Gymnastics fans love leotards, it’s just a fact. We love seeing new designs, creating our own, and especially judging them. That’s why we’re back for another season of leotard rankings!
Each week we’re analyzing new designs to find our weekly faves. Leos can earn up to three points for design; up to two points for construction, which includes fabric, fit, and sparkle; up to one point each for school/theme spirit and creativity; and up to three points for overall appearance. This week Julianna, Mariah, and Mary are joining editor-in-chief Elizabeth for judging.
Don’t agree with our ranking? Make your opinion heard by voting in the fan poll at the end of the article each week or by voicing your thoughts on social media!
Michigan State: 8.950
View a video and images of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 9.900
Design 3.0/3, Construction 2.0/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.9/1, Creativity 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 3.0/3
Michigan State has the best leotards in college gymnastics hands down. It somehow always manages to create a design that’s not only brilliant but unique as well. It takes elements that other teams have tried and failed at (OU fishnet arms, UCLA “boob sling” design) and does it 10 times better. I love everything about this leotard—from the rhinestones accentuating the front design to the different textures and fabrics used. THIS is how you make one cohesive design from front to back.
Julianna: 9.400
Design 2.7/3, Construction 1.8/2, School/Theme Spirit 1/1, Creativity 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.9/3
I have slowly but surely become a Michigan State leotard stan; it just does not miss. I love everything about this. The front sparkle drip is gorgeous, and the back honestly looks comfortable and not too open to the point that it’s awkward to wear. I love this!
Mariah: 8.200
Design 2.0/3, Construction 2.0/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.7/1, Creativity 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I like this one a lot better on video than in the still photos. It’s not my favorite from the Spartans—they have so many excellent designs—but this one is still really nice. Their designs are always extremely detailed but still manage to look cohesive, well-executed, and unique. They should host a master class in leotard design. I think I’m just missing the pretty shades of green I’m used to seeing from MSU.
Mary: 8.300
Design 2.7/3, Construction 1.6/2, School/Theme Spirit 1/1, Creativity 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
This is stunning. Michigan State just doesn’t miss when it comes to leos. The rhinestone pattern on the front is gorgeous and the open back is unique, yet flattering. The only thing I could’ve done without is the fishnet.
Arizona State: 7.950
View images of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.700
Design 2.2/3, Construction 1.8/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.7/1, Creativity 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
The image doesn’t do the design justice because after seeing a few different views of it, I liked it a whole lot more. Normally I wouldn’t like straps going across the neck like this, but it somehow works. Plus, the back is different without being insane, and the use of larger rhinestones is a subtle, unique touch.
Julianna: 8.400
Design 2.7/3, Construction 1.7 /2, School/Theme Spirit 0.7/1, Creativity 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
This is definitely giving princess after its name and I love it! I love the different white straps across the chest and the dripping diamonds across the whole front and down the sleeves. I also really enjoy the differently sized gems, which makes the dripping diamond effect a little more unique.
Mariah: 6.600
Design 1.6/3, Construction 1.6/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.6/1, Creativity 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I’ve tried, but I really can’t get on board with the front straps. However, I LOVE the back and think it looks really elegant despite its simplicity. I also appreciate that the front straps transition seamlessly at the side seams into the piping on the back. Overall, it’s not my favorite design, but it has some redeeming qualities.
Mary: 9.100
Design 2.8/3, Construction 1.9/2, School/Theme Spirit .7/1, Creativity .9/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
This is a breath of fresh air. So many teams try to do something new and unique and it doesn’t work out, but this is great. I think the straps over the low neckline work really well together. The winged look on the back is elegant. Very well done.
Auburn: 7.875
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.300
Design 2.2/3, Construction 1.0/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.8/1, Creativity 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
From far away, this leotard rocks. The orange ombre base is lovely, and the main design element being done with colored rhinestones is just so creative. However, why do we have the random transition from ombre fabric to solid orange? Just make it all one piece and continue the ombre! Another leo this week that would have scored so much higher if not for a random, weird design choice.
Julianna: 8.200
Design 2.3/3, Construction 1.5/2, School/Theme Spirit 1/1, Creativity 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This is beautiful! There is a lot going on, but, I love the ‘War Eagle’ tie in and the design of the gems into wings. I always love an ombre, and I like that the leotard is not just straight orange. I’m not a huge fan of the high neck, but I do like the way the gems are across the collar and the open back shape of the leotard.
