"As the resident stylist of my group chat, a list of comfortable pant recommendations lives at the top of my requests. After years of rocking our PJs at home, post-pandemic life created a web of style confusion that I’m not sure any of us really knows how to undo. Unless, of course, you’re me: someone who literally gets paid to answer the question, “But, what will I wear?” With so much of our lives spent running from one activity to another, a pair of comfortable pants is a wardrobe necessity. But if you’re feeling stumped on your off-day uniform, are there really any seamless alternatives to leggings? The answer is yes.
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If you’re anything like me, your days are jam-packed with events that are consistently at odds. I have to be ready to work from home and pop out of the house at any given moment, and lately, I’ve been feeling like leggings aren’t the answer to my comfortable outfit needs. Instead, I’ve found other non-restrictive bottoms that work for everything from another day at the office (my apartment) to a slow Saturday morning when I’m on my way to pick up a second coffee.
These are the six alternatives to leggings I can’t live without.
1. Track Pants
I didn’t grow up wanting to be a track star—actually, I’d usually find some excuse to sit out of the timed mile in gym class. So forgive me for the weaponized words—I believe the term was “ugly”—that I once used against the track team’s warm-up uniform. What I said all those years ago was entirely wrong.
As it stands today, I swap the sneakers I’d ordinarily pair with track pants for my go-to ballet flats and ditch the matching nylon jacket for an oversized blazer. The only running you’ll be doing is a brisk jog towards a surcharge of compliments.
2. Relaxed Trousers
To those of you who thought that trousers were best reserved for the workplace, think again. In the aforementioned web of post-pandemic style confusion, we’ve fortunately married our workwear and weekend wardrobes to create a year-round collection that works for all occasions. So while you may be tempted to pair your trousers with a matching blazer, opt for something a bit more relaxed, like a crewneck tee or cashmere sweater. You’ll feel just as comfortable, but look 10 times more put-together.
3. Satin Pants
While I’m wholly convinced that these are just pajama pants re-marketed as “silk pants,” I’m not above the gaslit PR strategy if it justifies wearing your PJs in public. The best part? When it comes to styling, nothing is off-limits. From your daytime slippers to your nighttime stilettos, a silk pant will be with you every step of the way.
4. Tailored Sweatpants
I understand saying “sweats” are a swap for leggings sounds like a downgrade on paper, but hear me out: In recent months, I’ve acquired a couple of “tailored” sweatpants that have me totally rethinking my rule against wearing sweats out of the house. They marry the fit of your favorite trousers with the comfort of your favorite pajama bottoms—win, win. Rather than styling them with a coordinating sweatshirt, I pair mine with a crewneck tee and a cardigan instead. I promise you, no one will clock that you’re wearing sweats.
5. Cargo Pants
In high school, I feared that the prerequisite to wearing cargos was the requirement to fill your pockets with aimless trinkets. I took one look at one classmate’s crammed pockets—full of what? God only knows—and vowed that it would never be me. Fast forward 13 years, and I’ve evidently broken my vow over a complete and unexpected purchase: a pair of cargo pants. Even more surprising? I’ve worn them on repeat since I got them, to the point that someone on my Instagram commented, “This is your third video in a row wearing these pants.” (No, I didn’t need her to get that specific.)
6. Baggy Jeans
When I recently exposed myself for wearing jeans at home, what I really meant is that I exclusively wear baggy jeans. The difference between slipping into a pair of oversized jeans and wriggling my way into a pair of leggings (for which there is no slipping into) is night and day. Therefore, I’ve found my everyday denim to actually be a more comfortable options than my leggings. With a few accessories, your basic, at-home look can transition into a compliment-worthy, out-of-the-house ensemble.
Tinsley Crisp, Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer
Tinsley Crisp is a Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer at The Everygirl and specializes in reporting on the season’s latest trends and hottest products. As a New York City-based stylist, she’s committed to injecting joy into the art of getting dressed and delivering attainable yet aspirational content to our readers.