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Spanx is known for making seamless shapewear that helps women to look, and most importantly feel, how they want to in their clothes. But the company's mission of providing smooth, clean, and confident lines to every outfit extends beyond the basic shorts and bodysuits you already know of.
From 1998, when founder Sara Blakely cut the feet off of her pantyhose to create an undergarment that helped her feel confident in cream-colored pants to 2014 when Spanx launched its sculpting denim line, Spanx's products have remained tried and true.
The Insider Reviews team has tested and liked several fan-favorite lines including its bras, tights, denim, and leggings, so we felt it was about time to try its popular Faux Leather Leggings.
Spanx Faux Leather Leggings Check price at Nordstrom Check price at Revolve Check price at Bloomingdale's What they're made of
The Faux Leather Leggings aren't actually made from artificial leather. The body of the leggings is made from 87% nylon and 13% spandex, while the waistband is made from 80% polyester and 20% spandex. They're crafted to appear crackled with a sheen resembling leather itself.
Like all Spanx products, the Faux Leather Leggings come with next-level support that feels like a firm hug, plus its famous Built In™ contoured, slimming waistband. I actually was a little hesitant when I first got my leggings because the waistband seemed too small for me, but boy does that 20% spandex go a long way. The waistband is designed to meet your natural waistline and there is no center seam, so you can say goodbye muffin tops and camel-toes.
What's also great about the Faux Leather Leggings are the wide variety of sizing options. Like all Spanx bottoms, sizes run from XS to 3X. In addition, these leggings also come in both regular and petite sizes for those who find that their vertical stature falls below 5-foot-4.
Here's what we thought about the leggings
I've tried both the basic and the moto version of Spanx's leather leggings, and I think the plain ones win out for me. The moto pair left imprints of all the seams on my legs, which probably could have been lessened with a larger size, but they generally just weren't the most comfy of the two. I really like the plain ones though — they're not too restrictive, but they compress me just enough to feel sleek and supported. I prefer to wear them in the cold weather since they're not quite as breathable as regular leggings, but if your office is cold and you have a relatively casual dress code, you can definitely get away with layering them under a tunic or lightweight sweater at work since they look more like real pants. They definitely don't look like real leather, but they give you the same edgy vibe when styled right. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Reviews senior editor
While I've always liked the physical look and style of leather leggings, they never seemed particularly comfortable or practical. You say leather and I imagine thick and restrictive. Spanx's faux leather leggings were thus a pleasant surprise: stylish, stretchy, and comfortable. They're cool and slick, but most importantly, you can actually move around in them. The high-rise top offered some support but didn't squeeze me too much, and I liked that it was smooth throughout — no annoying center seam. — Connie Chen, Insider Reviews senior reporter
I have to admit, my daytime look is pretty effortless (as in I don't put a lot of effort in), but I like to err on the side of edgy when putting together a nighttime look. Mind you I'm not very edgy at all, but these leggings make adding a bit of edge effortless. The Faux Leather Leggings hugged every curve on my body and not in an unflattering way. They accentuated everything that I like about my hips and helped smooth out all the parts that I don't like as much. The only thing I didn't like was the waistband. While it fit just fine, it was a bit too tight for me and rolled a little when I sat down. My waist is actually a size smaller than my hips and thighs, so I was surprised that my concerns were in the waistband and not the thighs. I would consider sizing up if this bothers you. — Francesca Rea, Insider Review senior content producer
The bottom line
Like all other Spanx products we've tried, the Faux Leather Leggings did not disappoint. They're a fashionable alternative to classic leather pants, but fit and feel exactly like leggings — plus they have some real sculpting power. For $98 to $102, these leggings will make you comfortable and maybe even a little extra confident — two feelings you can't put a price on.
Check price at Nordstrom Check price at Revolve Check price at Bloomingdale's
Francesca Rea Manager, Story Production Francesca Rea is the Story Production Manager for Insider Reviews, Insider's e-commerce team. She graduated from SUNY Oneonta with a degree in geology, and worked in that field for two years before starting her digital media career at BuzzFeed in 2018. When she is not working behind the scenes, Francesca likes to write about life hacks, how to pamper our pets, innovative products, and companies who pave the way for a sustainable marketplace. Regardless, she enjoys exploring all products if it will benefit the masses. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
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