Having ranked our top 10 leos for all the big four conference teams last offseason, as well as some other popular schools (let us know if we haven’t ranked a team you want to see!), it’s time to look at each individual editor’s top 15 leotards of all time—limited to one leo per school. Next up is our SEC assistant editor Katie!
No. 1: Utah: I love ombre, I love ruching. Every time I return to pictures of this leotard I notice a new design in the rhinestones. But despite this leotard having so much going on, I have never found it overwhelming or busy. It’s gorgeous.
No. 2: Minnesota: No surprise this makes my list after how much I loved Utah’s. I couldn’t love this any more than I already do. The gold undertones against the maroon are stunning—the sparkles, the ruching, the straps, the high neck. I can’t get enough.
No. 3: Cal: I could frame this leotard. The jeweled designs, the open back, the mesh on the sides?! This leotard is incredible. While I normally shy away from white, the blue-on-white looks amazing here.
No. 4: SCSU: I adore the ombre and rhinestones down the front, but it’s the strappy back with the rhinestones that I really love about this leotard. Despite it being simple, no detail was overlooked to make it pop in subtle ways.
No. 5: UCLA: UCLA has had a lot of great leotards through the years, but I keep coming back to this one. I love the use of the straps on the front instead of a mesh v-neck. If it had any other colors or any more jewels, it would be too much. It’s minimalistic and simple yet elegant.
No. 6: Alabama: I’m not a houndstooth or pattern-on-leotards fan, but this is styled so well. The white belt between the houndstooth and crimson keep it from being an overwhelming look. And, of course, the touch of houndstooth on the strappy back is why I love it even more.
No. 7: Temple: I need more leotards like this. I love the graffiti-type splatter and the keyholes down the back. So ’90s yet so modern. Also reminiscent of that opening scene in Stick It.
No. 8: Oklahoma: I never know whether to call this tie dye, but I’m confidently calling it tie dye from now on. This is an incredibly busy leotard, but it all works together so well. The color scheme carefully keeps it all from clashing.
No. 9: Sacramento State: I’m a child of the ’90s, and I couldn’t skip over this tie dye beauty. There’s not enough green leotards, and there’s not enough tie dye. More of this from everyone please
No. 10: Auburn: I’ve never seen a snake skin ombre pattern leotard, but this is gorgeous. The sparkle pattern offsetting the ombre works so beautifully with the laid back mesh sleeves
No. 11: LIU: I love sharks, so it was inevitable that LIU would end up on this list. I had a hard time narrowing it down, but this one is simple and eye-catching. Logos can look chunky and out of place on leotards, but LIU always makes them look so good.
No. 12: New Hampshire: Deep v-neck leotards are stunning. The gray to white ombre with the blue bodice is so simple but so elegant. The rhinestones around the collar plus the lettering down the back keeps it from looking plain at any angle.
No. 13: Lindenwood: Black leotards will always be the way to my heart, and Lindenwood leotards aren’t given as much attention or recognition as they deserve. This leotard deserves to be worn every single meet. The ombre sleeves and the sparkly mesh overlay on the body with the gold bands makes me swoon.
No. 14: Illinois: This leotard is simple yet stunning. The sash running across the body that’s covered in jewels and the ombre sleeves are exquisite. A quiet but beautiful leotard.
No. 15: Arizona State: This is another leotard that has stuck in my head over the years. I adore the simple black bodice with the rhinestones dripping down but the colors of the ombre sleeves against the black make it pop as a whole that much more.
READ THIS NEXT: Leotard Rankings: Tavia’s Top 15 Leotards of All Time
Article by Allison Freeman
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