As a seasoned fashion editor, I\u2019m often asked which summer capsule-wardrobe staple <\/a>I couldn\u2019t live without. Over the years, this answer has fluctuated. At various points, classic straight-leg jeans<\/a> were my number one; adding a ‘90s<\/a> polish to floaty blouses<\/a> and graphic T-shirts<\/a>. At others, it was a linen dress<\/a>, a style so lightweight and breathable you\u2019ll survive a heatwave with ease. But, for the past few years, my answer has unequivocally been the same: leggings<\/a>.<\/p>\n The humble legging has undergone something of a style renaissance of late. Gone are the high-shine, primary-colour spandex beloved by the likes of Lisa Rinna and Jane Fonda during their iconic VHS workout-tape eras. Today, they\u2019re less eclectic and more Pilates princess<\/a>. And the prim pedal-pushers <\/a>favoured by royals and A-list celebrities like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe are today more “model off duty” than anything else.<\/p>\n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n With everything from fashion-forward capris to Y2K-inspired foldover flares trending in summer 2026<\/a>, what I love about this revival is that they genuinely feel cross-generational. So, whether you’re Gen Z<\/a>, millennial or part of Gen X, trust me: there\u2019s a legging silhouette that will work for you. Need further proof? Mere weeks ago, I watched my 53-year-old mother (a woman who’s typically quite trend-averse) saunter down the stairs in a cropped-capris-and-thong kitten-heel look\u2014an outfit that could have been plucked from Hailey Bieber<\/a>‘s warm-weather rotation.<\/p>\n