The Best Leggings to Wear With Skirts
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What are the best leggings to wear with skirts, when you want something sturdier and more comfortable than tights? Reader M asks…
My question is about leggings but different from your recent post about whether you can wear leggings to work. I work in a business casual office (seriously some ppl wear athleisure, jeans every day, etc). Last year I adopted a work uniform – multiples of the same black pants, multiples of the same shirts in neutral colors. I love it and it’s definitely upped my game, professionally. But I’m looking to incorporate some dresses, possibly on Fridays, during winter.
I hate wearing tights, and would stick to A-line/fit and flare/swing dresses. My question is: what leggings have you found that work under dresses? I don’t need something so thick that they would work as pants, but I want something sturdier and more comfortable than tights. Any suggestions?
Interesting question, M — I agree that I wear a ton of dresses in the summer when bare legs aren't a problem, but the thought of fighting with tights in the winter often discourages me from wearing dresses for casual days. So what are the best options for comfortable and sturdy tights and leggings to wear with skirts?
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Pictured, some of the best leggings to wear with skirts: one / two / three / four
First, the obvious problems with wearing leggings with skirts:
- pure cotton leggings may stick to skirts and dresses and create a static electricity nightmare
- leggings that aren't made of cotton may have a distinct “I'm wearing yoga pants with my dress” vibe
- some options may be comfortable but get baggy around knees as the day goes on
We'll also mention that there are some tights that claim to be almost indestructible now, such as the $99 Sheertex (here's a relatively recent reader discussion on them, with one person noting that “I have several pair, but two of them have fallen victim to sharp-edges-under-meeting-tables.” Alrighty then!).
So here are a few of the options I've found, but I'd love to hear from readers — what leggings do you wear with skirts and dresses?
Readers have been big fans of fleece tights for a zillion years in part because they are warm, durable, and a lot more comfortable to wear than general tights. If you still think, ugh, NO TIGHTS, note that they also make stirrup fleece tights (pictured), as well as thigh-highs. I've always been a fan of Plush, which now has an extensive line of fleece-lined leggings, but readers have noted success with the fleece tights at Express and at discount shops like TJ Maxx.
Uniqlo's leggings are actually in their hosiery department (unlike their newer “leggings pants,” which are made of ponte and have pockets) — and many of them are shown with skirts, albeit with super casual outfits. Prices start at $9, so whether you're wearing these leggings with skirts to work, or just around the house, the investment isn't too dear. Plus, Uniqlo's Heattech options are always great for cold winter days. (They also have Heattech tights.) Another option along these lines: Title Nine's Spark Leggings, which are often pictured with skirts.
(Just a note, also — leggings look great with knee-high boots!)
Hunting for black knee-high boots? Some of our long-standing favorites (as of 2025) include La Canadienne, Sam Edelman, and Sofft; also check this J.Crew bestseller, this Cole Haan option, and Vivaia for comfort.
Updated suggestions, inspired by the commenters:
Footless tights – OMG how have I completely forgotten the Hue tights of my teens with that little lacy band at the bottom?! (Like this one or this one?) I wore them all the time with super micro minis…) Readers helpfully liked to Target's selection of footless tights, but you can find them everywhere from drugstore brands like L'eggs to more upscale stores like Nordstrom. It's been years since I bought dance tights, but they also make footless dance tights, which might be a bit thicker and more durable than regular tights; I'm intrigued to see that Free People is selling both stirrup tights and footless tights from Capezio. (Pictured.)
“Leggings” from fancy hosiery brands – I was Googling footless tights, and a pair of Falke leggings came up and it kind of blew my mind. Of course fancy ladies want a break from tights occasionally also! Falke and Wolford both make “leggings” that look a lotttttt like footless tights (and which, IMHO, do not look like they could be worn as leggings, i.e., without a bum-covering top). Saks has both leggings and footless tights from Fogal. Pictured.
Looking through other posts on the internet (particularly on how to wear tunics with leggings, or some of the teacher/modesty blogger posts), a lot of the same names keep cropping up — Lysse leggings (especially these), Yummie leggings, and Old Navy leggings.
As to the question of HOW to wear leggings with skirts or dresses — for my $.02, this look works best with dresses that are a bit on the shorter side (definitely knee length or above), and the look feels “youngest” with boots, not ballet flats — but that's me.
Readers, what are your thoughts — do you avoid skirts and dresses because you hate tights? Do you prefer to wear leggings with skirts and dresses on casual days? (What other solutions have you found?) How do you style your leggings with skirts or dresses?
Pictured below: one / two / three
I don’t wear leggings with dresses because they are thick and bunch up behind the knee and look like leggings. But those stirrup tights might be interesting…. I hate pulling tights on, especially when I’m right out of the shower. I’ve defaulted to mostly pants this winter.
