what can i wear instead of leggings?

[iheartwinter]

I wear a lot of tunic type things, jersey tshirt dresses, shirts, oversized sweatshirts, jumpers. Sometimes with tight and boots but lots are a bit too short for tights. For daytime I usually leggings and trainers but leggings aren't very smart for going out.

www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/faux-leather-skinny-trousers-8987794

These! I get so much wear out of them.

I would love to be able to wear leggings, but I’m an average-ish size 12 with stupidly skinny legs (which I hate) and in leggings or skinny jeans I look like an inverted turnip unless I wear a very long top, which are often hard to find.

Anyone tried and liked coated ponte?

OP, the dress in the link is just above the knee. Just wear tights

I wear shorter tunic tops (ones that finish just below my bum) with slim leg jersey trousers from Lands End - I'm sure other shops do them too. They are nice and thick, not quite as fitted as leggings so they are a bit smarter and (on me) give a nice shape with a longish top. They seem too bulky with mid thigh length tunics though.

@Elieza I have knee fat too and the Lands End ones I mentioned above are perfect for camouflaging it! I actually like them so much that I wish I had more tops the right length for them! The only downside is (depending on your body shape) they can come up big on the hips but with a tunic it doesn't really show. They are called Starfish slim leg jersey trousers I think. If you sign up for their emails they have regular discount codes.

@damnthatanxiety

OP, the dress in the link is just above the knee. Just wear tights

Now - to me an oversized dress of that length worn with tights looks equally dated - and never was elegant. Just looks as if you've forgotten the bottom half of the outfit. (Nothing against minis - it's the proportions with a wide dress that are wrong.)

I bloody love leggings! I’ve got 3 little kids though so just like to be comfy at the moment!

There are some beautiful leggings on Thought. Haven’t bought any yet but they’re on my wish list.

Uniqlo leggings trousers are on offer £14 atm last ages

Try the M&S £15 high-waisted jeggings. Omg they are amazing. They look like jeans so can be worn with shorter tops yet comfy like leggings as they’ve no hard waistband.

www.marksandspencer.com/high-waist-jeggings/p/clp22468863?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

Jeggings are your friend here... I have a pair of dark indigo ones that look like smart spanking new skinny jeans, I wear under a loose blouse for smart, but they are as comfortable as leggings. They are high waisted from asos.

Jeggings from MS. Look like denim , loads of colours and three lengths. About £15

Forgive me but - if the OP's daily wear is on a Cos budget I can't see how £15 jeggings are going to make her feel "dressed" for going out ...

(Maybe just me?)

All suggestions are much appreciated.
I don't actually have a huge budget, I have a lot of Cos sale purchases and I tend to wear things until they are worn out.

Full disclosure, the last time I went "out" - mid-March this year, I wore an ancient, originally shamefully expensive, camel hair sweater with a long silvery pleated skirt picked up that very day in an eerily empty Zara for ... £5.99.

Sale purchase, obvs. I was high five-ing myself all the way to the theatre.

Bargain!

(A theatre outing! How exciting that seems now...)

Indeed ...

very interesting discussion, I get that the oversized top + leggings/skinny bottoms is a bit of an outdated look, yet every winter I find myself coming to the same conclusion that it is simply the only show in town for the cool and wet climate I live in.

Done well, it means your outfit is at least a shorthand for 'smart' if not truly smart iykwim.

(Also I honestly never thought I would purchase 'jeggings' again but those M&S ones in the dark green are rather lovely.)

Wow I'm loving the variety of colours those marks jeggings come up in... Anyone got advice on sizing? I'm currently a 12 but successfully losing weight...with a little more to go.. Is the m and s 12 on the large side?

having said that, these are amazing, and quite slimline.
uniqlo

I wear opaques and long boots as an alternative to leggings and flats if it gets cold.

If that’s the style you like and feel comfortable in then I wouldn’t feel pressured into changing just so you look “trendy” I’m short, busty and apple shaped, but my legs are quite nice. So I wear things similar to you ( have to watch the oversized don’t swamp me though ) so I can hide the bad bits and show off the good. I just don’t feel comfortable in tight tops, tucked in to smart trousers, or anything that makes me feel cut in half!
I mean, there’s leggings and there’s leggings. You don’t sound like you would wear the ancient, baggy, see through kind so I think you’re fine