Whoever said leggings aren’t pants clearly never had an 8 a.m. lecture to get to. Leggings can be effortless, yet edgy; comfortable, yet cool. Now that it’s officially no longer a fashion faux pas to wear leggings outside the gym (thanks Kendall Jenner), they’ve become more of a college student staple than Top Ramen. However, sometimes even our most useful pieces become boring, and simply throwing on an old pullover on top of leggings is the best we can do. Or so we think. Luckily, there are many easy, fashion-forward ways to turn your leggings from drab to fab. Here are just a few looks that’ll make you uber-stylish without kicking comfort out the back door:

Sporty Spice:

Take leggings back to their roots with this athletic-inspired look. Throw on a cropped sweatshirt and a plain snapback to channel some 90s-meets-Kylie Jenner flare, then slip on a pair of your favorite sneakers, like these gold metallic ones, which are perfect for adding a pop of chic, sleek color. If you want to put an extra sporty twist on your look, try swapping your plain black pair for some varsity stripes. You’ll feel like a star athlete without ever setting foot on the court. Plus, the vertical stripes are sure to elongate your legs — score!

Leggings, Shoes: Adidas, Sweatshirt: Brandy Melville

Leather Lovin’:

If there’s one thing that leather jackets are good at, it’s making any and every outfit look put together — and pairing one with your leggings is no exception. To pull off this casually cool look, follow in the footsteps of your favorite supermodel and wear your leather jacket over a basic turtleneck top. Lastly, lace up your combat boots to bring out your inner biker chick. Trust me when I say that your leggings have never looked so edgy. If you’re feeling a little extra daring, try donning a black leather pair à la Gigi Hadid.

Leggings: Victoria’s Secret, Jacket: Zara, Top: Brandy Melville

Cozy Chic:

Cozy comes in many shapes and sizes, so ditch that old frumpy pullover and replace it with an on-trend ribbed top, which not only accentuates your curves in all the right places, but keeps you super snug all day long. However, if you’re still missing the irreplaceably cozy and baggy feel of your fave ‘Cuse sweatshirt, layer on a soft, puffy bomber jacket that seems to be the latest wardrobe staple for many a stylish celebrity. A thick-knit beanie and some shearling-lined boots are the perfect finishing touches for this comfy, and more fashionable, alternative to the typical lazy-day leggings look, and the whole outfit will keep you comfy enough to make getting out of bed a little less of a battle. And if you can’t beat the bags, some adorable sunnies will do the trick.

Jacket: Missguided, Top: Charlotte Russe, Boots: L.L. Bean

LOL (Lots of Layers):

For those all-too-common days when it falls below freezing, every Syracuse native knows the key to confronting the cold is layering. Wear a thick button-down — this one’s denim but flannel would be another equally adorable option — underneath a chunky wool sweater to bring the heat. Throw a patterned blanket scarf over your shoulders and step into some stylin’ suede booties to complete this prep-meets-boho look. Don’t sweat about the outfit being a bit bulky on top, your leggings will keep you and your stems looking super slim, sleet or shine!

Sweater, Scarf: Zara, Top: Old Navy, Boots: DSW

Published on February 8, 2016 at 10:26 pm

Contact: hsmalach@syr.edu