Reading with interest, because I have tried so many times to wear tights. I just hate everything about them and have since childhood. I have a pair of Old Navy leggings that are passable, but I have noticed that I have to be really careful about replacing them often because anything even slightly faded doesn’t look quite right. (I just wear my more faded ones with casual dresses instead.)
I have the Express ones, they’re just okay. This stirrup version intrigues me, though. I only wear pants (not skirts), so layers bunching and sliding is a real concern.
I wear the Uniqlo heattech extra warm leggings instead of tights if I want to be more comfortable. I am always wearing boots so you can’t tell that they are leggings and not tights.
You can definitely still tell they’re leggings, sorry.
You really look that closely at people’s knees? Weird.
You can tell at first glance what are tights vs leggings. It’s not hard.
No, and I wouldn’t ever say anything to a stranger but this is a post entirely about leggings under skirts. You do you, just know that it doesn’t look like you’re wearing tights.
I wear leggings with dresses and blazers all winter. I wear Hue or Banana Republic. I think I even have a pair from Walmart.
Leggings instead of tights under a dress is not a stylish or professional look, IMO. Just get some comfortable tights! You can get tights that are pretty thick and don’t have control top (or that do have control top, if that’s your thing). The spanx tights are great. I’ve also had good with with Ann Taylor’s “perfect” tights.
I agree. I think it looks very childish. (As in, only little girls wear leggings under skirts.) It’s not just that tights have feet and leggings don’t. Leggings have seams so you can tell they’re leggings even if you’re wearing boots.
+1. Either childish or puritan (like the Duggers). It’s not professional. Just wear tights. If you can’t stomach tights, wear pants.
I totally agree. Leggings under dresses are for toddlers, not grown women in the workplace.
Ugh but I am so jealous of my toddler. So comfy at all times….!
My toddler refuses to wear any pants other than leggings and I don’t argue because she’s right.
My leggings are for wearing around the house. Sigh.
I refused to wear anything other than leggings until about second grade when my classmates started making fun of me for not wearing jeans. But now as an adult, it’s all I wear at home and even oftentimes out of the house. Pants drool, leggings rule.
I’m not alone! I couldn’t stand jeans until I was 8 or 9. And I vastly prefer leggings and stretchy jeans now.
I agree. I think it’s too casual for most workplaces, and I don’t think it’s a grown-up look.
Glad to know other people feel that way but you can pry them from my cold dead hands. Interestingly, guys tend to not know the difference at all and since I work in a real male dominated field it is not something I stress over at all. On the seams issue, the pair I’m wearing today only have seams on the inner leg, not the outer.
“pure cotton leggings may stick to skirts and dresses and create a static electricity nightmare”
Slips! Slips! They are easy to find and easy to wear (elastic waists), unless you are wearing tiny miniskirts, which for work, probably not.
I feel like I am the Matron Saint of Slips around here. Don’t mess around with static spray, putting water or lotion on your tights, just wear a slip! Although I will concede that I do remember winters in Michigan when the static electricity caused me to get huge shocks and trigger mechanisms on equipment in the lab, that might be beyond help with a slip.
But for most people, a simple slip will solve the problem of skirts sticking to tights.
I feel like they are not easy to find! Where did you get yours? They basically had nothing at Nordstrom.
JC Penney. Lower end Macys.
Omg a dress a slip and leggings? Just wear a mumu
Yeah, this sounds like my nightmare.
“Madam, your slip is showing” is an expression for a reason. That’s the problem with slips. If they’re long enough to solve the sticking-to-tights problem, they’re also long enough to accidentally hang down under your hemline or show between the sides of the walking slit.
Slip shorts for the win! They don’t show in slits and stay in place much better than regular slips
All I can picture now is temple garments!!
I’ve gotten half-slips at Target and Kohls. And surely the great and powerful Amazon has some.
I honestly don’t get how they are so difficult to wear. I am not talking Spanx slips – I’m talking a thin, silky skirt-shaped item, that often have wide waistbands now, not the thin little elastic that could cut into you. And mine, at least, do not peek out from my skirt and I usually wear my skirts and dresses just above the knee – which seems WAAAYYYY shorter than people here like, given the pearl-clutching about dresses that are not at least 40″ long (exceptions for the very tall).
I mean, if you like to have your skirts stick to your legs and creep up and bunch, you do you, but a simple solution is at hand.
I’d wear tights – size up to make them more comfortable! All of my leggings have a waistband that would create a line and be noticeable under a dress.
Middle ground is footless tights – I find them very comfortable.
