I’ll start with the sizing. Most reviewers on both the Nordstrom and Spanx websites say they find the Spanx faux-leather leggings ran small, which I agree with. However, three of the four other PureWow editors I polled said they felt their usual size fit great. “I’d say they fit true to size,” notes Commerce Editor Olivia Dubyak, “but because they have built-in sculpting, they feel much tighter than regular leggings.” This could be why so many people, myself included, prefer to go up one size from their usual. I don’t love clothing that fits super tight to the body, especially around my stomach, so between the medium and the large I greatly preferred the large. Katie Maguire, Director of Talent Relations, agreed with my assessment that these leggings run small. “They are incredibly constricting,” she notes, “and almost too high waisted.” Associate Editor of Sales and Deals Destinee Scott adds, “I definitely had to get used to the way they hugged my body in certain areas, like my stomach and bum.”
That said, Spanx faux-leather leggings come in three inseam lengths—petite (28 inches), regular (30 inches) and tall (32 inches)—all of which come in the full size range of XS to 3X. I’d originally assumed, at 5’9” with long legs, that I’d need the tall length, but the regular did indeed cover my ankles and hit a spot low enough that I’d feel comfortable wearing them with sneakers or flats rather than boots. Two petite editors, Scott and Assistant Commerce Editor Natalie LaBarbera, who stand 4’11” and 5’2”, respectively, agreed that the petite lengths were definitely a better fit for their frames. Per Scott, “They still bunch up at the bottom, but not enough to the point where it's a problem. Plus, I usually wear them with boots, so that part is often covered up.”
In the end, testers agreed that the sizing was a bit tricky to figure out, but if you did manage land on the right size for your frame, these leggings, while snug, are actually quite comfortable. The high waistband holds you in without pinching and the legs hug your curves but still allow for full range of motion.