Mariah: 8.300
Design 2.4/3, Construction 1.8/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.9/1, Creativity 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
In the still photos, the transition between the ombre and the solid orange fabric looked too similar in color to look intentional, but in the videos it actually didn’t bother me. If it was fully ombre, I think I might like it even more though. The sparkle design is very extra, but I really like it and appreciate Auburn going with an orange base instead of its typical navy.
Mary: 7.700
Design 2.2/3, Construction 1.7/2, School/Theme Spirit .8/1, Creativity .8/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
The rhinestone pattern on this is great and I like the idea, but the split body of ombre and orange is offputting. I wish they would’ve picked one and stuck with it.
New Hampshire: 7.825
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.400
Design 2.1/3, Construction 1.7/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.7/1, Creativity 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
This leotard isn’t anything revolutionary, but it is a solid design. I like the amount of sparkles used, as well as the ombre effect on the stripes. During the competition, the solid fabric had a cool look, almost appearing sheer without being actual mesh.
Julianna: 7.800
Design 2.3/3, Construction 1.8/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.7/1, Creativity 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.5 /3
This is very different from anything UNH has done recently, and I’m here for it! I don’t think it’s the most unique in terms of leotards overall, but I do like this different style, the deeper blues and blacks, as well as the open back.
Mariah: 7.900
Design 2.1/3, Construction 1.9/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.8/1, Creativity 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
This is pretty different for UNH and there’s a lot I like about it. The ombre is stunning and I love the cut of the open back. The sparkle design isn’t particularly unique, but it works well with the rest of the design.
Mary: 8.200
Design 2.6/3, Construction 1.8/2, School/Theme Spirit .8/1, Creativity .5/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This is beautiful. I love the plain open back and the rhinestone pattern going down the back and the ombre panels going down the front. No notes. Great work.
Illinois: 7.175
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.600
Design 2.2/3, Construction 1.6/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.8/1, Creativity 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
It’s not an incredibly unique design, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like it. The orange rhinestones really pop, and I like the thin orange fabric “wrap” design on the body and how it continues to the cuffs of the sleeves. My only gripe is the weird orange fabric at the end of the sleeves. It feels unnecessary.
Julianna: 8.00
Design 2.3/3, Construction 1.5/2, School/Theme Spirit 1/1, Creativity 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
Illinois has been crushing it with the leotard game these past few weeks! I love how they take some different aspects like the wrap-around and the almost rectangular open-back shape. I love the incorporation of the school colors and how much the team really utilizes these each week. The arms are so different, and I love all the ‘extra’ unique aspects.
Mariah: 6.100
Design 1.1/3, Construction 1.7/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.8/1, Creativity 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
I typically like Illinois’ designs, but there’s a lot about the details of this look that I’m not crazy about. The large section of orange at the cuff of the sleeves, the way the straps meet in the back, and the high collar with the orange piping are just a few of the details I don’t like. I do however like the open back, if only it didn’t have the straps.
Mary: 7.000
Design 2.1/3, Construction 1.4/2, School/Theme Spirit .7/1, Creativity .5/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
This front pattern is common, but done well on this leo. The open back is great and I enjoy the orange stripes on the dark body. The sleeves are odd, but nothing crazy. Rutgers: 6.950
Rutgers: 6.950
Elizabeth: 7.600
Design 2.2/3, Construction 1.8/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.6/1, Creativity 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
I really like this! The faux-wrap design is executed well, and the use of red rhinestones is a nice touch—they really pop. I also like how the back design is similar and incorporates the straps in well.
Julianna: 6.800
Design 2.0/3, Construction 1.5/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.5/1, Creativity 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
I love a simple black leotard, but I wish there was more to this. I like the incorporation of the school colors, but I wish there was either more red or more white in this crisscross just to make it stand out more because I do really like the wrap-around design.
Mariah: 7.100
Design 1.8/3, Construction 1.8/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.8/1, Creativity 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.1/3
This is nice. It’s just not particularly memorable. I like the wrap-style design and how all the details carry over to the back. I think a bit more sparkle would’ve added a lot to this design.
Mary: 6.300
Design 1.7/3, Construction 1.5/2, School/Theme Spirit .6/1, Creativity .7/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
I am in the minority here and I don’t like the wrap design, especially not on the back. The black fabric is nice and almost has a leathery feel to it. This leo is plain and doesn’t have enough sparkle for me to fall in love with it.
