal.

Veronica Tharmalingam

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Wear an oversized shirt, sweater, or other top that's long enough to cover your butt comfortably. Also, make sure your leggings aren't see through if you bend over.