There are a few ubiquitous mysteries that almost everyone is hungry to solve. For example, what is the meaning of life? Are soulmates a real concept? Should your job be your life’s passion? And most importantly, how do you make leggings look dressy?
It’s not so much that we’re lazy when it comes to our style choices—it’s that we’re just eager to unearth a way to make the comfortable staple work no matter what we’re leaving the house for. Yes, dinner events included.
Luckily for us, a few celebrities have seemed to solve this particular woe. So to aid our quest to never part with our beloved stretchy pants, we’ll happily take inspiration from these celeb-approved outfit ideas that prove just how easy it is to dress them up. And we’re happy to report that it is easy.
Ahead, these ladies show us that the key, as always, is in the styling by selecting unexpected pieces like a plaid blazer to give your hoodie-and–mesh-leggings combo a fresh spin. To participate in the campaign to prove that yes, leggings really are pants, take note of these dressy-leggings ensembles ahead.
Victoria Beckham
On Victoria Beckham: Victoria Beckham Cotton-Blend Trench Coat ($728); Victoria Beckham Skinny-Fit Stirrup Leggings ($405); Victoria Beckham Sunday 90mm Knitted Open Toe Ankle Boot ($890); Celine Flattop Gradient Shield Sunglasses ($430)
Victoria Beckham could probably teach a master class on how to make leggings chic. Her outfits often leave us wondering how it’s possible that she manages to pull off the same garment we wear to veg out on the couch. Add a little (posh) spice to your own leggings with polished basics à la the former Spice Girl. Here she pairs her leggings with a simple and sleek trench coat, open-toed heels, and luxe accessories that keep her bottoms from looking like she just stepped off a treadmill.
Gigi Hadid
On Gigi Hadid: Lanvin Oversized Double-Breasted Blazer ($1647); Petals and Peacocks Personal Growth Tee ($36); Wardrobe.NYC Release 03 Zip-Cuff Jersey Leggings ($260); Prada Thunder Mesh and Rubber Sneakers ($890); Fenty Trouble Sunglasses ($250); Lanvin Little Magot Earth Bag ($2290)
Ahh, the "just put a blazer over it” approach strikes again. Hey, if it ain’t broke. Gigi’s take on dressing up her leggings is one that’s easily achievable. You can easily emulate the look by adding an oversize solid-colored blazer over your own tee-and-legging combo. If you want to step it up a bit, invest in a pair of fashion-forward slit-hem leggings. They won’t be able to pull double duty at your yoga class, but they are a playful iteration of the pant that can easily look more dressed up.
Ashley Graham
On Ashley Graham: R13 jacket
Celebrities treat their courtside seats like the front row of fashion week in-between seasons. And Ashley Graham says leggings can look just as at hot on the court as Beyonce’s five-inch heels. We love an outfit we can re-create head-to-toe with items already in our closet. Black leggings? Check. Black crop top? Check. Slightly oversized denim jacket? Check.
Romee Strijd
On Romee Strijd: Miu Miu Leather Boots ($990)
At a passing glance, you’d barely even know Romee chose to stick with a comfortable pair of stretchy pants during her day out. She balances out her eye-catching cheetah-print leggings with equally bold pieces like a moto jacket and lug-sole combat boots.
Kaia Gerber
On Kaia Gerber: Khaite blazer; Alo Yoga Coast Legging ($81); Adidas Ultraboost X All Terrain ($150)
In a pinch, a blazer seems to be the perfect hat trick for dressing up your gym-ready attire. Following in Gigi’s footsteps, Kaia chose an oversized blazer to top off her casual look. Excuse us while we buy a handful of blazers to throw over leggings for every day of the week…
Up next, five celebrity legging-and-sneaker outfits to try.