How to Style Leg Warmers for the Winter Season

Leg warmers aren’t a new addition to the fashion scene. They originally emerged in the ‘80s for the aerobics-obsessed crowd and made another comeback just 20 years on. And thanks to celebrities like Madonna and Britney Spears, they have become an essential part of the Y2K aesthetic.

With all these trend revivals on TikTok, it’s no surprise that leg warmers are having a comeback party of their own; these accessories are now part of the balletcore aesthetic. Balletcore focuses on the dancer-off-duty look, which includes leotards, soft wrap skirts and of course, the star of the show: Leg warmers. Even the It-Girls of our time are thoroughly enjoying this trend, with Bella Hadid taking a particular liking to the leg-warmer look, rocking it along with other Y2K microtrends.

So this winter, whether you’re travelling or staying in during the festive season, let us teach you how to style this trendy piece so it’s both functional and cute.

If you don’t currently own a pair of leg warmers, there are a few ways to get your hands on them. Of course, there are many different brands in the market now and you can find different varieties for different aesthetic preferences at a reasonable price. If you’re good with your hands, you can even learn to knit your own, so you have more control over the colour and material. But if you’re not sure if you’ll even like wearing leg warmers, you can DIY your very own with an old hoodie and a pair of scissors just like TikToker @sarahsakurah shows us above.

Once you’ve gotten your hands on some leg warmers, it’s time to start playing around with them. You can start off by simply choosing a colour palette that works for you. A balletcore classic is the powder pink of ballet leotards. Once you have your base colour, you can build around it. Like ballerina Luna Montana, you can toughen up the soft colours with black leg warmers and a wrap circle skirt for a romantic and cosy look. Her moon boots add a casual edge to the look, so the entire fit looks more styled. This outfit is giving effortless-chic, great for casual travelling in chilly cities.

Even if you’re just heading to the airport in an ultra-casual fit, there’s the chance to whip out your leg warmers for a strut down the runway. Just like Bella Hadid here, you can amp up the cosy factor of your activewear or lounge set with some leg warmers and ballet flats. If you’re unsure about how to make the colours work, keep the colour palette lean. So cut down on excessive stacking of clashing tones and just let a single pop of colour be the focal point.

Leg warmers are actually pretty versatile, so you can really play with your proportions and silhouettes, as seen on TikToker @fitsandbits. A simple rule of thumb is to keep the weight around your calves; since the leg warmers will gather around your shins, you should keep your thighs bare or just wear more form-fitting pants. This way, the scrunching leg warmers can get their time of day, without having you look too bulky or imbalanced.