Step into any gym or stroll down a popular running trail, and you’ll notice one thing: a sea of legs wrapped in skintight fabric.
For years, leggings have dominated as the ultimate workout staple—loved by gym enthusiasts, yoga devotees, and those who swear by the “coffee in activewear” lifestyle.
But their (quite literal) grip on our wardrobes and legs might finally be loosening.
According to recent reports from Business of Fashion and The Wall Street Journal, the legging’s reign is over—making way for the rise of oversized workout pants.
Or, as the WSJ headline boldly puts it: “If you’re wearing leggings, you’re basically a Boomer.
In an instant, those trusty black Lululemon leggings you’ve relied on for years are being labeled outdated, ordinary—even downright prehistoric, according to the article.
Leggings Losing Their Grip on Gym Fashion
Everyone who’s on-trend in your workout class is channeling 1990s dance vibes—think tiny crop tops paired with loose, swishy parachute pants.
It’s official: the ‘90s and Y2K revival has infiltrated our gym wardrobes, too. Time to unleash your inner TLC, Britney, or Christina and swap those leggings for a pair of baggy pants at your next workout.
According to the report, sales of form-fitting, stretchy workout pants have been declining “for years,” as Gen Z gravitates toward oversized styles. The new formula? Fitted top, baggy bottoms—not the other way around.
For those who saw leggings as a forever staple, this revelation feels like a harsh reality check.
They’ve taken us everywhere—from the gym to “hot girl walks,” casual brunches to long-haul flights—so imagining them as just another fleeting trend seems almost absurd.
A quick survey in the 9honey office showed opinions were all over the place.
You’ll have to rip my leggings from my cold, dead millennial legs,” proclaimed Amy—perfectly summing up the collective cry of a generation watching its beloved fashion staples disappear one by one.
From Yoga Studios to Running Trails – The Legging Era
First they took our skinny jeans, and now they’re after our skinny workout pants? When will it stop?!
But honestly, leggings aren’t disappearing anytime soon. I’m not jumping on yet another pants trend when leggings have been perfectly fine all along.
Not every millennial minds the Gen Z-driven shifts in fashion, though.
Leggings are way too hot to actually do anything in, so I’m all for the new workout pants, Nicole admitted.
Still, as a millennial, I stick to leggings and dad sneakers just to look cool grabbing a coffee—completely impractical for anything else.
For many in our office, the debate between leggings and baggy workout pants comes down less to emotion or generational loyalty and more to practicality.
Lauren, for example, is “very anti-leggings.
They’re suffocating, make me overheat, and leave permanent imprints from the seams. I’m all about baggy pants, shorts, and loose-fitting yoga pants!
For Serena, it really depends on the activity.
I still wear leggings and bike shorts for running and HIIT, but for weights and Pilates, I prefer flared or loose yoga pants—they don’t strangle you,” she explained.
When it comes to actually working out, it’s leggings all the way—long or short,” Kristine said.
I just can’t imagine wanting—or being able—to exercise in something so loose. For running errands, maybe, but not for a workout.
Plus, depending on the type of exercise, tighter clothing makes it much easier to monitor and maintain proper form.
Personally, I couldn’t comfortably work out in baggy pants. I need something tight, especially for Pilates—anything loose, even a shirt, drives me crazy,” Amy added.
Maddi isn’t a fan of either style: “I only ever work out in bike shorts… I overheat quickly in long leggings or pants, and the thought of loose fabric flopping around while I’m training sounds like a nightmare.
Perhaps the simplest solution is to just… wear whatever feels most comfortable. Just a thought.
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