While new leggings were once a fashion faux pas, they’ve emerged from the 2010s looking surprisingly sleek. The key, experts say, is in pairing them with roomy tops or jackets to counter the skintight feel. That’s how Gigi Hadid styled her skintight leather pair, for example, or the way Saint Laurent paired discreet black ones with a puff-shouldered coat. Even more slouchy styles like the flared leggings we’re seeing — or the crisscross waistband ones that look almost like jazz pants — also help leggings feel more elevated and upscale.

These high-waisted leggings from Girlfriend Collective have a super soft and stretchy fabric that feels supple on the body. A thick waistband prevents them from rolling down during a workout, and a pocket large enough for a phone keeps your essentials close by. Designed to be “squat proof,” multiple testers said they stood up well to high-impact exercise, including plyometric exercises that require jumping and changes of direction. The fabric is also wicking, which makes it especially comfortable during hot sweat sessions.

Elevate Your Workout Style with Women’s Gym Tights: Comfort, Performance, and Fashion”

NASM-certified personal trainer Denajha Phillips says she wears these seamless leggings from Alphalete for her plyometric workouts and recommends them to others. They’re lightweight and breathable, with a stretchy mesh panel that helps keep them in place. The dark color doesn’t show sweat, and the leggings feel great on all body types. They also stand up to repeated washes and showed minimal shrinkage in our Lab evaluations.

These Amazon bestsellers have 35,000 five-star reviews and are dually suited for low-intensity workouts and lounging at home. They’re buttery-soft and incredibly stretchy, with a smooth texture that’s surprisingly opaque in the black shade and offers comforting compression without clinging or feeling too tight. They’re also squat-proof and come in 38 different colors and patterns.