I Never Wear Leggings Out of the Gym—but I'd Make An Exception For These

Tara Gonzalez
Updated

I am a very staunch leggings-as-pants skeptic. It's not that I don't think other people can't wear legging as pants, it's just that I myself have never been able to do it. I've never found a pair of high-waisted leggings that has made me feel comfortable enough to abandon my favorite jeans. I have never ever—ever—run into someone in my high-waisted leggings after a gym class and insisted we go get a coffee in my sweat-infused workout clothing (to be fair, I actively avoid anyone that looks mildly familiar when I emerge from a gym class).

I understand that, in a time where "athleisure" is a Thing, that this is an unpopular opinion. People live and die by their Outdoor Voices leggings, so I get that my hot take can be seen as a personal attack. (Outdoor Voices isn't about working out! It's all about doing things!) But when it comes to leggings I like to do a very particular set of things: avoid people as already mentioned, run errands in the middle of the night when I'm sure no one can see me, and pretend I am enjoying my workout class.

I think it's also worth mentioning that my wardrobe's vibe is generally pretty extra: For every 10 people that live and die by their leggings, there's one person that lives and dies by their hot pink feathered bolero jacket, and that person is me. While most people probably had to fight about getting dressed up with their mom when they were younger, my mom used to ask me to dress down. "Not everything has to be a fashion show," she'd always say (yes, it does).

Buy Now: FP Movement High-Rise Full-Length Flyer Ruffle Legging, $98, Free People

When I finally found a pair of high-waisted leggings that I actually really, really loved and wanted to wear all day—yes, reader, it did happen—I was beside myself. They're Free People Movement's high-waisted flyer ruffler leggings and they are perfect. I mean, they have ruffles! Now this is the type of extra I'm talking about.

Growing up, Free People's ethereal-bohemian-wanderlust-manic-pixie-girl vibe really struck a cord with me. I recently started shopping at Free People again while on the quest for hair accessories (of which, they have many, many good ones) and stumbled across all of their FP Movement pieces on accident.

Buy Now: FP Movement High Rise Full Length Low And Flow Leggings, $88, Free People
Buy Now: FP Movement Cheek To Cheek Flare Pants, $88, Free People
Buy Now: FP Movement Cheek To Cheek Flare Pants, $88, Free People
Buy Now: FP Movement Starlight Pants, $88, Free People
Buy Now: FP Movement Starlight Pants, $88, Free People

The first time I wore the FP Movement high-waisted flyer ruffle leggings, I was going to a Pure Barre class. And they worked out great: They had a snug fit (no sliding down my hips) while also leaving me room to breathe. Plus, the striped waist detail dresses up and goes with any black sports bra (although I paired mine with the FP Movement Flyer Ruffle Crop Top).

When I left the class, I heard someone call my name from a block away. Instead of retreating into a nearby bush, I turned around and waved to a friend I hadn't seen in a while, suggesting we catch up over brunch nearby. And then, I couldn't help but wonder, had I become the kind of person who wore leggings to brunch? Maybe—but only because they have ruffles.

Shop the magical pair of high-waisted leggings and 14 other similar ones below—including some very fun tie-dye options.

Tara Gonzalez is the commerce editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @tarigonzalez.

Originally Appeared on Glamour