All the Important Things…Like Leggings

I choose my blog topics like I select my interests, random and eclectic. I’ve written ultra vulnerable personal pieces, recipes, wellness hacks and now…leggings. Empowerment being the equalizer. We all have pain, and when we normalize our wounds it allows the healing process to begin. When we nourish ourselves through our thoughts, relationships and foods we feel well enough to make bold decisions that move us to a better place. Just as importantly, when a woman hitches the lycra of her high-waisted leggings over her soft quarantine belly, she needs to feel powerful and confident. Basically, leggings are important and if you don’t agree, we can’t be friends. I literally have no idea what I used to wear before leggings became an acceptable form of pants to be worn in public. Literally, how did Mom’s of previous generations survive? I love fall but that moment when it’s time to pull on the jeans after a 6 month sabbatical, part of me dies. I’m also a jogger fan but today, it’s all about the leggings.

Kayyyyyy, back to leggings, high-waisted, opaque, black, reasonably priced. That’s my benchmark, in that order. You may be a pocket legging gal, or you may want the kind that lifts your booty way up to the heavens. Maybe you want yoga leggings, shapewear, stitching, colors, or prints. You may want to only invest in a couple great pairs and pay a ton of moolah. I like to keep it mostly cheap, with a few higher-priced leggings thrown in for those Fancy Mom Days when I decide shower AND leave the house. Me…basic, black, won’t show your crack! Seriously. They have to be high enough and thick enough to make sure that never happens.

Now that we’ve covered the basics that cover the a$$ets, here is my review of 6 pairs that have been in my rotation for a while now. I gave my phone to Pearl and she helped style and pose me for the first 2 minutes and then eye-rolled and mocked me for the last 22 minutes.

First up, Z by Zella High-Waist Daily Legging, my friend Amy told me about these. Nordstrom, or if you’re like me, Nordstrom Rack. I think I picked mine up for under $30 about a year and a half ago.

Pros	Cons
Soft, almost cottonly feeling	Lint magnets
Comfortable, all day wear	They could keep their shape a little better, I spend more time than I’d like yanking them up
Long, great for tall girls	Starting to pill
	The logo washed off immediately, I guess no one will know I shop at Nordstrom (RACK!)

Who doesn’t love an Amazon find? I ordered these during the thick of quarantine when I realized I was never going to wear real pants again. These “CRZ Yoga Naked Feeling High-Waisted Tight Yoga Pants Workout Leggings” (gotta love Amazon names) also came highly recommended by a friend. I was sceptical but for under $25 it was worth a shot. I took a walk on the wild side and ordered the color Melanite. I was pleasantly surprised and I think you will be too, click here to give them a spin https://amzn.to/3a1Lvpc

Pros	Cons
Spandexy, buttery, like second skin
Stitching adds some flare
Stays put, keeps their shape
Available in lots of colors and patterns
Cheap

They are thin, but not see through, so depending on the season or your preference this could be a pro or a con. I’m happy to have found these slinky, non-black stretchy pants!

Up next is another Amazon steal. I love this brand. You can find 90 Degrees by Reflex at Marshalls as well, which makes me love them even more. I picked up some 90 Degrees biker shorts there last week but still unsure how I feel about that trend. Part of me thinks that I’m kind of old for trends and I should just stick to the basics (LEGGINGS) but I do love all things fashion so I might bust open my newly acquired 2-pack of biker shorts, throw on an oversized tee, converse sneaks and act cool. If I do, I’m sure you’ll see a pic. Okay…90 Degrees by Reflex Leggings…there are so many to choose from when you search them on Amazon. I just choose one pair to review because I have like 8. 90 Degree By Reflex High Waist Squat Proof Interlink Leggings for Women are great! I guess the name is also the description??? I love these because they have a sheen to them, which leads me to believe they will never pill. I previously didn’t own anything in that material so it was nice to switch things up a bit. The spandex gives the vibe that a lot of workouts could be done in them but they are comfy enough to lounge around in as well. Grab them here for $26.99 https://amzn.to/3k8pSYK

Pros	Cons
Great coverage	They tend to bunch up at the ankle
Durable
Wash nicely
Shiney but soft
Compression but comfy
Ultra high and nice wide waist band
Cheap!

I splurged on this next set but they are pretty sweet. Someone on IG approached me to become a Zyia consultant a couple years ago. I had never heard of it, didn’t know what it was and needed another business like I need a hole in my head. I said no. Fast-forward to quarantine life, online shopping, endless scrolling, permanently lounging in leggings and all the sudden I’m in 32 Zyia Facebook groups. They are pricey but they are good quality. I took my consultant’s advice on the Zyia Light n’ Tight Legging. I of course bought black and for some reason a bright pink with holes in the bottom. I LOVE the black, but I just feel all “look at me in hot pink tights” and I can’t get past it. I’m a medium in almost everything, the medium fit but I pretty much have to shimmey into them. Not a legging that I could comfortably wear all day, unless I was coming off a cleanse or sans my normal White Claw bloat. The compression does keep ya tucked in though! I love the 7/8 length and the piping. Lemme know if you need a consultant because I know several and would love to send them some biz!

Pros	Cons
Great material, shiney, durable, doesn’t collect lint
Pocket, I’m not usually a pocket person but it’s slim and holds a phone
I love the stitching, they kind of look like a workout moto legging hybrid
Compression that holds you in and stays put
Flattering and slimming
Super high-waist with a wide band
Tight ankle (I don’t like when the foot hole is too big)

I really do love these, again the only complaint is the medium is pretty tight but I think the large would be too big so maybe I should just pass on the “claw” and stop complaining. Also the pocket is pretty great, I really didn’t think I’d like it because it just seems weird to have a bulge out the side of a super slim fitting bottom but you don’t have a lot options on where to stuff things in leggings, so it’s functional. When it’s not in use, you don’t even notice it’s there.

Next up is another pricey find but it comes with a list of cons. I see my friends wearing Alo brand leggings and they look great on them. Mine just slide down and I’m constantly pulling them up. Maybe it’s a sizing issue but I am too lazy to find out so let me just bitch about them here instead. The Alo Yoga High Waist Airbrush Legging…https://amzn.to/2PqDArN

Pros	Cons
Pretty, I love the camo!	Slide down ALL DAY LONG
Wide waistband, perfect for hitching up your sliding drawers!	Expensive
Silky, great material	Uncomfortable due to the sagging

Lastly Fabletics Brand High-Waisted Seamless Classic 7/8.  I bought this pair about a year and a half ago because Facebook and Instagram have brilliant marketing plans.  Basically they just keep showing you beautiful ads of items they know you’d covet; over and over and over again, until they completely wear you down.  Plus I’m a huge Goldie fan and Kate Hudson is also pretty cool so she probably needed some of my money.  They are not as great as I thought they would be though, here are the details:

Pros	Cons
They’re available in lots of colors, patterns, styles and sizes	They aren’t flattering or slimming
Kate Hudson sent me a thank you email	The 7/8ths are more like crop length
	They kind of sag in the crotch area

I can’t believe I just used the word “crotch” in my blog but you guys, it’s important, need-to-know info!  These leggings were disappointing overall.  I almost feel like maybe they should have a seam, instead of being “seamless”.  Just think of all the ways that material is trying to stretch, and they seem to “give” in the wrong areas.

I’m a lot of things, including a connoisseur of tight black pants that I mostly chill in, but could also run wind sprints at a moments notice if challenged by a three year old.   Isn’t that the dream?!