Your Ultimate Guide to Yoga Pants and Leggings

It is no surprise that yoga pants and leggings are frequently used interchangeably when talking about workout clothes. However, despite their similarities, they are two different types of clothing. It is important to learn the difference, as finding the perfect fit in sportswear is vital for your comfort when working out.

Read more on the ultimate guide to yoga pants and leggings to find your perfect match.

Yoga Pants vs Leggings: What's the Difference?

Yoga pants and leggings may look similar and are often used conversely, but you don’t have to wait until you do the downward dog pose in leggings or wear yoga pants underneath your dress to realise their differences.

Yoga pants and leggings share various similarities, but the differences below distinguish them.

Material Thickness

Both are made with stretchable materials, but if you inspect them closely, one is much thicker than the other. Yoga pants are made with a thicker material as compared to leggings. 

While both use fabrics like cotton, polyester, wool, and spandex, yoga pants are made with a thicker variation of those fabrics. Leggings are lighter in comparison, which is ideal for leisurewear.

Fabric Opacity

The thicker the fabric, the more opaque it is. Higher opacity prevents the fabric from stretching thinly over your body to avoid showing skin. As yoga pants are thicker in fabric, they are naturally more opaque than leggings, which are mainly skin-tight or body-hugging. 

A common descriptor of yoga pants is that it is made with a four-way stretch material. It means that no matter how much you stretch the pants, the fabric will return to its original shape and size, remaining opaque.

While leggings have opaque options, yoga pants are consistently opaque, no matter the fabric used.

Design Structure

Yoga pants come in various designs and styles, including flare, capris, and straight cut. This mainly sets them apart from leggings as they are usually skin-tight and body-hugging. 

Leggings also come in various designs but vary in length. They can be full-length, cropped, and knee-length, but they are always body-hugging.

However, they share a similar design structure as both feature a wide waistband.

Style Versatility

In comparison to yoga pants, leggings are more versatile. With leggings, you can work out in them, wear them out to the mall, and even wear them under your clothing for warmth. Depending on the material, you can also wear leggings as everyday pants.

You can also wear yoga pants out in the streets, but it is not suitable to be worn underneath other layers of clothing because of its thicker material.

Intended Use

Reflecting its name, yoga pants are made for fitness, so they are thicker in fabric and come in various styles and designs. Conversely, leggings are mainly used for fashion as a base layer of clothing to provide warmth. For example, you can pair a short dress with leggings underneath.

Can You Wear Yoga Pants as Leggings?

Although yoga pants and leggings are often used interchangeably, you can’t wear yoga pants as leggings at the end of the day. Yoga pants are made with a substantial purpose to be used during workouts or other fitness activities, while leggings are there to provide warmth as a base layer of clothing.

On the other hand, you can wear leggings as yoga pants, as there are even flared leggings designed to look like yoga pants. With the rising popularity of athleisure wear, there are leggings designed for activewear. While they may not be as thick as yoga pants, activewear leggings allow better airflow to prevent your body from overheating.

Other than that, activewear leggings are also lighter, making them a perfect choice for when you want to work out with good support but still want to feel comfortable.

Where to get leggings in Malaysia?

Leggings have now evolved not just to be a fashion accessory but also as an activewear. Especially in Malaysia, where it’s hot all year round, leggings are a better option for activewear.

Look no further and discover a wide range of sport bottoms like leggings in Malaysia at Pierre Cardin Lingerie’s online store. You can trust them for high-quality gym apparel that will give you your desired sporty chic look with not only leggings but also sports bras, sports tops, and more. 

Pierre Cardin’s leggings come in different sizes, styles, and colours to ensure you don’t sacrifice comfort for style. Visit Pierre Cardin Lingerie’s online store now and work out comfortably and dress well with their range of leggings. Contact us now!