Flare Leggings: 5 things to look out for before you buy
Are flare leggings really just revamped versions of these yoga pants we all owned back in 2005?
To-ma-to, to-mah-to I suppose.
Either way, they are all the rage right now. But, there are a few things you can look out for before you buy flared leggings so you don’t look like you’re back in 2005.
P.S. None of these recommendations are sponsored and I don’t get any money from recommending these to you! They are my favorites based on the leggings I have tried/tested. Enjoy!
Make sure you buy leggings that flare at or just below your knee.
Flared leggings look good when they add some volume in the calf area to balance out the thighs.
However, that extra volume is only needed below the knee, where our legs start to taper.
Leggings that flare above your knee add volume where it’s not needed creating this “stumpy” look that is a little bit too reminiscent of the “LOVE PINK yoga pant” era (see 1st picture).
2. Crossover vs. Straight waistbands
Crossover bands like the one shown draw your eyes towards the center of the torso.
Visually, this has an elongating/narrowing effect.
Straight bands do the exact opposite – they draw your eyes sideways (<– –>).
Depending on which effect you are going for, you can choose crossover waistbands or straight waistbands.
My favorite crossover waistband legging is the OFFLINE By Aerie Real Me High Waisted Crossover Super Flare Legging (although the front seam knocks it down a few points in my book),
Personally, at 5’ 2”, I need all the elongation I can get.
3. Ditch the front seam
Front seams are my worst enemy – I don’t know why companies still choose to make leggings with front seams (I’m looking at you Aerie).
If you want to avoid the atrocious camel toe – and I know all of you know what I’m talking about – ditch the front seam for a seamless flare.
My favorites right now (in no particular order) are:
W227 - CURVE FLARE LEGGINGS: by YoungLA (~33” inseam)
FOXY FLARE LEGGING: by BuffBunny (29”, 31”, 33” inseam)
SUNZEL FLARE LEGGINGS, CROSSOVER YOGA PANTS WITH TUMMY CONTROL, HIGH-WAISTED AND WIDE LEG: by Amazon (30”, 32”, 34” inseam)
4. Pay attention to the material composition
The material composition that you will like really depends on what your goals are.
Personally, my favorite blend of materials is always ~81% Nylon & ~19% Spandex.
My favorite leggings have the following material compositions:
W227 - CURVE FLARE LEGGINGS: by YoungLA (81% Nylon, 19% Spandex/Elastane)
FOXY FLARE LEGGING: by BuffBunny (74% Nylon, 26% Spandex/Elastane)
SUNZEL FLARE LEGGINGS, CROSSOVER YOGA PANTS WITH TUMMY CONTROL, HIGH-WAISTED AND WIDE LEG: by Amazon (80% Nylon, 20% Spandex/Elastane)
OFFLINE REAL ME HIGH WAISTED CROSSOVER SUPER FLARE LEGGING: by Aerie (88% Nylon, 12% Elastane/Spandex)
That blend gives a buttery-soft feel without being too compressive. It is also a common blend for athleisure wear which makes it comfortable to lounge in but also do light workouts/weight-lifting if I want to.
If you want a buttery-soft “second skin” feel, I suggest looking for descriptions like “double brushed”, “breathable”, and “super stretchy”.
If you’re looking for extreme stretch, go for blends that have a higher percentage of spandex (also known as Lycra or elastane). Spandex stretches up to 8 times its usual size, so you’ll get unrestricted and comfortable motion in any activity you do. The downside? Higher spandex blends can have less moisture wicking properties. They can also add a sheen to your clothing depending on the quality used which can make clothes look cheap.
If you’re looking for softer fabrics, go with a higher Nylon composition. Nylon is soft, stretchy, and sweat resistant. The downside? Nylon is not nearly as stretchy as spandex, so it can be slightly more restrictive.
Women's High-Waisted Flare Leggings - Wild Fable™ Heather Gray: by Target
Finally, if you’re looking for less athleisure and more loungewear, look for cotton/spandex blends. This particular flare legging is a 56% Cotton, 37% Recycled Polyester, 7% Spandex blend and has a “cotton t-shirt” type feel as opposed to “athleisure wear” feel. Cotton is a very hydrophilic material, meaning it won’t wick any sweat/moisture, but these are great for running errands or just to wear around the house.
As a side note, I would personally avoid or look for blends that have as little polyester as possible. Polyester can make clothes look and feel cheap, and overall it’s a material I try to avoid.
5. Straight glute seams vs. “V” glute seams
I’ve talked about this in my jeans video on TikTok, but I always try to find pants that have a strong “V” seam and sit above my glutes.
Visually, that’s going to lift your butt rather than flatten it, giving the illusion of a bigger butt.
And who doesn’t want a big butt, right?
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