Faux leather leggings have become a wardrobe staple for many fashionistas. Their sleek and edgy look can instantly elevate an outfit, taking it from drab to fab.
But with so many ways to style them, it can be tricky to figure out what to pair them with.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through how to wear faux leather leggings for any occasion.
How to Wear Faux Leather Leggings Casually
One of the great things about faux leather leggings is that they can be worn casually. Here are some easy, everyday outfit ideas:
Leather Leggings with Sneakers
For a super casual look, pair your leather leggings with white or black sneakers. This is a perfect outfit for weekends, travel, errands, and casual days out.
A t-shirt, tank top, hoodie, or sweater will complete the relaxed vibe.
Leather Leggings with a Denim Jacket
Another effortless casual outfit is faux leather leggings with an oversized denim jacket. This contrasts the edgy leggings with a rugged, laidback topper.
Wear it layered over a graphic tee or hoodie. Finish with sneakers or booties.
Leather Leggings with a Tunic Sweater
Oversized sweaters and sweatshirts work perfectly with leather leggings. The baggy top balances out the form-fitting leggings.
For extra coverage, opt for a tunic length sweater. Add some boots and you have a comfortable weekend outfit.
Leggings with Flannel
Flannel shirts can be worn with leather leggings in a couple ways. You can layer them over a tee or tank and leave them open like a jacket.
Or tie them around your waist for a ’90s grunge inspired look. Both options look cool and casual.
How to Dress Up Faux Leather Leggings
While leather leggings have a relaxed vibe, they can also be styled up for going out, date nights, and formal occasions. Here’s how to dress them up:
Leather Leggings with Heels and Blazer
One of the easiest ways to make leather leggings look dressy is by adding a blazer and heels. Opt for a satin camisole or silky tank tucked into the leggings.
Layer a tailored blazer on top. Finish with strappy heels or pumps. Elegant jewelry polishes off this date night look.
Leather Leggings with a Flowy Blouse
Feminine, flowy blouses pair beautifully with edgy leather leggings. Tuck a silky blouse into the leggings and add some heeled booties or pumps. This creates a fun contrast between the loose top and tight bottoms. Add some sparkly jewelry for a dressy occasion.
Leggings with a Cropped Sweater
For chillier evenings, try a cropped ribbed sweater tucked into high-waisted faux leather leggings. This is a chic trend that shows just a sliver of midriff. Complete the outfit with ankle booties.
Leggings with a Drapey Kimono
Kimono style coats or dusters layered over a tee give you coverage in a stylish way. Keep your look all black for a sleek, put-together outfit. Add some heels and a clutch to take it to a wedding, dinner party or night out.
How to Wear Leather Leggings to Work
It may seem unlikely, but you can definitely make leather leggings work appropriate. Just style them thoughtfully with these ideas:
Leggings with a Button-Down & Blazer
A crisp button-down shirt with a tailored blazer gives leather leggings a professional vibe. Tuck the button-down into the leggings to create a seamless line. Add black or nude heels to finish the office-ready ensemble.
Leggings with a Turtleneck & Loafers
A turtleneck and blazer or cardigan is another option for wearing leather leggings to the office. Loafers give the outfit a polished, put-together feel. Stick to solid black, gray, white or navy on top for the most professional look.
Leather Leggings with a Midi Skirt
For a creative workplace, pair faux leather leggings with an oversized sweater and long midi skirt. This gives you coverage while showing off a peek of the cool leggings. Finish with booties for an edgy business casual outfit.
How to Style Faux Leather Leggings for Fall & Winter
Leather leggings really shine in fall and winter when you want to look stylish but stay warm. Here are cool ways to wear them in cold weather:
With Over-the-Knee Boots
Over-the-knee boots paired with leather leggings are a match made in fashion heaven. Choose boots with a block or chunky heel for comfort and stability. Pair them with a sweater or jacket on top.
With a Faux Fur Coat
For serious style points, layer a faux fur coat on top of your leather leggings. Contrast the textures by wearing a graphic tee or bodysuit underneath. This creates a luxe, eye-catching look for winter.
With Combat Boots
Lug sole combat boots balance out the sleek leggings with their rugged vibe. Wear them with a moto jacket or oversized hoodie when running fall errands.
With a Fuzzy Sweater
A chunky fuzzy sweater adds warmth and softness to edgy leather leggings. Try a turtleneck style or an oversized fisherman knit.
Wear ankle booties or sneakers on your feet to complete this cozy winter outfit.
Top Tips for Styling Faux Leather Leggings
- Opt for leggings with a matte finish rather than shiny pleather which can look cheap.
- Get leggings that are ankle length; longer lengths will bunch up and shorter may flash too much skin.
- Size up if between sizes to ensure a comfortable fit that won’t stretch out. Properly fitted leggings will stay up without sliding down.
- Look for styles with a smoothing, tummy control waistband to avoid muffin top. High-waisted is most flattering.
- Balance flowy, drapey tops with the clingy leggings. Avoid tight tops which can look too constricting.
- Stick to solid darker colors on top like black, gray, navy or forest green. Busy patterns compete too much with leather leggings.
- Incorporate pops of color through your accessories like bags, shoes, jewelry or a bright lipstick.
- Go monochromatic with black leather leggings paired with black tops and accessories for a slimming effect.
- Contrast textures like fuzzy sweaters, denim jackets or silky blouses to make the leather leggings really stand out.
- Finish your outfits with heels, booties or stylish sneakers. Avoid plain flip flops or gym shoes which can look sloppy.
- Cuff or fold over baggy sweaters and button-downs at hip height to reveal the waistband. This shows off your shape and that you’re wearing pants not actual leggings.
- Feel free to show some skin and tuck tops into the leggings. Leather adds an edgy element that makes cropped lengths work.
- Don’t be afraid to layer leggings under skirts, dresses or tunics for added warmth and a stylish twist.
The Best Faux Leather Leggings You Can Buy
Now that you know how to style faux leather leggings for any occasion, it’s time to pick out the perfect pair. Here are the top-rated options:
Spanx Faux Leather Leggings
The fan favorite Spanx leggings have amassed thousands of glowing reviews for their ultra-flattering fit. The smoothing waistband sculpts your body while the fabric stretches comfortably without losing its shape. They come in both matte and patent leather finishes.
Commando Perfectly Opaque Matte Leggings
With Commando’s matte leggings, no one will know you’re wearing faux leather. They have realistic micro-pebbling and come in versatile solid colors and trendy snakeskin prints. The fabric is breathable yet thick and durable.
Good American Faux Leather Leggings
Good American uses innovative fabrics and fits to make their faux leather leggings work for curvy figures. Choose from matte, glossy or croc textures and enjoy smoothing compression without restriction.
Abercrombie Vegan Leather Leggings
Abercrombie & Fitch’s budget-friendly vegan leather leggings mimic the look of real leather with their subtle sheen. Customers love the comfortable stretch fabric that doesn’t lose its integrity throughout the day.
A New Day (Target) Faux Leather Leggings
For affordable leather leggings, Target’s A New Day line is a great pick. The sleek black leggings have a perfect amount of compression and come in both regular and long lengths.
With so many ways to wear them, faux leather leggings deserve a prime spot in your cold-weather wardrobe. Follow these outfit ideas to look polished, edgy and chic all season long!
