The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word GAITERS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
G
A
I
T
E
R
S
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Leggings" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case leggings = gaiters.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does GAITERS mean?
GAITERS noun- A covering of cloth or leather for the ankle and instep.
- A covering cloth or leather for the whole leg from the knee to the instep, fitting down upon the shoe.
- Part of the ecclesiastical garb of a bishop.