Style & everyday life
Leggings Aren't Pants: What to Wear Instead
Nine real pants. A little drape. A lot more comfort.
By Angela Howenstein
Wearing Frank & Eileen Galway jeans.
Hi Gals!!
Ok, here me out…….
I'm sorry, leggings are not pants. They're not!
I've said it twice now on camera (HERE and HERE) and I'm not taking it back.
But I heard you, too. Probably nine out of ten of you told me you don't want to wear leggings on an airplane. Then you asked me a very fair question: "What else you got for me?"
No problem. I got you. Here's the thing: does it drape, or does it cling?
Let’s discuss…..
Here are nine real pants, priced from $39 to $308. Keep in mind - I'm not telling you to spend $308. Honestly, the price tag isn't the point - it’s the shape and the fabric.
What Makes a GREAT pair of Pants a Great Pair of Pants?
It comes down to four things.
01
The waist doesn't dig in. Pants should sit at your waist without cutting into it - aka - showing your love handles. If you're tugging them up trying to loosen them at the waist before you've even boarded the airplane - you’re wearing the wrong pair of pants. If the waistband is too tight, you’re going to see the lumps and bumps right through whatever top you’re wearing.
02
The leg drapes beautifully instead of clinging to you. This is the big one. A pant leg should drop away from your body and move when you walk (depending on the fabric). Leggings CLING to every part of you and show not just your “rolls” but other “parts” that should remain unseeable.
03
The fabric has substance. That doesn't mean heavy. It means the fabric holds its own shape instead of taking on yours. If there is too much stretch in the pants, they’re going to sag in the knees and the butt - no no. The thinner the material, the better? Yes and no. It depends! Only you can tell if a thinner fabric works for you.
04
The hem hits you in all the right places. Cropped pants are great if they hit right at the ankle. That’s going to be flattering and looks great with a little pair of flats. If you prefer a full length pair of pants, be sure that they hit at the top of your foot so that you don’t have to wear a heel - unless of course you WANT to. Either hemline works! What does NOT work is a pair of jeans or pants that squeeze your calves and ankles. Talk about a no no! These are my TOP GO-TO travel pants, fyi.
Angela’s go-to travel pair: AYR Brava pants.
The Track Pant That Will Have Everyone Fooled
The rag & bone rb Miramar Sport Stripe Track Pants are, technically, a sweatpant. They have a pull-on elastic waistband and they’re made of 100% cotton terry. They’re lightweight with a slight stretch. You pull them on the way you pull on a pair of leggings or sweats, but they LOOK like a fabulous pair of jeans.
Miramar Dahlia — the bootcut pair.
The other pair of Miramar “jean”’ is the Dahlia. These are my go-to on date night or anytime I want to get an elevated jeans look…..while still being comfy. I have NEVER had anyone doubt they were jeans. They’ve fooled Bing more than once 🙂 In the brand's words, the Miramar pants "fuse the look of lived-in jeans with the comfort of sweats." I’m telling you - if you like bootcut jeans, these are the pair (without being jeans!). A less expensive pair HERE.
Think about that for a second. Elastic waist….Knit fabric….Pull them on and go. Damn - I wish I had thought of that 🙂
The R & B track pants are more of a straight leg that drape beautifully. The Dahlia is a more fitted look BUT the way they fall with the bootcut is SUPER flattering and still very comfy.
The less expensive alternative: Avara’s denim-look pants.
If You REALLLLLY Want to Be Back in Jeans
So,you want a real pair of denim that’s COMFY, then look at Frank & Eileen’s “Galway”. The “Italian Dream Denim” is exactly that - dream denim from Italy! Sounds good to me! They have just the right amount of stretch that makes them easy to sit in all day either on the couch - ha - or on an airplane. The cropped wide-leg is SUPER flattering - really flattering. I wear these with FLATS, a little LEOPARD KITTEN HEEL, CLOGS or SNEAKERS.
