Tag: nordstrom

Readers, I have a confession. I have a pretty big butt.

Not only do a have a large derriere, but also rather thick thighs, and hefty calves. As the cherry on top of my leg pie, I also have a lot of anxiety that surfaces around tight clothing. It’s similar to claustrophobia; a fear that I will not be able to get a pair of pants off.

For these reasons, among many others, leggings have been an elusive beast. I need my leggings to be thick. I need them to stay in place through either a lot of sitting or a lot of movement. I need them to fit comfortably over all of my bottom half. I need them to not dig into my stomach. I need them to be tight enough to look cute, but loose enough that I don’t feel trapped. I need them to be loving partners for adventures but also cozy enough for the couch. This is asking a lot of any article of clothing, and yet it’s what I ask of leggings.

I finally grew fed up one day with my search. I’d found a few pairs that weren’t quite right. One pair was loose, but thin, and continually slid down. Another pair was thin cotton – stretchy, and comfortable, but soon holes wore into the thigh region. Finally, one day, I asked my friend who is a yoga teacher (and always clad in beautiful leggings like the goddess she is) for a good, affordable pair of leggings.

“Zella is a good, mid-range brand that I’ve found success with” she told me, nonchalantly sipping on health tea, and probably glowing.

Turns out that not only are Zella leggings amazing – they fit ALL of the qualifications – they honestly don’t break the bank. For those of you functioning on mid-grade funds, you can buy a pair for $60. For those of you, like me, who needed something cheaper, Nordstrom frequently has them on sale in various different lengths and styles. I got both of my pairs for half off – $60 for two!

I purchased the Zella High Waist Live In Leggings – one pair regular length, and one pair cropped. AND LIVE IN THEM I DO.

My Zella leggings are a go to for:

• travel
• adventures
• when I’m sick
• when I’m on my period
• when I don’t want to wear any clothes at all

They are thick enough that I’ve even ventured to wear them as pants a few times (which is not in my comfort zone) and they are warm and comfortable. Add a pair of tall socks, and they’ve gotten me through rain and snow and generally-just-cold weather. Wear them with flats, and they are cute for transitional seasons.

— THE PROS —

There are a few key reasons that the Zella leggings work really well:

• Thick fabric that’s stretchy in all the places: they don’t feel too tight, but they definitely aren’t see through even when I’m bent over
• Good elastic so they stay put: I have run through airports at horrible hours of the morning without these being even the slightest problem. I’ve climbed all over rocks and beaches without them moving.
• The high waist band doesn’t fold over: while I’m sitting down, even after long hours in the car or at my desk, the band doesn’t fold over or dig into my stomach. I chose the high-waisted fit because that’s my preference – I can’t speak to the regular waist, but I assume it’s a similar deal.
• They aren’t cheap, but they aren’t LuLuLemon expensive either: I like that I can get in at ground level without breaking the bank. I check pretty consistently, and Nordstrom runs sales on them often (though not in every size or style at a time).
• They are minimalist in style: they ride that line between casual, sporty, and fashionable without sacrificing style or comfort. I find they work just as nicely with a velvet dress as they do with a sweater.
• They are high quality: I’ve worn these leggings a lot, and definitely run them through several tests that have ruined lower quality leggings in the past. They’ve been through the washer, through the dryer, and through a thorough soaking of salt water. After two years of near constant wear I have no fraying or thin spots, no loss of elasticity, no change in color, and no degradation of softness.

— THE CONS —

There are a few downsides to these leggings (minimal but present) and they may not work for everyone.

• The fabric tends to bunch at the knees, rather than pooling at the ankles all cute like. While I personally don’t find this an issue, it will likely bother others out there.
• Affordable in fashion rarely means everyone can afford it: if you’re really tight on cash, these might not be very affordable for you. I have found some decent pairs on Amazon that run at the sale price for these leggings and would be a good working solution for a tighter budget. 90 Degree leggings have been my best find so far – varying from $15-$30 rather than $30-$60.
• I haven’t found them in a bunch of cute patterns, and the cuts and styles all seem to be about the same: for someone looking for a lot of variation, or really fun prints, they likely won’t find that in the Zella leggings.

Overall, if you’re looking for a pair of quality leggings that won’t cost an arm and a leg, and will function as a comfortable basic in everyday wear look no further than Zella leggings.

Have any concerns or questions I didn’t address above? Found a better/comparable brand of leggings you think deserve a shout out? Feel free to comment below!