“What does everyone wear on the plane?” a colleague recently asked in the office. Before I had a chance to recommend our best leggings for flight days, she continued: “Don’t say leggings. They’re comfy, but personally I think they’re too casual to wear outside the gym.” Such is the plight of the fashion-forward traveler. How does one balance feeling genuinely comfortable in an economy seat without dressing like they’re about to settle in for the night or got lost on the way to a HIIT class?
Flared leggings might be the answer. While skinny jeans and bodycon dresses have long been banished to the back of the closet, athleisure has only more recently embraced the joys of flowier fabrics. Look now and you’ll see stylish types opting for loose, stretchy flares everywhere from reformer Pilates class to brunch and airport lounges alike.
These newer, breezier cuts range from full-flowing palazzo pants to more sleek, compressive kick flares in fabrics ranging from stretchy spandex to ultra-soft cotton. They’re different enough from regular leggings to shake off any ‘gym gear’ associations, while retaining the stretchy waistbands and breathable fabrics that are a must-have for flight days. That means they’re equal parts versatile and comfortable, and a bit smarter than wearing loungewear out of the house.
Both the US and UK Traveler teams tested 11 of the best pairs of wide-leg leggings from top brands such as Lululemon, Adanola, Tala, and Alo Yoga. We hunted for buttery-soft, relaxed fits that looked flattering and felt comfortable on the move, with waistbands that wouldn’t roll down in a plane seat. The pairs below made the cut.