If even the best leggings in your collection (because who doesn't have an extensive stockpile of leggings at this point) are getting boring, may we introduce you to ribbed leggings? Designed as comfy as normal leggings should be but with an added ribbed texture, these leggings stand out from the crowd as loungewear with pizazz.
After the last three years, it's fair to say that outerwear in the likes of jeans and bodycon that don't allow our bloating/food coma baby to breathe, is old news. In the words of Dance Mom's Abby Lee Miller - "Boring. Yawning. Sloppy." Casual wear is the GOAT, and it will not be defeated. And who says loungewear can't look chic? Apart from ribbed leggings, there are scrunch bum leggings that contour your bootilicious booty. Or how about honeycomb leggings, the newest trend that TikTok can't get enough of?
Closer's best ribbed leggings at a glance:
Editor's Choice: Pull and Bear Seamless Ribbed Leggings, £12.79 on ASOS
Best Amazon ribbed leggings: DOULAFASS Women Ribbed Leggings, £16.99 on Amazon
Best ribbed leggings for fitness: Women's Ribbed Fitness Leggings 520, £19.99 on Decathlon
Although we appreciate a classic pair of black leggings, getting a ribbed pair can sometimes be a little nicer. The unique lined texture on the legs creates visual contours for the eye that elongate the legs and accentuate your curves. All in all, the leggings genre has evolved from casual running leggings you'd chuck on before exercising, to a fashion piece you can wear on a night out.
You can get black ribbed leggings, a bright neon pair that packs a punch, or maybe you want a calming zen colour such as sage or lavender. Any colour you can think of, we've got below - as well as the best for petite or plus-size women. Let's get started, shall we?
SHOP: The best ribbed leggings to add to your collection in 2023
Editor's Choice: best ribbed leggings
pull&bearwww.asos.com
If you're looking for the best of the best, Pull&Bear's Seamless Ribbed Leggings are our top choice. The ribbed pattern is very subtle and the seamless design means no-VPL. Hurrah! Furthermore, you can get a similar style in a petite version here.
ASOS review: "Been looking for a pair of ribbed black leggings since my younger sister “borrowed” mine. These are so flattering."
Pros
- Seamless for easy wearing
- Also available in petite
- Loads of colours
Cons
- May be slightly tight with bodycon fit
Best Amazon ribbed leggings
amazonAmazon is the easiest place to shop online, so what better place to grab some ribbed leggings? The DOULAFASS Ribbed Leggings come in a whopping 21 colour/pattern choices and are designed with a four-way stretch and tummy control waist.
Amazon review: "Love these leggings! They have a ribbed effect that gives them more of a design than your standard leggings. I would definitely buy them again!"
Pros
- Tonnes of colours to choose from
- A tummy control waist for shaping effect
Cons
- May not be as high-quality as others
Best ribbed leggings for fitness
decathlonwww.decathlon.co.uk
Of course, you can't have a snazzy gym fit without some extra snazzy gym leggings. Decathlon's Ribbed Fitness Leggings 520 come in two beautiful pastel colours, are are eco-designed with 37% organic cotton.
Decathlon review: "I love the colour and the texture. Pleasant leggings to wear. I would need other colours to complete my collection!!"
Pros
- Great design
- Comes in two colours
- Made with 37% organic cotton
Cons
- May be a little bit too bold
Best plus-size ribbed leggings
in the stylewww.inthestyle.com
Finding nicely designed plus-size leggings can be a pain in the butt but In The Style have our backs. The High Waisted Sculpting Ribbed Leggings come in six gorgeous shades, with sizes up to 28. Bonus tip: with these leggings, you are able to size down due to the high elastane content, meaning they are super stretchy.
Very review: "I bought these leggings a couple of weeks ago for work to wear with boots. True to size, high-waisted, great quality, would recommend. May buy another pair."
Pros
- Made with plus-size in mind
- High waisted
- Six colours to choose from
Cons
- Not available in lower sizes
Best yoga ribbed leggings
sweaty bettywww.sweatybetty.com
Less inclined towards a totally ribbed pair, and want a more subtle design? Sweaty Betty's Super Soft Ribbed 7/8 Yoga Leggings have unique cut-out ribbed sections that define and contour the thighs and calves. With its super high rise, compression and sweat-wicking design, these leggings are perfect for a sunrise yoga sesh.
