Ah, leggings… Who doesn’t love those tight, skinny, and revealing pants that cling to every lump and bump… Wait, what?! Yes, the revival of leggings in recent years has led to a curvy conundrum: How can I rock those super comfortable, stretchy, and stylish pants with confidence? By following these do’s and don’ts, that’s how!
1. DO Wear Tops That Cover Your, um, Lady Parts
Choosing tops that at least cover your tush, pelvis, and upper thighs will help leave something to the imagination and conceal a bit of cellulite in the bargain. If you’re on the petite side, though, make sure your top doesn’t go down any further than that or it will make your legs look shorter and stouter.
NOTE: Cardigans over T-shirts and tanks add a touch of modesty and give you extra warmth on cool nights.
2. DON’T Skimp on Quality
Trust me, this is not the place to penny-pinch! Cheap fabrics and poorly cut garments inevitably lead to over-stretching, see-through areas, and tearing.
Instead, invest in high-quality activewear, jeggings (denim leggings), faux leather, and velvet leggings that have high, thick waistbands. In addition to lasting longer, these types will smooth out any problem areas you may have.
NOTE: Avoid cotton. While cotton leggings may be tempting for breathability, cotton fibers are very delicate and will not last as long as more durable fabrics like polyester and nylon.
3. DO Wear Shoes in the Same Color
Give yourself a few extra inches of visual height by wearing the same color shoe as the leggings, making your legs appear longer and leaner!
4. DON’T Wear Chunky, Clunky Shoes
Nothing negates the slimming effect of leggings like topping them off with heavy, clunky footwear. Stick to strappy sandals in the summer or flat boots in the winter. Sneakers can be worn as long as they don’t have thick tongues or too-long laces.
5. DO Take Proper Care of Them
Just like anything else in life, the better you take care of your leggings, the longer they will last! Washing and drying leggings properly is the key to maintaining their stretch, hold, and shape. Follow these 5 steps to extend the life of your leggings.
- Turn them inside out to preserve colors.
- Put them in a mesh laundry bag to keep them from getting snagged in the washer.
- Use a detergent designed for active wear like Tide Plus Febreze High-Efficiency Liquid Laundry Detergent – Sport Active Fresh to remove stubborn odors and prevent pilling and stretching.
- Be gentle! Either hand wash them or use the gentle cycle on your washing machine to ward off shrinkage.
NOTE: Nix the fabric softeners because they usually contain silicone which reduces the effectiveness of the moisture-wicking properties that many leggings, especially activewear ones, have.
5. Do not put them in the dryer! Letting them air dry while laying flat is the best way to avoid the damage to their fabrics that your dryer’s high heat can cause.
Time to Shop!
Now that we know the best way to wear them, let’s get some leggings!
Athletic leggings:
Athleta: Rainer Tight
Fabletics: SculptKnit® High-Waisted Legging
Jeggings (denim leggings):
Avenue: Hi-Rise Jegging Jean Black – Tall
Torrid: Jegging Skinny Super Soft High-Rise Jean
Faux leather leggings:
Spanx: Faux Leather Leggings
World of Leggings: SHINY METALLIC HIGH-WAISTED PLUS SIZE LEGGINGS
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Until next time…
Very informative 👏 and helpful. Thank you.