Outfits With Leggings - Activewear and Casual

Many of us find ourselves wearing more casual clothes these days, especially leggings. I want to share some tips on how to find the right leggings for you and a few outfits with leggings that you can wear for exercise, around the house, or out and about.

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How to choose leggings

There are a few things I take into account when choosing leggings: compression, the rise, how opaque they are, the length, and where the pockets are located (if any). Some of the leggings I’m wearing in the photos below are not my absolute favorite in these categories but they are ok. When it’s time to replace them I will choose more wisely.

Compression

Compression may sound like an uncomfortable thing but if are wearing the correct size, it shouldn’t be. If you have ever noticed how some leggings tend to make your legs look really good and others do not, it may be down to the amount of compression. This also may dictate the size you need to choose for different leggings. With the Spanx faux-leather leggings I’m wearing in some of the photos, I ordered 1 size larger than normal because they are very tight but it also makes them very flattering. Compression holds things in place and keeps them from jiggling, if you are concerned about that.

I also want to mention something here that not many people talk about: don’t wear your leggings for too long, especially if you are sweaty. Wearing tight, constricting clothing or sweaty clothing for too long is not good for your skin and can lead to breakouts. If you don’t believe me just watch this YouTube video from board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Dray. Now that that’s out of the way, we can keep going!

Rise

The rise refers to the measurement from the top of the waistband to the crotch (I’m sorry, there’s just not a better word than that!). This means that the higher the rise, the higher the pants will sit on your waist. High rise typically comes up to your belly button or higher. Mid-rise should hit right above your hip bones and low rise will sit at the lower part of your hips. The higher the rise, the less chance of creating a “muffin top” since the waistband won’t be digging in to what might be a larger part of your body.

If you have trouble with your leggings not staying up, try a pair with a higher rise so they sit at the smallest part of your waist. The measurement will be different for everyone since we all have different bodies. Try different leggings to find the rise that works for you. If you already own a pair of leggings with a rise that you like, just take a fabric tape measure and measure the rise. I also like to do the “squat test”. If you can do a squat without the leggings falling down in the back, then you are good to go. If you have to keep pulling them up, you might want to try a higher rise.

Opacity

A good pair of leggings should NOT be see-through. Opacity refers to how much light can get through the material. The more opaque the material, the less you can see through it. If you can see the color of your underwear or skin through the leggings, then they are not opaque.

Length

Just like pants, leggings come in different lengths, or in-seams. In-seam is the measurement from the crotch to the hem of the pants. An average in-seam for pants and leggings is 28 inches. But since every body is different, the in-seam that you prefer may differ from me or someone else. I prefer leggings that end either right below my calf muscle (about 25-26 inches) or right at my ankle bone (about 28 inches), basically the smallest part of my leg. I do not like capri-length that end in the middle of my calf, effectively cutting off my leg.

Pockets

Pockets, you either love ’em or hate ’em! The placement of pockets, especially on leggings, is a personal preference. Any time there is a pocket or any other embellishment, it will draw the eye. If you want to draw the eye away from your legs/hips, then choose leggings that do not have pockets on the side. Even if you don’t put anything in the pockets, they typically have seams that will make them stand out. On the other hand, pockets are useful so if you like to have a place to store your phone or keys, these side pockets can be handy. You will see that most of my leggings do not have side pockets but some have a small pocket in the waistband that is typically large enough for a key but the pocket is basically invisible.

Now let’s get to the outfits with leggings!

Activewear outfits with leggings

Graphic tank top or t-shirt with leggings and sneakers

Gym outfit with tank top and leggings. Activewear

Activewear outfit with leggings for exercising

Tank top: Old Navy, the text on this one says ‘Stay True Stay You’
Leggings: Under Armour (the color I’m wearing isn’t available anymore but these are similar and these look fun)
Sneakers: Amazon, they are often sold out so these are similar
Fitbit: Amazon, I have the Alta HR but they don’t make that one anymore so the Inspire HR is the newer version

Graphic tank top and leggings for the gym

Tank top: Old Navy, the one in this picture isn’t available anymore but they have tons of of other colors/sayings. The text on this one says ‘Low Squats High Standards’
Leggings: Old Navy
Sneakers: Amazon, they are often sold out so these are similar
Fitbit: Amazon

Read more: Activewear Capsule Wardrobe

Cropped top with leggings

These leggings have pockets on the side, drawing attention to my wider thighs and hips (not that it’s a bad thing!). In an attempt to balance out the busy leggings, I paired them with a plain, cropped top, which draws attention to my waist.