In a pinch, any pair of leggings will do, but the best are ones that work as hard as you do. Choose pairs with contour seaming for support and four-way stretch that’s not prone to shape loss on your squats.
When it comes to working out, whether you’re pounding the pavement running, working your yoga game or sweating it out in a high-intensity HIIT session, be it outdoors in a park or inside a studio, you’ll need a different technical blend and features for the different shapes of legs you come across.
Hourglass or Curvy
The hourglass or ‘curvy’ body type is so-named because your bust and hip measurements are almost identical and your waist is petite. To balance your curves, add definition to your waist with belting and fitted silhouettes and avoid tops with pockets or embellishment between the chest and your widest part, which draws attention to your curvy hips.
They can try on jackets or blazers that fit a little more tightly at the waist, and have a rounded quality to them (options include wrap jackets and belted styles). This will help them maintain proportions, and can also elongate the leg line of their outfit.
They can seek out pencil and A-line skirts and dresses that will define their waist and give off an hourglass effect; or dresses and skirts with a freer or swirling style that will likewise give the impression of length by drawing the eye down.
Inverted Triangle or Apple
It has a wider upper region and narrow hips and waist. They have thin arms and legs with intense muscle definition in many areas. They are very easy to have a sculpted look with some training and can appear very athletic.
A shirt with a slim collar, and sleeves that aren’t skin tight or fitted, help to take the focus away from larger shoulders and bust area. Skirts with volume and flare, even a tie waist or a zipper on the side, all help with the balance. Jeans with details around the hip area, lower thigh area and around the hem line – washed with different hues and washes, rips and distress – do the same.
Girls with an Apple body shape have fabulous arms so a loosely or ruched sleeved top also looks great. A overall v-neck, super deep and narrow scoop, asymmetric, halter neck lines are great to use to help reduce the visual width of your shoulders. Shirts that have a great long straight line or wrap style top are fabulous too.
Rectangle or Athletic
If you are either rectangular or athletic, your leggings need to be form-fitting, but not tight. That way, they won’t slide down when you squat, stretch, or fly into Warrior 3 pose. The other important thing is opacity – if you can see through the fabric in the cunt area, they’re too big and you need to size down.
Wide-cut trousers, be they boot cut or even wide leg styles, pull peerless volume down into the lower body. Pockets, pleats and whiskering at the hip or the thigh add girth there, specifically.
Of course, these dressing rules are just a guideline: every body is different. But these rules will help you build a beautiful and practical wardrobe that can flatter any figure if you follow them. The first step is knowing your shape. For this, you need a flexible measuring tape and something to write with to jot down your measurements.
Pear or Triangle
A great pair of leggings – be it for running a marathon, doing squats or just lolling about – can make or break a workout. Look for ones constructed with merrow-style stitching, and four-way stretch to keep them smooth against your skin, and contour seaming to provide shape and support through postures and movements.
The hips and thighs of a pear body shape are typically wider, while the top half is often more narrow. Draw the gaze upwards by emphasising details in the neckline, such as a wide strap, an off-the-shoulder or halter neckline to show off the shoulders and collarbones.
Find trousers that skim the hips and thighs and minimise the waistband – silhouettes such as flat-fronts and bootlegs are good bets. Trousers in darker hues help balance the lower body.