Penn State: 6.800
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.700
Design 1.8/3, Construction 1.6/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.7/1, Creativity 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
This is one of those leotards that looks better in motion and/or in person. In stills or from afar, in a video that doesn’t highlight the sparkles, the design is rather plain. I do like the subtle touches, with the rhinestone design on the mesh parts of the stripes, as well as the shimmery sheer sleeves, but overall it just feels like this leotard is a bit lacking.
Julianna: 6.600
Design 1.5/3, Construction 1.5/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.8/1, Creativity 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
There are definitely pieces of this that I like, just not my favorite of this week’s debuts. The back script is beautiful, and I like the uniqueness of the actual design; I think I would actually have to see it in person to appreciate it fully.
Mariah: 7.100
Design 1.9/3, Construction 1.8/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.6/1, Creativity 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I really like the fabric used in this design and the dark navy is beautiful. I like the idea of the more elegant monochrome sparkle pattern paired with an overall geometric design, but it unfortunately doesn’t come across in certain lighting/photos. The script Nittany Lions on the back is especially hard to discern in photos, but I still really like the look overall and understand what they were going for here.
Mary: 6.800
Design 2/3, Construction 1.3/2, School/Theme Spirit .5/1, Creativity .7/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
It is definitely just the lighting in the photo and video, but this leo looks purple and I almost thought it was a Washington or a Bridgeport leo. The back is cute and the stripes are a nice look from afar, but the colors used are so similar that the details fade. This doesn’t scream Penn State to me.
Arkansas: 6.575
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.900
Design 2.0/3, Construction 1.0/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.7/1, Creativity 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I LOVE the front of this leotard—although I think I would have liked it even more if the ombre was reversed and went from white to red. I also love the rhinestone design on the chest and even the high neckline/collar situation, something I’m not normally a fan of. However, we have to talk about the back. It’s SO plain by comparison, and why, when you see a side view, are the front and back so disjointed?? It’s a shame. The front of this leotard deserves to score 9.0-plus and sit at the top of the rankings.
Julianna: 7.800
Design 2.2/3, Construction 1.7/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.9/1, Creativity 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I really love this! I appreciate that you can wear a bra and that the back is not too open. I feel like a lot of Arkansas’ leos are very similar in the red and white combo, but I really love this one for the ombre effect instead of it being color-blocked.
Mariah: 5.300
Design 1.2/3, Construction 1.5/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.8/1, Creativity 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
Arkansas has leotards very similar to this that I personally like better. The sparkle design isn’t very unique and there’s not any other focal point for the design to keep it interesting. Although the ombre is gorgeous, the fact that it doesn’t transition to the back and is instead replaced by solid red fabric that doesn’t even have any gems really bothers me and makes the whole look seem disjointed and unfinished.
Mary: 6.300
Design 2.3/3, Construction 1/2, School/Theme Spirit .5/1, Creativity .3/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
Every Arkansas leo looks so similar to me that I can never spot a new leo. Give me something new! Give me something crazy! The Arkansas across the back is a nice touch and I like the ombre on the front. There is nothing particularly bad about this leo, I’m just bored.
West Virginia: 6.575
Elizabeth: 6.900
Design 1.8/3, Construction 1.8/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.8/1, Creativity 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
The nod to coal is a fun one, and I like how it’s done with black and gray. I also like how the front stripes flow into the back straps, avoiding having various elements be disjointed like we see so often on leos.
Julianna: 6.600
Design 1.5/3, Construction 1.7/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.6/1, Creativity 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
This isn’t my favorite of the week, but I do like the theme/story behind the leotard. I like the different back, and the square diamond belt, although I wish it connected around the sides. Overall, not my favorite but definitely appreciate the meaning behind it.
Mariah: 6.700
Design 1.5/3, Construction 1.8/2, School/Theme Spirit 0.7/1, Creativity 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I always appreciate a unique representation of school spirit, so I enjoy that aspect of it and it helps account for the lack of gold in the design. Overall this one falls flat for me and the straps are just a bit too excessive for my taste.
Mary: 6.100
Design 1.7/3, Construction 1.2/2, School/Theme Spirit .7/1, Creativity .7/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
This is a cool idea and the hype video is fantastic, but I don’t love the jet black paired with the navy. The back is creative and fun, but the straps on the top over the plain body don’t do it for me.
Fan Poll
Congrats to Penn for winning last week’s fan poll! Vote for your favorite design from this week here.
READ THIS NEXT: A Day in the Life of a College Gymnast: Leotards
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Julianna Roland, Mariah Dawson, and Mary Collier
Hello! please call out when a style is stock so people can know when reading 🙂 Rutgers is a stock style.