Leggings have become ridiculously expensive – here’s where to find a pair under £40

Until the early Noughties, leggings were generally reserved for one of two activities: working out or slobbing out. Gym bunnies would slip their honed pins into a pair from a sportswear megabrand like Nike or Adidas, while those of us who preferred lifting crisps to weights would laze around in some decades-old pair, so worn that the label was practically indiscernible – though I seem to remember mine were from BHS.

Then, unsurprisingly, there wasn’t much choice; leggings were a sort of necessary evil, something to be purchased once or twice and then worn privately, hundreds of times over. Today, thanks to the athleisurewear revolution (and one Ms Claudia Winkleman), this once shunned garment has become a fashion staple – to be worn out to lunch, shopping in Waitrose, and, dare I say it, to the office – and the foundation around which newer, Gen Z-adored brands, such as LA-based Alo Yoga and Manchester-born Adanola, have been built.

Embarking on the search for a replacement for my bobbled, see-through leggings, I soon realised I would have to increase my £30 budget. For example, the bestselling Airbrush leggings from Alo Yoga will set you back just shy of £100 – a price that many customers are willing to pay.

“Leggings are considered a wardrobe staple, holding the same weight as denim in terms of importance and investment,” says Luke Hodson, founder of youth marketing agency, Nerds Collective. “For [Gen Z], leggings are not just about performance but about making a style statement. They’re drawn to brands that align with their values and aspirations, and they’re willing to pay for products that deliver both form and function while holding cultural cachet.”

If the athleisure uniform – leggings, an oversized sweatshirt, chunky socks, and ugly trainers – is too Gen Z for you, take your style cues instead from Claudia Winkleman, who wears Spanx leggings with tweed blazers, frilly shirts, and chunky boots – inspired by the equestrian style of Princess Anne. The leggings’ £110 price tag might make your eyes water but I’m told, by several trusted sources, that they are worth every penny.

“They’re brilliantly made, with great structure,” says Sinead McKeefry, the presenter’s stylist – and owner of several pairs of Spanx leggings. Kiana Miree, Spanx’s chief merchandising officer, adds, “They have no centre front seams, eliminating camel toe.” This is an important consideration when wearing leggings in place of trousers, trust me.

Saint+Sofia’s Chelsea leggings, adorned with four gold buttons, can also be worn in lieu of trousers. The brand’s founder, Dessi Bell, says she has seen a twentyfold increase in demand for the leggings, year on year.

If your style skews more balletic than horsey, consider stirrup leggings – a style recently sported by Katie Holmes, who teamed hers with heels and a cropped jacket. “Customer searches for “black leggings” have increased by 132 percent in the last month, while searches for “stirrup leggings” increased by 122 percent in the same period,” says Kay Barron, fashion director at Net-a-Porter. There, you can find leggings for both sport and leisure, including a pair by The Row, for £640. LTK says this pair was a bestseller last month, proving that there is a market for very expensive leggings.

Comparatively, £80 for a pair seems like a bargain, but in reality, it’s still a significant expense for most of us mere mortals. The question is, is it worth it?

“When you invest in Lululemon, you benefit from 25 years of proprietary fabric innovation and technical construction,” says Sarah Clark, senior vice president at Lululemon EMEA. Indeed, the brand works closely with athletes when creating products.

The secret sauce works. If you’ve left the house today, you’ve probably seen at least 10 pairs of Lululemon’s “Align pants”, which were first created in 2015 for yoga wear, but have since been reappropriated by many for leisure activities. “In 2023, globally, we sold one pair every four seconds,” says Clark. The bestselling leggings are made from the brand’s Nulu fabric, which, in addition to wicking away sweat and boasting four-way stretch, is insanely soft; if you don’t believe me, go into one of their shops and touch a pair.

Alexandra Vanthournout-Crickmore, founder of activewear boutique, Fashercise, extolls the virtues of Varley’s Move leggings. “We ask a lot from our leggings,” she says, when I ask her about the £78 price tag. “We want them not to be see-through when doing downward dog, we want them not to smell during HIIT workouts, we want them to stay in place when running a 10k, we want the compression to help with recovery…. If that’s what you’re after, rather than just a fashion accessory, then the higher price tag really is worth the investment.”

Five pairs of quality leggings under £40

Go Move Leggings

£27.50, Marks & Spencer

Marks & Spencer has sold more than one million pairs of these cult leggings, which have 360-degree stretch, moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabric, and pockets for your valuables and phone. “We’ve been blown away by the response,” says Lisa Illis, the brand’s head of womenswear design.

DryMove Leggings

£18.99, H&M

I own several pairs of H&M’s DryMove leggings, so it’s only fair I share the secret. They’re affordable and do what they promise: keeping shape and wicking away moisture on even the sweatiest of runs. I also love the handy pockets.

AIRism Leggings

£24.90, Uniqlo

A little birdie (who happens to be both stylish and sporty) tells me that this pair is an excellent dupe for Sweaty Betty leggings (which I also really rate). Wear the natural shade as part of a tonal outfit – and avoid coffee/red wine.

Ultimate Leggings

£39.99, Adanola

According to influencer marketing platform LTK, searches for “brown leggings” peaked by 200 percent last week. These, from Adanola, not only fit the bill, but they also have a flattering, high waist and are designed without a front seam – no camel toes here.

Stormwear Walking Leggings

£35, Marks & Spencer

If, like me, you enjoy a brisk winter walk, you’ll know that regular gym leggings don’t really cut it. A new discovery of mine, these Marks & Spencer leggings are designed specifically for cold, rainy weather, locking in heat while repelling rain.