Alright, let’s talk about this whole leather leggings outfit for us plus-size gals. It was a bit of a journey for me, not gonna lie. I didn’t just wake up one day and, bam, perfect outfit. Nope, there was some serious trial and error, a few “what was I thinking?” moments, and a whole lot of trying things on.
So, first things first, I had to actually find the leggings. That alone felt like a quest. I remember grabbing a few pairs early on that, let’s just say, were not it. Some were so thin, they felt more like shiny tights, and others just wouldn’t stay up, constantly doing that annoying roll-down thing at the waist. Super frustrating. I quickly learned that I needed something with a bit more substance, you know? Good stretch was key, but also something that felt like it would hold its shape and, importantly, hold me in a bit without feeling like a sausage casing.
Then I realized the power of a high waist. Seriously, a game changer. That extra coverage around the middle just made everything feel more secure and look smoother. Suddenly, I wasn’t as self-conscious about my tummy area, which let me focus on the rest of the outfit.
Okay, leggings sorted (kind of, it took a few tries to find a pair I truly loved – ones that felt buttery soft but still supportive). Next up was the top. My first instinct was just a plain t-shirt. Wrong. For me, anyway, it just looked… blah. It needed something more. This is where I started to experiment with texture. I pulled out a chunky knit sweater I had, threw it on, and it was like, “Okay, this has potential!” The contrast between the sleek leggings and the cozy, textured sweater just worked. It added some dimension.
I also played around with silky blouses. That was a different vibe, a bit dressier, but again, the texture difference was what made it interesting. I even tried a top that had some subtle lace details once, and that little bit of extra something really elevated the look from just “leggings and a top.”
Then came the layering, which I think is super important. I discovered that a long, loose cardigan or even a lightweight, longline jacket just made the whole outfit flow so much better. It was like, the leggings are fitted, so you need something with a bit more volume on top to balance it out. I remember someone mentioning a “principle of volume” – like, only one really voluminous piece at a time. So, the slim-fitting leggings worked perfectly with a looser, longer top layer. A flowy tunic top also did the trick on days I didn’t want a cardigan.
It took me a while to get comfortable with the whole idea. For a long time, I just thought leather leggings weren’t for bigger bodies. But honestly, once I found the right pair – ones that offered plenty of stretch and support and actually flattered my curves instead of fighting them – and then figured out how to style them with pieces that added texture and balanced proportions, I really started to love the look.
So yeah, that was my process. Lots of trying stuff on in my bedroom, some online order returns, and finally landing on a combination that felt good. It wasn’t about one magic item, but how all the pieces worked together. And making sure the leggings themselves were good quality and high-waisted was definitely the foundation.
