Yoga pants ruined me…at least for now

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Styles go in and out and my idea of comfort does too. I don’t like snug, pinching or pants up my butt.

Twenty years ago I thought an elastic waist would be comfortable. It was but it puffed out and gave the appearance of an umbrella coming out of my stomach. I trashed that style.

I kept my eye out because stretch is good. I was still wearing jeans and pants with fly zippers and snaps. Bending over made it cut or pinch. All that fabric at my waist was bulky and sometimes annoying. I wore larger pants to go out for dinner (burp!).

Manufacturers started to incorporate stretch in jeans. All good but still lots of fabric at my waist. They needed to do away with the zipper. (I won’t even go into when they lowered the waist to just above the pubic hair line and included a two inch zipper. Yikes. That was the pits!)

Then came the big yoga movement. The clothing went mainstream. Women wore it for everything. Women who didn’t do yoga (and had no intention of ever doing yoga) had a closet full of yoga pants.

I didn’t like the concept of “compression.” That means snug. Girdle tight. Nope, not me. Those manufacturers aren’t dumb. There are a lot of women like me. They like the easy fit waist with a close (but not tight) fit. (Oh yes, they priced them out of this world. Cha-ching, cha-ching!)

I was willing to pay if it was truly comfortable. Something multi-functional. I could wear it to do just about anything. Dress it up. Dress it down. Wear to dinner! I tried them. Winner, winner!

My jeans wardrobe didn’t go away. I have stretch jeans I love (with zippers) but I especially love my active clothes. (That’s what they call them now.) In the hot summer they are cooler. The fit is easier. The only problem was that you could only get them in black.

That’s changed too. Now you can get in many colors or multi-colored.

Yesterday I did some heavy duty cleaning. I had old jean shorts on. I couldn’t wait to take them off and go back to my “active” pants.

I’ve worn some crazy stuff over the years. Bell bottoms that sat under my belly and were so wide I could sweep the streets. Jeans that you lay down to zip up. Stovepipe pant legs that look like elephant legs. All gone by the wayside along with the football shoulder pads.

The pants I bought this spring are called hiking pants/crops/capris. Very thin and cool with a stretchy waist but the fabric doesn’t stretch. It doesn’t matter because they drape well. It’s like wearing nothing. Love them. Perfect for a hot day but not for cold weather. I could do yoga in them. Hmmm…have yoga pants gone out?

91 thoughts on “Yoga pants ruined me…at least for now”

  1. Yoga pants are honestly a total gamble for me…
    They can be sweaty and uncomfortable one day, then perfect the next. This is why after I go on a shopping spree, I make sure I try cloths at least 4 times before even thinking abut buying it! XD

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  2. I hear ya. Pants are a perennial problem. Jeans were never comfortable, but in those low-waisted years, it was a nightmare. Especially in Austria where new styles are offered exclusively – you can’t find anything else until the fad passes. I’m not sure what yoga pants are – they just look like shorter leggings – but I’m going to try them.

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    • During the low zipper years, there were no alternatives except full on granny pants that ballooned at the waist. Yoga pants are short leggings with varying degrees of tightness. The ones I have are not at all tight but are close fitting and stretchy.

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  3. I will have to check those out! I too am on the lookout for comfortable yet not too hideous pants. I’ve mostly gone to skirts, because they are mostly pretty darn comfy (I don’t wear pencil skirts or anything restricting), but sometimes you just need pants!

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  4. The older I get, the more I crave comfort – sweats are my go-to from Fall through Spring (especially a chilly Spring like this year) and since I’ve been working from home, I’ve not worn anything with zippers or a regular waistband in almost 10 years – yikes. Sometimes I wear PJs in the Winter (polar fleece and cozy) during the day – I don’t get surprise visitors. I’ve had all those types of jeans as you through the years – sweep the street … yup, we could do that with the elephant bells and a wide leather belt to cinch them – unbelievable!

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    • I’ve been at comfort point for several years too yet every year there are a few that aren’t as comfortable as they used to be. I have jeans and like them especially in the winter but I prefer stretchy waists best. Never was much of a belt person. I found them uncomfortable.

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      • My wardrobe more and more is made for comfort – I am in my PJs now as I anticipate shutting off the A/C as soon as this next severe storm arrives late afternoon/early evening and I want to be cool and comfy. 🙂 I am glad we stopped those hiphuggers and elephant bells … they really weren’t a good look at all.

