Update Your Athleisure Game with Flared Leggings (aka Yoga Pants) & 5 Ways to Wear Them

Their back! I don’t know about you, but I have been waiting for the return of flared leggings (aka yoga pants) since my old Lululemon version crapped out several years back. And baby! They are back. Flared leggings are the perfect alternative to your traditional skinny leggings. Consider it the only good thing to come out of Gen Z declaring the skinny jean dead.

For the last two years, we have been living in leggings. So it is no surprise that the yoga pant silhouette has returned. Flared leggings offer the comfort of leggings with a slightly bootcut leg. The style was the backbone of the athleisure trend rise in the early 2000s. Lululemon brought them back late last year and can’t keep them in stock.

Now all the top athleisure brands have released their version of the classic yoga pant. For this article, I ordered two pairs of flared leggings:

• Alo Yoga Airbrush Low-Rise Bootcut Legging
• Zella Barely Flare in High Waist Leggings.

I am firmly team mid-rise, but alas, these two are the only pairs that offer an inseam long enough for me.  So I ordered both and hoped at least one would work. And to my surprise, both are excellent. So, of course, I decided to keep both. Athleta has a pair that I have ordered to try but I haven’t had much luck with them lately.

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The Alo Yoga Airbrush Low-Rise Bootcut Leggings

The Alo Yoga Leggings come in the brand’s Airbrush fabric which is super soft with 4-way stretch; in other words, crazy comfy! The low-rise sits just below my belly button, which is the most comfortable spot for me. However, it does mean if you plan to wear a cropped top with them, your belly may show when you lift your arms.

The inseam is 33″ on the M& L, perfect for me when barefoot. I prefer a full break in the front when wearing shoes, but tall girls can’t always have everything they want. I usually wear a large in Alo Yoga pieces, but per the size chart, I am a medium. So I tried both, and the medium fit better. One drawback of the Alo Yoga leggings is the logo placed on the leg. It is okay if you plan to wear these casually, but it makes it difficult to dress them up.

Zella Barely Flare in High Waisted Leggings

The Zella Leggings have a wide compression waistband with a rise of 10.5″, which sits above my belly button. The inseam is 33″ like the Alo Leggings. With shoes on, it is easier to see how I would prefer these to be about an inch longer (see picture below). These leggings also boast a 4-way stretch fabric. The fabric feels a bit thicker than the Alo, but the difference is negligible.

The Zella logo is discreetly placed higher on the hip, making it easier to dress up these pants for other outings. The one drawback for me is the higher waistband tends to roll down when I sit. However, the high rise wasn’t a deal-breaker for me, so I kept this pair too.

Lululemon’s flare leggings have an ultra high rise and will not work for me. But I am a huge fan of Lululemon, so fingers crossed they release these pants with a more moderate rise and longer length.

How to Style Boot Cut Leggings

Outfit #1: Boot Cut Leggings + Graphic Tee + Utility Jacket

I don’t want to admit how often I wear these leggings. Some version of this outfit has been my go-to since they arrived. The Mother Graphic Concert Tee is everything I love rolled up into one cool t-shirt. The tee has a fantastic retro vibe with baseball jersey sleeves. The sleeves have star details which you know I am crazy for celestial-themed pieces. I wish the shirt was a smidge longer, but it works with the high-waisted Zella leggings.

A utility jacket is perfect for transitional weather. My jacket is the Military Shirt Jacket by Madewell. I have it in both dried clover (below) and classic black. Another great Madewell option is the Northover Jacket which has a sinch waist. I toss this jacket over a sweater or tee during spring, depending on the weather. It adds just a little extra warmth for those days that are sunny but not yet warm.

Outfit #2: Flared Leggings + Sweatshirt + Puffer Vest

Flared Leggings work with anything you would wear with jeans. Here I added an Anine Bing Sweatshirt and a Free People Dreamers Puffer. Unfortunately, my exact sweatshirt is sold out, but Anine Bing has many great styles. You can also find this exact style on Poshmark. The sweatshirts are made of structured cotton, which is so luxurious. Most styles are slightly oversized.

The puffer is oversized, as many Free People’s items are. I am wearing a medium but could have easily worn a small. I like that this puffer has a hood attached and covers my bum. I wish the pockets were slant pockets, not top pockets, but at only $98, this puffer is a steal.

Outfit #3: Flared Leggings + Elevated Sweatshirt + Puffer Jacket

First, I must tell you I am obsessed with my sweatshirt. It is the Solid Honey Dove Pullover by Free People. I ordered in this green color called Seeing Stars, and soon as I got it, I immediately went back and ordered the black. Because any time I love an item I need it in black.

This sweatshirt is perfectly oversized with no weird long pieces or unreasonable hems that FP often styles into their clothing. The fabric is perfect for any mild temperatures. I wear this in the house during the summer when my iced tea and the AC give me a chill or summer nights on the boat. I have been wearing the heck out of this pullover during our mild winter.

The sweatshirt has thumbholes and a working front pocket. Available in nine fabulous pre-distressed colors. I read all the reviews and was reluctant because some people mentioned holes developing during the wash. I have two of these and have had no problem with washing. They fade a bit over time, but that goes with the distressed styling. It is a great casual piece for any wardrobe. I am seriously considering picking up another color.

Another recent winner from Free People is the Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket. I bought one for my daughter for Xmas and loved it so much I ordered one for myself. It is available in a ton of fabulous colors. The fit is boxy and oversized, which is perfect for layering. It has PrimaSoft insulation for warmth but doesn’t add bulk. Somehow this jacket packs down to a small square making it ideal for travel. You can see a video on how to pack it down via the link above.

Outfit #4: Flared Leggings + White Tank Top + Cropped Jacket

Warmer weather is just around the corner (or so they say), and I cannot wait. A good white tank top is a must-have for summer. I did an exhaustive search for the best non-see-through white tank, and this AMO Ribbed Tank won hands down. I topped it with a cropped utility jacket by Rails (similar).

I added my favorite pair of summer kicks, the Cerchio by M.Gemi. They are grown-up Vans and much more comfortable.

Outfit #5: Flared Leggings + Silk Top + Sandals

Flowy silk tops are perfect for hot weather. Silk is a lightweight natural fabric that allows your skin to breathe. The top I am wearing I picked up at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale several years ago. It is still one of my favorite tops for summer. It packs easily and wears well. Every year they release one similar, so I now have this top in black, cream, and blush.

I must tell you I rejected Birkenstocks outright for years. When they made a comeback recently, I decided I would give them a try. I blame my aging feet. The thing is, they are stupid comfortable. Now I want all the colors. Last year I picked up black & brown and this year I am definitely buying them in white. Mine are the Arizona Big Buckle, and I am wearing a 40. My standard shoe size is between 8.5 & 9.

Leggings are a staple of any casual girl’s wardrobe. But, for a while, our only option was skinny leggings. I am so glad flared leggings (aka yoga pants) are back! Flared leggings are perfect for workouts, travel, and every day. They work with sandals, sneakers, and even flats.

The Alo Yoga and Zella pair of flared leggings have been in heavy rotation in my wardrobe since I received them. I am hoping both companies make them in several different colors. Athleta also has a great yoga pants option: The Elation Flare Pant, available in Petite, Regular and Tall. I just ordered to try them out. I haven’t been happy with Athleta fabrics lately, so I hope these are in their older material. I’ll let you know.