As the weather cools, comfortable, versatile loungewear, such as flare leggings, come to mind. The nostalgic bootcut style pants, a staple of early 2000s workout wear, are easy to fall in love with for both workouts and everyday wear. “Straight leg and flared pants can take you from studio to street more seamlessly [than a tight legging],” says Krissy Jones, owner of New York City yoga studio Sky Ting. Whether you’re going to the park or the couch, they’re easy to style with sweaters, tanks, and trench coats as you walk to and from the gym or escape the chill in a heated yoga class. Don’t just take our word for it: Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, and Rihanna have all been spotted wearing the style outside of the gym.
After researching and testing over 27 leggings to see which performed best in terms of opacity, stretch, durability, comfort, and style, we discovered the best flare leggings for working out, lounging around, and everything in between.
Aerie’s High-Waisted Crossover Flare Leggings are made of a thin, slightly supportive material that is both breathable and lightweight, making them ideal for lounging, heated yoga, and running errands. The leggings have a crossover waistband that curves beautifully around the body, emphasizing the waist, and an angled back seam for a lift from behind. They’re squat-proof, and the material won’t stretch, shrink, or show signs of wear as quickly. Whether you’re going to weightlift, run, or practice your headstand in these flared leggings, the waistband never rolls, bunches, or slips down. And, with short, regular, and tall inseam lengths, these leggings will fit almost anyone.
Worth noting: The thinner and stretchier material will not provide much warmth, so if you’re looking for a cozy winter lounge pant, these may not be the best option.
The fabric on these pants is surprisingly soft and thicker than most, making them ideal for cozy nights on the couch. After a few washes and extensive wear, the material’s quality remains consistent, so these pants are likely to stay in your wardrobe for a while. The waistband is firm, providing shape without cutting in, and the pockets are ideal for storing your cardholder or phone while running errands. The squat-proof, plush material conceals a panty line, allowing you to wear your most comfortable pair while checking off your to-do list or relaxing around the house.
It’s worth noting that they didn’t lie when they called these flare leggings. If you’re looking for the classic, bell-bottomed, 2000s yoga pants, this is the one for you.
The Vuori AllTheFeels Slim Flare leggings are lightweight, slightly compressive, and made of a moisture-wicking, squat-proof four-way stretch material that will keep you comfortable and covered no matter what poses your next flow calls for. The leggings feel durable to the touch while remaining comfortable, and they will withstand many yoga classes, washes, and wears without hesitation. This yoga pant has a slightly smaller flare, making it easy to wear to a workout class or around town without too much fabric getting in the way.
Worth noting: This pair fits a little snug, so if you intend to wear them as a lounge pant or are in between sizes, consider sizing up.
These yoga pants feel and appear more expensive than they are. They’re pleasantly thick, stretchy, and opaque, and they easily pass the squat test. In addition to their impressive quality, the V-shaped waistband flatters the figure, and the deep side pockets make these an ideal pair for walking around town or storing earbuds and keys while exercising.
It’s worth noting that these leggings are prone to showing panty lines, so pair them with a thong or seamless workout underwear.
