Andrea Felsted, Columnist

Can Athleisure Survive the Death of Leggings?

The yoga class staple is losing its cool factor. That could be trouble for companies that built their business on our love of spandex.

September 23, 2025 at 12:30 PM UTC

By Andrea Felsted

Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering consumer goods and the retail industry. Previously, she was a reporter for the Financial Times.

From plié to passé — From plié to passé
Photographer: UCG/Universal Images Group Editorial

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Leggings, once the dominant choice for workouts, weekend wear and even some casual workplaces, are in a tight spot.

New cuts and trends are disrupting the stretchy standby, which can no longer depend on a prime position in most women’s wardrobes. That means that the companies that have built businesses on the ascendancy of the style — Lululemon Athletica Inc. chief among them — must now adapt to the new rules of casual dressing.