I agree it is a VERY casual look and works maybe on a Friday when no one else is in the office.
Aren’t footless tights just…leggings?
Mine are just like tights without feet. They’re not cotton and they don’t have seams or a wide waistband.
Not really, they are made of tight material — these are the only ones I’ve seen regularly and there is no way you could wear them without a skirt or dress over the top — a tunic would not be enough.
https://www.target.com/p/women-39-s-50d-opaque-footless-tights-a-new-day-8482-black-s-m/-/A-52408477?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Women%2BShopping_Brand&adgroup=SC_Women&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9061285&ds_rl=1241788&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1246978&gclid=CjwKCAiAyeTxBRBvEiwAuM8dnTsnQufCVl5ItLEFfKuljpBBLhgQgG3XTt1o5XdBYuYvnl2vcuP-rxoCp_8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I have never seen those before ! That makes sense. But then what do you wear on your feet with a dress?
No socks and then whatever shoes you want – I’ve seen flats, heels, and booties (which might have socks but I can’t see them). I only see it on the very junior associates and paralegals so I’m assuming its a newer trend (I’m old and even if I weren’t I only know about trends because I notice them on other people).
Hoping for some travel advice from the wise hived. Neighbourhoods (or particular hotels/apts) to stay in:
-Madrid
-Barcelona
-London
-Dublin?
Single, mid-thirties traveller. I prefer convenience over space and don’t need the place to be fancy. That being said I’m no longer a backpacker and don’t want to travel like that. I’ve been to London and Dublin before and accomodation was bit of a fail, so looking for suggestions.
Recently went to London and stayed at the Apex City of London hotel – I loved it. It was close to a tube station which made it very convenient. The room, bed & bath were plenty roomy and comfortable. It probably wasn’t the cheapest option but also not the most expensive. The area was closer to financial district so we found it a little quieter than other neighborhoods might be.
Also close to lots of art nerd stuff, looks great.
In London, I like the Grazing Goat, which is very near the Marble Arch tube station. The restaurant downstairs is great as well!
In London I stayed at the Dukes Hotel in Mayfair on the recommendation of somebody here. It was fabulous.
I’m really enjoying looking at all of these, thanks.
As a side question, I’ll be travelling between Paris and Brussels via train. Is there a wine region in that direction that’s not too hard to visit? I’ve been to the Loire Valley and loved it.
Late reply, but El Born is my favorite neighborhood in Barcelona.
Thank you
Never leggings under dresses/skirts. I always wear tights – & love them – often with boots. Sometimes if in a suit for court, meeting, or dressier affair I wear opaque Hue stockings or Wolford tights (expensive but wonderful silky quality & last 1/2 of forever if laundered on gentle in a lingerie bag) & great for a more casual look with boots & pleated skirt. Because I walk a lot, on cold days I often wear tights under good leggings with flats, boots, or classic booties & and a blazer. Always shop in hosiery dept. or online for tights though.
My job is super super casual, leggings, workout clothes, and even slippers are commonplace.
I wear leggings alot, these suggestions are spot on. I really like the fleece lined footless or footed tights with a leather ankle boot or a knee boot.
I definitely buy new leggings ALOT to keep them looking fresh, I retire the old ones for house wear. I like the hue brand, and random ones purchased in the hosiery area of tj maxx
I’m a dresses and skirts person. Always have been and, while I had the brief departure during my teens, I’ve reverted back mainly to skirts and dresses. I even prefer to wear them on planes than pants. Anyway, unless it’s casual, I don’t do leggings, I do tights. In the winter, my favorite tights are from Calzedonia. They have wonderful cashmere blend tights that are super affordable and usually on a Buy2Get1Free deal. Because it’s a cashmere blend, they are thicker, but not so thick as tights. Of course, you’l have to wear a slip to prevent sticking, but I also have a huge half-slip collection because…well, I wear lots of skirts. Even in the summer, with my casual dresses, I will still wear a half-slip because I don’t want the skirt sticking to my underwear. And, trust me, A-lines just fall and gather better when there’s a slip. Only 2 things I don’t like about the Calzedonias: (1) they are low-waisted and I prefer my tights to be high-waisted; (2) bc they are winter tights and therefore a little thicker, I only wear them with my slightly looser shoes because I don’t want my shoes to stretch out. I have small feet and particularly narrow heels, which means that my shoes are always slipping off so I can’t afford to have them stretch out.
Interesting topic.. I never had a problem with tights under dresses/skirts and still don’t quite understand the problem? I love UNIQLO heattech tights, they come in all sorts of neutral colors (black, brown, grey, navy) and stay in place. Leggings with dresses sound a little weird to me.. what’s wrong with tights?