How to Style Leg Warmers For Spring, à la Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart just proved the balletcore Y2k leg warmer trend is here to stay.
Kristen Stewart is on a roll with her current press tour looks, but yesterday's leg warmers look had everyone talking. Leg warmers, chic?
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, leg warmers 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, and Stewart showing how to make leg warmers look thoroughly modern.
So as we transition from winter to spring, let us share how to style leg warmers for the weeks (and hopefully warm weather!) to come.
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 color and material.
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 color palette that works for you. A balletcore classic is the powder pink of ballet leotards. Once you have your base color, you can build around it. Like ballerina Luna Montana, you can toughen up the soft colors with black leg warmers and a wrap circle skirt for a romantic and cozy 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 traveling in chilly cities.
For dinner dates along the Seine, take a page from Jang Wonyoung’s outfit. Donned in Miu Miu, she embodied the “Old Money” look with the navy cardigan, and the denim cutoffs showed off her youthful energy. The leg warmers here were paired with a block-heeled loafer, perfect for adding a touch of sophistication, or just some extra inches for us fun-sized girlies.
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 cozy factor of your activewear or lounge set with some leg warmers and ballet flats. If you’re unsure about how to make the colors work, keep the color palette lean. So cut down on excessive stacking of clashing tones and just let a single pop of color be the focal point.
Leg warmers are actually pretty versatile, as Kristen Stewart proves. Feel free to play with your proportions and silhouettes. 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.
