In general, as long as you cover everything that is meant to be covered, you can wear what you like.

No-one is going to care.

Try these:
http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/simplyveraverawang/apparel/bottoms/PRD~1093715/Simply+Vera+Vera+Wang+Skinny+Ponte+Pants.jsp

They fit like leggings but a much nicer looking.

What time of year are you going - and where?

Know one cares what you wear - but you could freeze to death in leggings - based on location and time of year. (As for the look - that's up to you - unless you plan ongoing someplace elegant for dinner.)

Cover everything as in wear a long shirt/dress over the leggings, or cover everything as in not appropriate amount of skin showing. Just to clairfy.

In August, I have capri length and full length leggings that I typically wear.

What would you wear in a city in your own country? That will guide you as to how much you need to 'cover up'.

No one will be concerned at what you wear except yourself. Your own common sense should tell you what to wear and how much to cover.

Thanks for your help, I guessed it was similar and just a common sense thing but you can never be too sure. I keep hearing how 'no one wears shorts in Europe unless at the beach' so I figured leggings were worth asking about.

Find a live web cam for the cities you are going to visit and then you can see what people are wearing.

I know in Frankfurt, leggings are fairly popular, capri length, ones that look like tights and worn with shorts or a mini-skirt, and then just regular ones. This isn't the fashion capital of Europe, but women and girls are usually dressed nicely.

I saw a lot of girls wearing leggings in Paris in March, but as you mentioned, generally with a long top or dress over them. If you're instead talking about the fitted running capris or something like that, in an outfit that could go to spin class, no, I didn't see them out and about at all (except on people who were actually running). So if you want to try to fit in, I wouldn't wear that to a museum or anywhere else.

However, everyone will know you're not a local anyway, and as others have mentioned, no one else is going to be concerned with what you're wearing unless you're trying to get into a nicer restaurant or something along those lines. So it's all personal preference as to whether you want to try to blend in. The only other thing to keep in mind is that some churches (especially in Italy, if you make it there) are strict about having shoulders and knees covered.

Last December in Italy I saw several young ladies wearing coloured tights and a very short skirt (it is all about fashion), and I kept wondering how they manage to dress up like that and not feel the cold - even just looking at them made me shiver.

Dress whatever you feel comfortable in wearing - that is what Europeons do - and it is what most tourists do, you will find such diversity everywhere, especially in big cities, that you won't stand out, unless you are wearing something totally bizarre.

However, as jent103 commented, some high-end restaurants and venues would expect their clientele to be nicely dressed, and also, you also need to have shoulders and knees covered in some churches. So, I would take different types of clothes for different outings.

'no one wears shorts in Europe unless at the beach'

Nonsense, we wear shorts at the vaguest hint of sunshine here in the UK. If you've got 'em, wear 'em!

'no one wears shorts in Europe unless at the beach'

You do wonder where people hear these kind of things and why they believe them.

Mind you, some people should not be allowed to wear shorts even at the beach....

You see people wearing shorts everywhere!!!

the only place in Europe i've been where I noticed people dressing better in Paris, other places you shouldn't really care

Thanks for the input! Very helpful!

So if I'm trying to fit in, definitely wear something over the leggings long enough to cover my butt, basically? (By the way, I don't wear athletic tops with these leggings I just sort of prefer them over actual pants for day wear).

Also...this is interesting hearing more about the shorts being alright. I'm going in August and don't want to be hot, but I'm trying not to bring too much (only bringing a 36 L backpack). Are shorts worth packing in this case then? (I'm going to be all around Germany, Amsterdam, Salzburg, Prague, and Brussels- not Southern Europe)

The places you mentioned are cooler in August than say, central or southern Italy for sure - but you might still get hot weather which would probably still be bearable without wearing shorts.

If it were me, I would put in a pair of shorts and a pair of capris in my backpack (and also including a couple of leggings and long tops since you like wearing them - many of the younger generation do in Europe and everywhere I guess). They should not be heavy to carry at all, or take too much space in your backpack. Much worse in the Wintertime when we have to take jackets etc.

No matter where in the world you wear them, whether leggings look okay or not depends on your age and the size of your backside! My daughter looks fantastic in them - I don't.

I don't really understand the concern about wearing the right clothes when in Europe - it's really the same in most countries in the world. Many tourists look like tourists (nothing wrong with that) and often it isn't what they are wearing that marks them out.

I honestly dont get why people think dressing here is any different than back at home. Yes the style is different, but unless you shop when you get here your clothes wont be the same style anyways.

What would you wear on a trip to the city in your home country? Unless that is also wildly inappropriate that is exactly what you can wear to a city in Europe.

There are some restrictions - like appropriate wear in churches - but in general if you wear it at home, you can where it here!

Thanks all! I'm probably just over thinking all this because of my nerves and excitement for the trip. I'll just go with what's comfortable to me and try not to look like a slob.

<<no one wears shorts in Europe unless at the beach>>

Biggest crock of crap ever. Ton(ne)s of people in London wearing shorts the day we arrived when it was 18 C (64+ F). In the Southern US, that's nearly sweater weather.

You will not look like a slob - don't worry. You will encounter many people who will really look like slobs, for sure - and they do well to wear what they like, as it is a free world!!! As jamikins said, unless it is wildly inappropriate, do your own style!!

I saw some lovely thick ones in h&m last week, they were only £7.99 so worth a try. Otherwise American apparel winter weight ones are really nice too but much more expensive, think they are about £25
leggings--->http://www.stee-letas.com

I always wear a top hat when I wear leggings.

Just the hat and leggings? Hmmmmm!

kafra

That 'leg wear' is very interesting to say the least
I think Rachel would still need to wear leggings.