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          • Thanks Kate – I got off here just in time. I understand from radio reports that four cities were hit hard, Lincoln Park was one of them. People in the neighborhood are different grids so they lost power on the next block – I’ve been there too, the other side of the street had “juice” – we had none. Right now 375,000 outages, a half million for all of Michigan and I feel for those people. I’m staying in today – the grocery store where I shop/walk had a power outage …good thing I don’t need any refrigerated food right now. I chitchat with the clerks and last time we had a lengthy outage, she told me they have a generator that powers a huge walk-in, but the walk in does not accommodate all food. Yikes … I’ve been trying not to load too much food in during Summer that could go bad. Hope you did not get severe weather in PA.

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  6. I have so many unwearable pants. They seem like a good idea when you try them on. But when you wear them all day, you discover just why they are NOT.
    The worst for me are the tight stretch jeans that stretch out and then you are hiking up your pants all day. Which is NOT an attractive look. 😜
    What happened to belts? Suddenly women’s belts are gone. I just want one of those stretchy ones that won’t poke into my belly when I sit down.
    Sorry. You hit a huge pet peeve in my life. 😫

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    • I hear you on the unwearable pants. I have a beautiful pair of print jeans. Muted colors. Love them except when I wear them. After the last time I wore them, they ended up in the donate pile even though they aren’t all that old. All of it is why I moved to active wear. The good ones don’t bag and are soft enough that they don’t poke. I have a beautiful pair of slim jeans. I look like a million bucks in them but eating is out the question and sitting for long periods isn’t fun either. I never wore belts preferring to wear a top that covers the waist. (I’m short waisted and it looks better.) Finding that perfect fit is wonderful!

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  9. I’ve never found yoga pants that are comfortable for me. Also, I worry about areas that shouldn’t be seen through tight material 😜. Is there one you recommend for the yoga pants and the capris/crops you mentioned? A link maybe?

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  10. I love my Eddie Bauer travex or travel pants for traveling and everyday wear …. but being a yoga teacher I’ve found just the right hug, stretch and release to get me through a class from Athleta online.
    It’s all about finding what’s right for each or us and our bodies… and whatever we hope to do with them 😉

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    • You are the second one to suggest Eddie. Since the store closed locally I don’t think of looking on-line there. We have an Athleta store locally and I like some of their products. I have quite a few of their metro series although the fabric is warm for the hot weather we have now. We also have a Lululemon but I haven’t been very successful there. It’s a lot like jeans. It takes some tries to find the right fit and then you should buy a case because they will be discontinued! 🙂 Thanks for commenting! You are someone that I know does yoga!

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  11. I love the Lululemon On the Fly 7/8 pant. They are pricey, but they are comfortable and last forever. They also look a bit more polished and are good for travel.

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  14. I liked my crop trousers, but sadly they fell apart after one tumble dry too many when we were on the boat. In fact a lot of our clothes went that was as we couldn’t put up a washing line. Now I am usually in (men’s) joggers but have my jeans (bootleg, so not quite flares, but pretty close) and a pair of cotton mix trousers with an elasticated waist and tie that doesn’t actually make any difference. They also have shallow pockets, so no good for carrying my phone and even poo bags are iffy. On the look out for another pair of crops though as they were comfy and ideal for weigh in. The cotton ones and a tee are my ‘kit’ for Mondays at the moment.

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  15. Yoga pants are my uniform…well I think they are yoga pants because I can bend over in them. I have mostly black to match my Big Foot shoes..but some colors like grey and sand and raisin brown. The inventor of stretchy pants deserves a medal.

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  17. While I realize comfort is the big draw to yoga pants, far too many people wear them (at least in my ‘hood) who shouldn’t. I like linen blend capris for the summer even if they always look like they need to be ironed 87 times a day. That wrinkly look used to bother me, but then I realized linen looks like that on everyone-breezy cool yet comfortable. ☺️

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  18. I have worn much of that “crazy stuff” you mentioned too. Now it is mostly jeans but I do have one pair of leggings that look decent (with a tunic top!) and are comfortable. My mother never wore pants either. I hadn’t thought of yoga pants since I don’t do yoga. Cheers!

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  19. I’m a jeans girl – have been since the 60s. Years ago I visited a Levi’s outlet and told them what I liked in jeans and I never realized they have like 50 styles (slight exaggeration) but they knew precisely the right jeans for me – even knew my size without asking. I’m a believer. They are stretchy, non-elastic waist but it fits just right, and close-fitting but not tight. I don’t wear capris because I have an extremely ugly and huge melanoma surgery scar on my calf. Lightweight cotton “pull-on” pants are GREAT and I wear those to the gym or on walks. The nice thing is we ladies have options – lots of them – it’s just finding what works for us!

