For years, my go-to lounge pant has been a pair of men's sweatpants I inherited from an ex-boyfriend. Then I turned 30 and wanted something a little less frumpy. Why wear hand-me-down pants with bad juju that are so baggy they swallow my shapely lower half? That's not sexy.
Plus, life's too short to not have stylish loungewear. I'm also dating someone new who doesn't need to be reminded of my ex-boyfriend all the time either. So, I decided to say goodbye to my sweatpants and hello to a new pair of fashionable joggers.
Leggings Depot Joggers
These bestselling joggers caught my eye thanks to the 11,000 verified five-star reviews and 4.4-star average rating. They're also currently ranked No. 1 in "Women's Leggings" on Amazon. Although the "Striped Grey" variety I opted for is no longer available, the sheer number of additional color options for you to choose from is almost overwhelming.
There are several styles available, though I chose the classic jogger option since I like the tapered leg design. These also come in a traditional leggings design and a "lounge" style that basically looks like wide-leg yoga pants.
I also chose these joggers because, while I appreciate a great pair of leggings with tummy control, I wanted an elastic waistband with a drawstring.
I also wanted pockets. These have two front pockets deep enough to fit my iPhone XS and my bulging wallet (store loyalty cards and spare change, not cash). Some of the styles even have zippered pockets or hidden stash compartments in the waistband.
I wear mine mostly for lounging around the house, but I've also paired them with a denim jacket for a trip to the store and hiking boots for a walk in the woods. I'm not a runner, but I imagine they'd be great for that as well. The brushed polyester-spandex blend is also definitely soft enough to sleep in.
If you're looking for a dressier fit, you can even pair these with heels for a night out on the town. I can't imagine wearing dress shoes with my old sweatpants — people would be so confused! — but these look surprisingly chic. I could see myself getting some compliments, or at the very least, jealous looks from my friends who have to strategically slide out of Ubers and carefully cross their legs when they sit.
All that said, one of my favorite features of these pants is how easy they are to clean. Unlike my other leggings, I don't stress out about the idea of accidentally tossing these straight from the washing machine and into the dryer with the rest of my clothes. So far, these pants haven't shrunk and unlike other exercise pants I've had, they don't pill.
Basically, these pants are joggers, running pants, dress pants, pajama bottoms and more. But what they're not is just as important to me. They're not my ex-boyfriend's sweatpants. And I don't care if my current beau is the same size as me. I'm not sharing them.
This story was originally published on May 27, 2020.
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