So, a stiff, rigid denim can be SUPER flattering, but not always the most comfortable (THESE are comfy and flattering). Depending on where you are going and what you are doing - you’ll need to choose the right amount of stretch. BEWARE of denim that is TOO stretchy! It goes back to what I said above - anything that clings or squeezes is a no-no. Stretchy jeans in a super slim fit (jeggings) will grab you in the wrong places AND lose their shape.
Simple, Plain, Grab-and-Go
Sometimes you just want a pair of pants you don't have to think about. That's fair.
AYR's The High Hopes is a full-length pant made from 58% Pima cotton, 39% modal, and 3% spandex (excellent combo of material). These are great because they come in three lengths and they are made of a material that’s much nicer than sweats, but as COMFY as a pair of sweats. You can get off the airplane in these, change your shoes and be ready for dinner. No one will have any clue that you’re wearing your “travel pants” because they look much nicer than you’d expect. I also love THESE and they come in three lengths too.
I’ve become addicted to my SPANX AirEssentials Barrel Leg Pants (they’re about 70% off at $39 right now). I call them "throw-on-and-go barrel leg lounge pants." Don’t be scared by the name “barrel” (or the photo - that's a horrible shot!)when it comes to pants. You just have to try them 🙂 They’re ultra-drapey, in a breathable fabric with 4-way stretch and a get this - dig-free waistband. These will NOT cling to you and they’re FLATTERING as can be. I’m usually in my SLIDE SNEAKERS or SLIDE FLATS.
Aritzia's The Lodge Pant in Crepette has taken the internet by STORM! Every single person I know LOVES these pants because they’re a great fabric that doesn’t stretch out and they have a drawstring waist - YES. They can be VERY dressy or your lounge-around-the-house pants. They have a beautiful drape AND they’re lined! Oh - and they come in three lengths! I wear FLATS, SNEAKERS and of course a little HEEL.
When You Want a Wide Leg
Mersea's Frenchie Wide Leg Pant is a widish, straightish leg, which is the shape to look for if you want the least legging-like look and feel. Essentially, they are sweats, but they are so elevated with the cool seams down the side AND they’re a lighter color that you can wear all year long. Don’t let the lighter color scare you - they don’t fit snug at ALL. Just got these SNEAKERS that I LOVE with them. MY other favorite WIDE LEG PANTS are a PERFECT navy and super comfy with matching pieces HERE, HERE & HERE.
If a wide leg ever feels like too much material, put on a more SLIM TOP - nothing too oversized. That will give balance and give you a more slim shape. If you don’t want to tuck into these, then grab a SHIRT, ZIP SWEATER or SWEATER and do a little “side tuck”. A little definition at the waist balances out all that shape of the pants.
The Closest Thing to Leggings - the JOGGER
I have two great pair of joggers - HERE and HERE. They give the look of a legging, but they’re not clingy at ALL. The fabric of these drapes properly but gathers at the ankle like SO many people love. Since they seem more “sporty” a SNEAKER is great, but you can also throw on a great FLAT to make them more elevated.
The Helen Jon Luxe Jogger, dressed simply.
The same navy Helen Jon joggers, styled as a set.
"But Mine Are Black"
I know, I know……it feels like black leggings hide everything. They DO! Where people really get it WRONG, particularly in PUBLIC (like on an airplane) is when they wear leggings in pink, yellow, white, green or anything OTHER than black. Those are an absolute NO-NO almost ANYWHERE including the gym. Those colors will show any lumps and bumps and parts you don’t want anyone else to see 🙂 But, I do love these BLACK LEGGINGS. for the gym only.
Start in Your Closet
Before you buy a single thing on this list, do what I said in that second video: "Just go in your closet and find out what you have that's not a legging."
Pull out every pair of pants you own and hold up each one. Does it drape nicely, or does it cling?
If it falls correctly, wear it on your next flight. If it clings, it belongs in the gym. You may find you already have your travel pants hanging right in front of you.
You don't need a whole new wardrobe. You need a pair of pants that passes the test - good material, nice drape, elevated comfort.
"Leggings have a time and a place, and it's in the gym."
So here's my question for you: "With all those great choices, why on earth would we wear leggings? Let's pull it together, ladies. We can do better."
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