Leggings... do local women wear them? (NO)

France: no, not really unless you are wearing a tunic. It's not clear what upcoming means, but if it's before October, it would be too hot anyway. I have leggings that look like velour jeans that I wear with long sweaters in winter and tight Chico's ankle pants that I wear inter-season with tunics. But, the thin leggings I see when I visit the US, no.

Edit: we don't really run much air conditioning in France. Instead, we open windows early morning and evening, close shutters and shade against the sun, sit outside at cafes and restaurants, so your leggings will be too warm.

I pack only leggings for travel. No churches or concert venues have complained. On last June's tour in Germany and Austria, half the women only wore leggings. Leggings pack small, don't take a lot of room in my suitcase, are handwashable. Solid colors blend with more tops. As long as my shirt covers my behind, I'm happy. At 73, I'm past the age of caring what people think.
Like CA, leggings are wore by everyone and everywhere in AZ. In hot weather, that goes for shorts too but I won't travel with those.

Wear them if you like them, regardless of whether locals wear them. Who cares? Wear what makes you feel good and what makes you happy. :-)

Women do wear leggings in Europe but what type are you thinking of and what sort of top do you wear with them?

I don't normally notice what women are wearing but I couldn't miss when a woman got out of a car and headed to my hotel on Monday a week ago in Karlsruhe.

Now I don't know leggings from non leggings, but what she had on the lower half of her body was very tight, with a white background and freestyle looking patches of bright pink, neon blue and black randomly distributed.

A proper eye catcher, and in Germany. Were they leggings? Dunno. But I'd never seen the like before. Didn't hear her speak so no clue where she might have been from.

To save my life, I couldn't say what anybody in Europe was wearing on any of our trips, even the one in 2023. If you feel comfortable, you're okay. Nobody else will care.

My sense is that like the US, leggings are not worn as much as they used to be. They are still worn for athletic activities including hiking in the wilderness, but less often in cities. I don’t care about looking like a local or being fashionable, so I wear what I feel comfortable in. I took them on my last trip to Europe (UK), but I also took joggers. That was in April. For summer, I think leggings would be too hot.

Sounds like it’s more a west coast/ east coast preference. Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the nation, so are leggings really not a city thing?

The Real Emily in Paris (who is originally from Australia) says French women give her the stink-eye if she wears "gym clothes" on the street. But that's one city in Europe.

Leggings are not leggings. Depending on style of leggings and what you wear in context you can be really in or really out. Have a look at some European fashion mags. From there you are not far from an idea if European women wear them or not to which occasion.

upcoming trip (July-Sept 2024) to Germany, France and Portugal

Have a look at the climate tables of your destinations. I guess at some of them you do not want to wear leggings in summer?

" Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the nation, so are leggings really not a city thing?"

We almost never run US-style air conditioning in Europe. This is linen pants season, dresses, sandals.

I agree with the other posters who said "who cares"? Europe is filled with travellers from all over the world wearing the clothes that they brought with them. I just got back from France, and I think I was more interested in the scenery, chateaus, and museums than I was in what other women were wearing. In the small towns in the Loire River Valley a lot of people are biking and they wear their biking shorts when they make stops during the day.

But, if you are packing to leave soon you must know what to expect in temperatures. Europe has been really hot, even into September. I've never worn leggings, so I have no idea how hot they are. I'm more comfortable in my knee length shorts and capri pants.

Another suggestion is to bring a large scarf with you so that if you go to a church or restaurant where more modesty is required then you can make a skirt out of it.

I've seen a lot of women wearing leggings in Europe. I haven't really paid attention to their ages and haven't attempted to figure out their nationalities.

I've also seen many dress-code signs in Catholic and Orthodox churches (and probably in mosques) in various countries in Europe that indicated leggings were forbidden (if not covered by a knee-lenth dress, I mean). No, there will not always be someone at the door to block your entry, but you will be violating the church's policy.

Hint: On a really hot day, the most convenient place to cool off quickly might be the thick-walled church you're walking past.

I find leggings too warm. I have been to Europe last 3 yrs…either spring, summer or fall to either the Med and N. Europe. I was glad I had my linen flowy tops and bottoms. Wider legged jeans also. Also dresses. Saw all of these worn. Europeans tend to to just dress up more…less casually than US. All my clothes felt cooler…comfy…even if wrinkled its ok. I too prefer to blend in. Not that looking USA is wrong or bad…. Each to his own. I know I must have blended in as I was sometimes spoken to (before I spoke of course) in the local language. My fellow tour people noticed and mentioned I dressed like locals. So sure…you will see leggings….but also a vast variety of attire. Many dont care….but you asked Isabel…so you might care….and lol….I am also 69!
Happy travels….

From a guy's perspective, when I see leggings, or spandex, in Europe it's on someone under the age of 10 or a tourist. Gym clothes (male or female) are not acceptable for wear anywhere outside of the gym. Team wear (jerseys, shirts, etc.) are strictly for game days, and only for the playing teams. This is not California. If you want to blend in study the people in videos of the areas you plan to visit (just not the ones for major tourist events), or even better, news programs.

From a guy's perspective, when I see leggings, or spandex, in Europe it's on someone under the age of 10 or a tourist. Gym clothes (male or female) are not acceptable for wear anywhere outside of the gym.

Again, let’s remind ourselves that “Europe” is many different countries. Leggings are absolutely normal wear for women in the UK. Mostly younger women, but you will see older women wearing them with tunic tops etc.

I realise the original question wasn’t about the UK, but it’s still in Europe.

I think that historically, one would see that leggings of a sort were all around. One only has to look at the clothes of the Shakespearean actors and the doges and their ilk and King Louis of France to see that leggings were the thing. Only not for women, but for men.
Now, as a man I do not wear leggings, and certainly not a codpiece.
So it looks like things have changed over the centuries.

I wear black leggings in the winter on the daily, in Europe and home. They do not look like gym clothes at all. They look like skinny black pants. I usually wear them with a tunic length button shirt or tunic length pullover, with a scarf, a trench or peacoat-style coat, and short boots or high top sneakers like Allbirds.

I have never even considered that I shouldn't wear them, much less felt out of place wearing them. They're comfortable, they pack small, they can be washed in the sink and will dry overnight. You'll have to remove them from my cold, dead hands before I'll stop wearing them.

I’m of the opinion that you should wear what is comfortable and practical for you for your travels.
Never mind fashion.
Leggings, codpieces, white runners or whatever.
But….for heaven’s sake, and everyone around you….be sure to be clean and fresh in body, breath and clothing at all times!

Thanks for the ‘woman on the scene’ report, Isabel. It’s always interesting to get the information. Everybody can still do what they want, but it’s nice to hear the results of close observation.

Tree Moss, thanks for invoking Shakespeare
:)

Leggings are very common in Germany as are skinny pants, though bell-bottoms are rapidly taking over.
For me personally, long, loose pants are so much cooler than leggings would be. They look nicer too. I have some new crinkle material ones that are so comfy, flowy and cool, even on those really hot days we have been having lately. I see women in shorts and they just look uncomfortable and hot.