Kelly Meharg goes on a quest to find the best leggings in NZ – can she find the perfect pair?
When it comes to the best leggings in NZ, you have *SO* many choices. What brand? What cut? For how much?
As someone who works from home most of the time, plays a bit of sport and is firmly sticking to her mid-30’s fashion ride-or-dies, I live in leggings (or bike shorts) for a good chunk of the year.
If you’re in the same boat as me, you’ll know the power of the perfect legging – the ones that do. not. move. The ones that magically hold everything where it’s supposed to be, that make your butt look fantastic, the ones that come out of the wash the same as when they went in.
So here, I’ve highlighted a few options I can wholeheartedly recommended if you’re looking for NZ’s best leggings, for all scenarios.
And if you have a contender to add, email us at hello@capsulenz.com and we’ll road test them ourselves!
Best for the gym/ Pilates/ Hot Girl walks
Lorna Jane Amy No Chafe Phone Pocket Ankle Biter Leggings, $115
I mean when I see ‘no chafe’ in the name of anything I’m in, but I can personally attest to the magical brilliance of these leggings. They are soft and buttery, but they do not fall down, or move, or even dare get in your way when you’ve finally mustered the motivation to get moving. They’re flattering and fabulous and yes $115 is a whack of money, but the LJ’s last and last. I have to admit, they’re my personal favourites!
Best for when you want to LOOK like you’ve been to the gym but, you know, you don’t gym
I.A Origin (Formerly HINE Collective) Staple W/ Pocket 7/8 Legging Black, $100
It’s actually wild how much I love leggings and how much I avoid going to the gym, but us millennials know that the magic of how a good legging can make you feel like you have your shit together and you could get to the gym, and these babies – whether they see an actual treadmill or not – tick the bill no matter where you’re wearing them. They’re squat-proof, seamless, have heaps of pockets and are from a Kiwi brand. Winning on all fronts. HINE have rebranded to become an all-gender inclusive label, and their leggings were known to be epic for all shapes and sizes – long may this continue (they go up to a 10XL!).
Best for everyday and at home
Boody Base Layer Full Leggings $36.95
If you want your leggings to feel like a second skin, or like you could forget you’re wearing them, then these babies are for you. Made with bamboo, nylon and a little elastane, these Boody leggings are so, so comfortable and are the perfect start to a WFH look. They’re not as compression-y as others, so if you’re looking for feel over hold, these are a great option, and they’re still lovely to pair with an oversized top for casual comfort. Boody are actually amazing in this department with all of their range, especially their loungewear. I have several dresses in their bamboo jersey fabric that hold up INCREDIBLY in the wash, and I have my eye on their vegan silk shirts, too!
Best for defiantly wearing as pants outside the home
Lululemon Groove High-Rise Flared Pant with Pockets, $165
For $165 you’d expect your leggings to pull double duty as both pants AND leggings, and these most definitely fit the bill. And yes, we know it’s no longer ‘cool’, whatever that means, to wear leggings as pants but as we have said repeatedly, we don’t give an F. Designed for yoga and ‘casual’ according to Lululemon, these would work as the perfect base for an everyday outfit, a Sunday morning brunch fit, a supermarket run or a family lunch. Flared leggings are fab if you’re balancing out a pear shape – they hug the bod from waist to knee, and flare from the knee to the hem. And of course we’ve picked the version that has pockets because, you know, pockets. I lived in mine last winter, and I have my eye on a chocolate brown pair this season!
Best for more intrepid adventures
Kathmandu Women’s Seeker 7/8 Leggings, $64.99-$129.98
Made specifically for hiking, mountain biking and other high intensity outdoor pursuits, these are the workhorse of your wardrobe, designed for whatever the outdoors throws at you. The recycled fabric is moisture-wicking and has four-way stretch, the waistband features a zip pocket and key loop and no transparency, these are leggings that are a great choice for the active gals who want to keep everything snatched and controlled on their next adventure. I’ve worn a pair of these on a few hikes (to be completely transparent my version of a hike is minimal hills and maximum views, preferably ending with a beverage somewhere) and they were fantastic – no movement, no uncomfy wedgies, just support.
Best for your wallet
The Warehouse Active Intent Women’s Side Pocket 7/8 Leggings, $35
We’ve written about these wonder leggings before and we stand by our statement – these babies from The Warehouse offer the best value. They’re a great all-round choice that look awesome, fit brilliantly and perform impressively considering their low price point.