2 days ago
Is It Time To Give The Divisive Jeans A Second Chance?
As part of my job, I spend hours scrolling through websites, tracking what's trending and what people are adding to their baskets. One morning, I stopped in my tracks - there they were again: M&S was selling a pair of jeggings with 11,870 reviews, a 4.4-star rating, and 75% of shoppers recommending them, already running low in stock.
Jeggings defined a particular moment in fashion history. Picture this: Spring 2010, they were the skinny-fit staple you wore with a Chloé Paddington slung over your arm and an Alexander McQueen scarf looped around your neck. But while they promised the stretch of leggings with the look of jeans, many fell out of love with them because they weren't as comfortable as we hoped, never mind the the endless adjusting and inevitable elastane fatigue.
But the day we never thought would come has arrived, and, now, they've been reimagined. Today's versions are softer, more sculpting, and cut from fabrics that lift and flatter, with elasticated high waistbands for ease. One M&S reviewer summed it up simply, saying they had 'waited for these to come back into stock' and that they love 'the fit'.
According to Megan, a stylist at Silkfred, the jegging's enduring appeal comes from 'comfort and ease of movement while still giving you the streamlined look of denim.' She describes them as 'polarising' because they sit in the 'in-between space of jeans and leggings' and can instantly conjure memories of the early 2010s - the era of over-styled club looks, heavy eyeliner, and dodgy digital camera snaps. Still, she pointed out that for anyone who loves the feel of leggings and wants skinny silhouettes back in their wardrobe, jeggings are 'an incredibly practical option.'
On whether we're seeing a genuine revival, Megan links the resurgence to fashion's wider knack for anything nostalgic, saying that with retailers like M&S reintroducing them, more brands are leaning into the late-2000sand early 2010s aesthetic. She doesn't expect them to dominate denim trends - 'we never saw a jegging on the runway' - but said the rise of comfort-first dressing and body-contouring styles is helping them find their audience again.
While Megan believes jeggings will always carry a nostalgic edge, they can be rendered a classic style if worn in minimal ways. Her advice? 'They can look timeless when styled in a minimal, elevated way. Perhaps a dark indigo wash or black jeggings with a crisp, oversized shirt, a blazer, and pointed flats. The key is keeping the rest of the outfit simple and avoiding the over-styled early-2010s look we remember from their first heyday.'
In short, jeggings may never reclaim their 2010 peak, but in fashion, no trend is ever truly gone for good. 1.
M&S, Ultra High Ankle Leather Jeggings 2.
M&S, High Waisted Jeggings Indigo Mix 3.
M&S, High-Waisted Jeggings Indigo 4.
Next, Dark Blue Jersey Denim Legging 5.
White Stuff, Janey Jeggings
Renee Washington , Grazia's digital fashion and beauty writer, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie..
