Oh, leggings — how we love you. Never has there been such a stretchy, simple, sleek and stylish solution for work, working out, going out on the town, running out quickly to do errands, lounging around the house and even sleeping. Leggings are a faithful and favorite pant — and the fact that they hit every style mark from solid black to colored leather to crazy patterns only adds to the obsession (not to mention the fact that they take up a sliver of the storage space of normal pants, so you can afford the space to be obsessed!).
Along with everything noted above, leggings also boast the benefit of matching with almost ANYTHING and looking amazing! From seductive wrap shirts to oversized hoodies, and from menswear-inspired loafers to adorable athletic shoes for women, there’s no going wrong. So instead of asking “What shoes should I wear with leggings?” you should be asking “What look am I going for?”
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Elusive and Edgy
Black boots are one of the ultimate combinations with your leggings — and it doesn’t even matter what style! Cool combat boots, casual chelsea boots, calm desert boots, cute heeled boots or killer platform boots will all work amazing with your black leggings to showcase your style in a sleek and subtle way, and will all be transformed easily when you desire by adding or changing small details within your ensemble or overall aesthetic (hair, makeup, jewelry, accessories). No matter what style of boot your choose or how you choose to incorporate it into your style, cute ankle boots and leggings are bound to boost it.
Classy and Casual
Oxfords of any kind, neutral-colored leggings, a cute camisole and oversized dress shirt combo, a natural face and a messy bun or pony — a timeless look that radiates a love of the classy, crisp and comfy things in life. These aspects make this aesthetic a perfect pairing come autumn, in particular — but should still be embraced in any season! This is a style that’s also easily transitioned from season to season and look to look by simply switching tops, but will still add its sense of timeless, classy, crisp yet casual style to any outfit.
Kickin’ It Old-School
Hightop or classic cut, wedged or flat, for athletic purposes or for aesthetic purposes — the options are wide open when it comes to what sneakers to wear with your leggings and how to style them. With that in mind, some general rules of thumb might make these options easier to navigate. When it comes to creating a look, you’ll want to note that the higher the shoe comes up your leg, the more casual it will become. This means that if you’re aiming for something a little more classy (like for a day at the docks or a cute lunch with friends), you’ll want to take advantage of some clean, low-cut canvas kicks. If you’re aiming for something a little more cool and casual, definitely consider styles like high-top kicks in cool materials and colors.
Dolled-Up and Daring
Nothing says night on the town better than a dolled-up and daring look — and nothing creates that look easier than the combo to come: soft (such as velvet), sparkly, shiny or leather-looking leggings with a set of stiletto pumps. Simple, right? The impact of this outfit, though, is significant! This is because nothing screams daring more than leather, and nothing feels more dolled-up than slipping into a pair of stiletto heels. When possible, we suggest pumps as opposed to something more strappy, thanks to the fact that the extra little bit of chunkiness in a pump will diminish any delicateness still lingering on your look and lean into the daring side of the aesthetic hard.
Born Bohemian
Bringing out your inner boho style come summer is common, and the simplest way to do it is with neutral tone or patterned leggings and heeled mules in interesting materials (if they feature unique accents or intriguing details such as special stitching, that’s a major bonus!). Similar but oh-so-different, a desert boot in the same interesting materials with the same unique accents can work just as well. During these pairings, note that different heel heights will have different effects on your overall aesthetic, and pay attention to which ones work best for you. No matter the heel height, style, accents or details, though, the addition of layered and asymmetrical clothing, textures, intriguing accessories and perfectly-unpolished hair and makeup will take this look beyond boho.
Productive and Playful
We realize that rainy days call for unrivaled comfort — and while you may want to rock your pajamas all day long, if you have to get up and go out, nothing can compare to the comfort of leggings. With that in mind, leggings alone aren’t enough to keep you warm and dry on damp days or during cold wet weather. You’ll need the help of the perfect pair of rain boots. Luckily, endless styles of rain boots exist, so the perfect pair for you DOES exist whether they be a tall, subtle and stylish matte black pair of rain boots or a short, cute and colorful pair of rain boots for women — and they WILL add a slightly productive and playful style to your aesthetic that we absolutely adore. If you (like many others) struggle with rain boots making your legs look a little more gangly than you’d like, consider shorter styles of boots to create the illusion of shorter legs and thicker calves. Slightly looser leg/ankle widths combined with chunky socks scrunched up just above the boot will often have this effect, as well.
The Real Question…
Functional, fashionable and versatile beyond belief, leggings as a wardrobe staple and everyday article is something that just makes sense. As we’ve seen, they can be styled to suit any situation and set the scene for any personality to shine through. From here, your shoes will set the tone for your entire ensemble (and maybe even do more than that, depending on how much of a statement the shoe makes). So when it comes to creating a killer combo, it’s all about asking yourself what you’re trying to showcase today!
