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 MAC assistant editor Kathleen!
No. 1: Arkansas: I just adore this leo. I love red leos in general, and I really like how this one uses red and black together, along with the sparkles to make sure it’s not too dark. I also love the geometric cutouts, especially the ones on the sides of the leo. Finally, I deeply appreciate the “Arkansas” spelled out in gems across the back. I just think it’s a really cool touch.
No. 2: UCLA: I absolutely love UCLA’s classy navy leos, and this one takes the cake for me. The beautiful design on the front complements everyone who wears it, and I love that the gems are gold rather than silver. It plays so well on the blue and shows off that UCLA pride way better than white or silver would. Plus, it reminds me of Norah Flately’s iconic 2020 floor routine, which is a fun bonus.
No. 3: Utah: I had to include the skyline leo! I love so many aspects of this design. From the black mesh sleeves to the ombre of the top into the red bottom—not to mention the beautiful incorporation of the skyline of Salt Lake City—this is truly a top tier leo.
No. 4: Minnesota: Minnesota always plays to the advantage of having maroon as one of its colors, and this leo is a classic example. The color is gorgeous, and I love that it’s a simple, elegant design. It doesn’t go too hard on the sparkles, but it definitely catches the light. The gymnasts themselves also seem to love wearing it, which makes me love it even more!
No. 5: Alabama: I wasn’t kidding when I said I love red leos. I realize that this is ironic given my praise of the Minnesota leo, but I love the intricate design and all of the sparkles. I also appreciate this picture because it shows off the back, which is stunning in its own right, but it’s also an illusion back! It’s a sports bra masquerading as the beautiful back of a leotard. Putting comfort and beauty together is always a recipe for success!
No. 6: LSU: It was so hard for me to pick just one LSU leo—purple’s my favorite color, so pretty much all of its leos stand out to me. This one is my favorite because of the way it uses gold sparingly, only using it for accents on the sleeves and neckline. It also reminds me a bit of armor, and I think it makes the athletes look strong and secure.
No. 7: Florida: I just think this leo is so classy. The black mesh looks great on the sleeves, and I love how the bodice swirls into the neckline. It really looks beautiful on anyone who wears it.
No. 8: Rutgers: I think this leo is so cool! I love the ombre from white to black, and I absolutely adore the outline of New Jersey! I think it’s awesome when schools incorporate pieces of their community or campus culture into their leos, and this one is especially amazing to me.
No. 9: Pittsburgh: Pitt became one of my favorite teams to watch this past season, in large part because of its impactful themes and leotards to match. I love UCLA’s Black Lives Matter leo too, but I love how simple and effective this design is. And it was so cool to hear how wearing this leo made all of the Black gymnasts at Pitt feel supported by their program.
No. 10: California: I’m not usually a fan of white leos, and I honestly didn’t think I liked this one when I first saw it on social media. But when I saw the leos out on the competition floor, I fell in love! The white looked stunning under the bright lights, and the design is gorgeous.
No. 11: Eastern Michigan: I love this forest green color so much, and I love seeing it incorporated into leos! I also love the “E” laid out in sparkles and the little peek-a-boo neckline. They also added in an ombre on the sleeves just to bring me an extra sprinkle of joy.
No. 12: Penn State: I love this leo so much! The design of the bodice is so beautiful, but I also love that it continues onto the sleeves, too. I feel like this leo could be totally overdone if it went too hard on the sparkles, but they were perfectly placed to really make the leo shine.
No. 13: Auburn: I really like the ombre of the navy and white, and the white sleeves are so nice. I also think one of Auburn’s strengths is the way it always incorporates orange into its leotards, and this one is no different. It looks great framed by the navy, as well as with the white in the background.
No. 14: Kentucky: You may have figured out by now that I love ombre leos, and this one is a classic example. The ombre itself is beautiful, and the jewel design just adds to how stunning this leo is. I really like how the design sweeps underneath the arms. It’s super flattering!
No. 15: Utah State: I absolutely love the bodice of this leo. The steel blue color looks beautiful, and the criss-crossing lines are so visually effective. I also really like the rings around the sleeve at the bottom. I know they’re completely the wrong shape, but they remind me of Wonder Woman’s bracelets.
READ THIS NEXT: Carolyn’s Top 15 Leotards of All Time
Article by Kathleen McPartland
Like what you see? Consider donating to support our efforts throughout the year! [wpedon id=”13158″]
One comment