Sweaty Betty review: "These leggings are perfect for teaching yoga and pilates, no restricted movement and they don't fall down. Gorgeous colours that go so well together. Good to have a side pocket as well and a great fit. Wash well too."
Pros
- Great size range
- Made with yoga in mind
Cons
- Not as many colours
Best shapewear ribbed leggings
prettylittlethingwww.prettylittlething.com
Although a ribbed material visually contours the legs, if you want the design of your leggings to contour too, PLT's Structured Contour Ribbed Leggings are your answer. This pair skims the figure of the legs to shape and smooth. What's more, they come in a bunch of cool colours, including aqua for that added bright pop to your outfit.
Pros
- Good choice of colourways
- Contours legs for shaping feature
- Ultra-comfy
Cons
- May not last too long
Best budget ribbed leggings
TUSometimes, we want to grab a pair of affordable leggings and save our money for other ventures (aka investing towards the hot tub that's been saved in your Amazon list for three years. We see you). Tu's Active Green Seamfree Ribbed Leggings are only £7 and are seam-free, high-waisted and moisture-wicking.
Tu Clothing review: "Bought these a couple of weeks ago and I love them! Great stretch and they don't get see-through when you bend over. I'm not a big fan of leggings (or anything tight, really), but these are so soft I could keep them on all day, although I just bought them for the gym. The only downside is that since they're a light colour and don't suck you in like Spandex-based leggings, they do show any little lumps and bumps that all our bodies have, and that's fine."
Pros
- Seamless quality makes them extra comfy
- Really affordable price
Cons
- Not many colours available
Best ribbed leggings on sale
H&Mwww2.hm.com
If you're like us and you can't resist a good sale - you'll want to look at these Orange Seamless Leggings from H&M whilst you can. Designed with ribbed jersey in an iconically neon orange, these are sure to make a statement.
H&M review: "The best ribbed leggings - really comfy & stretchy fit, lovely material and not see through! I find the sizing on the leggings to be pretty generous, I’m normally a 12/medium but got a small and they fit perfectly."
Pros
- Bold design
- Comfortable seam-free design
Cons
- Not as many sizes available
Best dark brown ribbed leggings
new lookwww.newlook.com
We've shown you some great ribbed leggings, in great colours, so far - but if you're looking for a pair with a truly fashionable, neutral shade, look no further. New Look's ribbed pair comes in a dark chocolate brown which is a colour that countless celebs have been seen wearing, including Hailey Bieber and Zara McDermott. Rich chocolate brown is the shade of the summer.
New Look review: "Lovely change to plain black leggings. I tend to go for the smaller size so they aren't too baggy and they were fine. Bonus for a higher waist is it holds my mum-tum in a bit!"
Pros
- Stylish colour choce
- Affordable price
- Loads of sizes available
Cons
- Waistband may be uncomfortable
How to style leggings for work?
Before the pandemic, casual wear such as leggings was seen as a bit improper in the workplace. But ever since working from home entered our lives, comfy-loungewear work clothes have been embraced with open arms. We'll be honest, we were doing Zoom calls in our PJs at some points.
A common question thrown around the workplace now that we are moving back into office spaces is how can I wear my leggings in a work setting, and still look professional? It's possible, people. Although workplace outfits are not as strictly monitored as they used to be, it's still important to look like you put effort into your outfit to impress your boss and colleagues. It doesn't take much to look put together - trust, we are lazy as heck.
Layering is key. Always pair your leggings with something slightly oversized on the top, to hide the waistband that might have a logo etc. This is especially important if you're pregnant and pairing with maternity leggings. For example, a classic graphic tee, oversized knit or blazer go well with a normal or leather pair of leggings.
Then over top of that, if it's cold (we live in the UK, let's get real) a cropped leather jacket or teddy coat will look gorgeous. For the shoes - well, anything goes with leggings. Trainers paired with white socks pulled over the cuff, or how about Doc Martens or UGG Mini Boots? Finish off the look with some affordable jewellery pieces, like a fine silver chain, and you're looking Miranda-Priestly-approved. That's all.
Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for heat, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her "dupe queen", as there's not a product in the world she can't find a cheaper alternative for.