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  20. I have a terrible time trying to find jeans that work for me. I was happy when they put the stretch in them but those two inch zippers were definitely not for me. I’ve been enjoying leggings with long tops. I don’t mind an elastic waist. Once I lose a few (20) more pounds maybe I’ll try some jeans again. I know men don’t usually have this problem. Not fair.

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  21. I currently wear the yoga pants but only around my house and with a longer top to cover my hips and rear. It is super comfortable. I have been known to run to Walmart or Target in this outfit, but I would never wear it anywhere else! I also love comfortable and casual dresses in this heat as they (to me) are much cooler than pants. I will definitely be checking your link for comfortable fitting pants to wear outside my home. (too bad you can’t earn a commission on your recommendation!)

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    • Dresses are the best. My mother always wore dresses. It was rare to see her in pants. Part of her generation. She always said they were more comfortable and much cooler. No commission here. There are looser fitting yoga pants. The metro line at Athleta isn’t the traditional skin tight pants. I have several of them. I wear them for dress with a top to cover the waist.

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  22. You know I am a fan of Athleta, but not compression or tights… I’m with you on what’s to like from there. I will be checking out your link. No yoga or hiking going on for me but I am using the ding dang treadmill! I’m not even sure how much active is going on in the active wear right now 🙂

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  23. I’m all for elastic waistbands. Not much for yoga but love the pants in all seasons though for summer I have some cotton pants that are more loose fitting and super comfy. That super comfy thing was not important in my younger days but now it is of utmost importance.

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  25. You’ve just described my closet – all active wear. Light, quick dry, breathable, movable fabric.
    I have 3 pairs of the hiking pant you described – 2 long, 1 capri. I LOVE them. They are new to me too and I highly recommend them to anyone.

    I’ve also made another discovery this summer that’s a new favourite – the golf dress. Golf skirts have usually had a built-in pair of shorts that I’ve never found particularly comfortable and the skirts were much too short to wear off the golf course (for me anyway).
    I bought 2 golf dresses this year that are a modest length that I can wear off the course and come with a separate very lightweight modesty short of a decent length. They are my new favourite thing to wear when I’m going out and want to look a little more polished. They are SO MUCH cooler than any pant will ever be.

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  27. I do love yoga pants, moreso in the winter. I’ve even been caught doing ACTUAL YOGA in them. (I know, weird right?)
    Lately I’ve fallen in love with Eddie Bauer. Well, his clothing that is – they work great for summer. The travel line: Horizon or Travex I believe they are called. I own 2 pair of the pants (that can roll up to capri length) and 2 pair of the skorts. And 1 pair of shorts. That’s all. For now…

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    • We used to have a local Eddie Bauer store but it closed. We had a very active Lands End but that downsized to nothing I want. We still have LL Bean, Athleta (which I like a lot) and Lululemon locally. My winter yoga pants are from Athleta. They are expensive but they wear forever for me. I have a lot of Bean clothes because I like their stuff. They have fleece lined pants that pass for dress. For me that’s nirvana in the winter. My summer hiking pants are Bean. I have to check out Eddie. Been a long time since I visited his on-line clothing.

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  28. I wear yoga pants 90% of the time and have yet to do yoga in them! I must find some of those hiking/crops/capris in the fabric you mentioned. Have you got a link?
    And those jeans with the 2-inch zipper! Why did they bother with the zipper? One of the worse designs ever! ~Elle

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  29. I don’t prefer elastic waists in my pants. I know I’m peculiar like that. [It has to do with surgery scars on my stomach that become irritated when surrounded all day by something stretchy.] That being said I do have a few pairs of yoga pants, but I don’t wear them often. Jeans with a little stretch in the fabric work better for me.

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    • I can understand that. I’m fussy about my stretchy waist. I don’t like it to puff out or be tight. Nor do I like the ones that you have to use a string to cinch in. I have stretch jeans which I wear a lot in the winter (they are heavy) and like them.

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  30. I own 3 pairs of jeans, all with elastic waists. I own 3 pairs of capri pants, all with elastic waists. I bought some stretchy shorts in bulk (black and navy blue) when I thought I would make use of my membership at the Y. Now they are what I live in during the summer, capris if I care about how I look in public! I’m not ready for the cold, but I AM ready to go back to living in sweat pants!

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