Let’s talk about my most worn wardrobe staple, shall we?

Leggings.

I live in them, love them and am veeeery particular about how the fit my tummy, butt and thighs. What can I say, I know what I like and what I like is a pair of stretchy pants that do roll down and let my post baby belly pop out in public.

I’ve learned over the years that it doesn’t matter what the price point might be or if the brand is crazy trendy, if I find a pair that works for me, I buy them in bulk. At this point in life, I feel like I’ve tried on one million pairs of black leggings (and own a solid 20 pairs or so) and have been surprised with which pairs I swear by and which pairs I really didn’t care for (sorry, Lululemon Wonder Unders, you’re out). Below are my three favorite pairs of black leggings, ranked in order from most expensive to least pricey – and wait until you see where the last pair is from! 


My stats:
I’m 5’9″, a Large in all leggings, size 10/30 in bottoms

Zella Live In High Waist Leggings
$54, wearing size large
| jacket | top | leggings | sneakers | necklace | bracelets | sunglasses |

Whoa, baby. I picked up a pair of the Zella High Waist leggings right after Georgia was born and I haven’t looked back since. The rise is very high – well over my belly button – and the material is thick and soft. I feel pulled in, my belly never pushes down the waist band and you absolutely cannot see any bumps or lumps. 

As a side note, I do have Zella leggings in the moto style and while the listing does say the are “high waisted”, they definitely do not come as high on the belly as the Live In (and does require me to hike them up while wearing them). If you are shopping the Zella brand, look at the listing images and make sure you cannot see the model’s belly button – that’s how you’ll be sure to snag the rise I love. 
Old Navy High Rise 7/8 Compression Leggings 
$34.99 Wearing Size L
 | top | leggings | sneakers |

I love Old Navy compression leggings in any style but the 7/8 are my favorites. The 7/8 refers to the length – you can see they hit just above my ankle – and the style comes in many patterns and colors. The rise is high and hits right at my belly button, the material is on the thicker side and holds it all in. As a bonus, they almost always go on sale, so keep an eye out for a better price! 


I haven’t tried this pair yet, but they are on my list for Spring, because how cute is that hem detail??

90 Degree By Reflex High Waist Cotton Power Flex Leggings – Tummy Control
$19.99, wearing size L
| top | vest | leggings | sneakers | bag
And, much to my surprise, my favorite leggings ever, straight from Amazon, delivered Prime, and under $20, are the Power Flex Leggings by 90 Degree. I found this amazing pair thanks to a BuzzFeed article and haven’t looked back since. The material is thick and soft, the rise is very high (over my belly button), there is a tiny pocket in the waist band and the length is perfect for a tall girl like me. 
For $19, I’m going back for a second pair and if I had known how much I would love them, I would have bought the bundle listing! I was concerned that they would be cheaply made and wouldn’t wash well but I’ve worn these with an oversized sweater and booties all winter with great results! I put my leggings to the test and these will not disappoint! 
If you have a rec for the perfect pair of leggings, let me know in the comments and I’ll give them a go! 
Photography by Courtney Malone Photography