3 Stylish French Girls Reveal What They Wear Instead of Leggings

last updated 15 February 2021

For whatever reason, the legging trend has continued to take off like wildfire among the fashion community, and there seems to be no end in sight. Even as the rise of athleisure moves forward, leggings are the one item it seems no one is willing to retire—except for the French. Curious about the above phenomenon, I wanted to see if this comfortable trouser style was as popular with the most stylish women I know—Parisians—as with Brits and Americans.

After asking four stylish French girls a few general questions about their personal preferences on leggings, one thing was clear: The French don't really wear leggings anywhere besides the gym. With so many alternative trouser options out there these days, the women ahead waste no time with a trend that they associate with bad taste and a lack of elegance—their words, not mine.

Go on to read more about French girls' opinions on leggings, as well as to shop the trousers they are wearing instead.

Kenza Sadoun-el Glaoui

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"Instead of leggings, if I want to feel comfortable, I wear sweatpants (they are more fashionable). Leggings aren't really elegant to me, but I do wear them every day at the gym."

Shop the style:

Zara

Jogging Trousers With Bows

Vetements x Champion

Cotton-Blend Track Pants

TYPHAINE AUGUSTO

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"French women still have this idea that leggings are for sport activities only. Instead, I wear jeans or carrot pants—anything else besides leggings. I choose not to wear them mostly because I feel like I'm wearing only tights. I do have one or two pairs, but I only wear them to hang out at home."

Shop the styles:

Topshop

Ruffle Waist Gingham Trousers

Isabel Marant Étoile

Clancy Cropped High-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans

TOKYOBANHBAO

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"I choose not to wear leggings because I think I wore them too much years ago (with dresses!), and now I just can't stand wearing them except for to the gym. I prefer culottes or boyfriend jeans if I want something comfy."

Shop the styles:

House of Sunny

Lounge Maxim Pant

Topshop

Dark Blue Hayden Jeans

For more shopping, see the best shoes to buy now that it's suddenly spring.

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Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Wear and has worked at the company for over eight years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and manages Who What Wear's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Kaia Gerber, Normani, and Kristen Stewart.

She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan, and Paris, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Elle. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.