Pants! Pants! Pants!

November 30, 2010 8:57 PM

What kind of yoga pants should I get for work (that won't get all pilly in the lady bits area)?

I turns out that I can and need to wear breatheable, comfortable, yoga pants to work. I have a few cheapo pairs that I'm currently wearing, but they faded out and have developed the dreaded pilling condition in the *ahem* crotch-ular region. The only pair I have that doesn't pill is a 90% poly pair I got at Old Navy about 5 years ago.

What capri-length yoga pants do you love?

FYI: I'm a heftier girl, so I wear an XL or size 18 in normal jeans. I'd also prefer flared capris as the totally form fitting ones give me the heebie-jeebies. Also, I'd prefer them in either black, or a color that won't show if I'm sweaty in the nether regions.

posted by santojulieta to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (16 answers total)

Lululemon or Patagonia
posted by k8t at 9:06 PM on November 30, 2010

Not only are Lululemons great for their non-pillage factor, they also have looser crotch type yoga pants. Additionally, they have a line of yoga pants that are like their regular yoga pants except they look like pinstripe. I tell you, I have gotten alot of wear out that particular pair.
posted by typewriter at 9:48 PM on November 30, 2010

Luluemon's website doesn't show pants available in the OPs size.

I get my yoga-esque pants at Ross. No specific brand, just look for size and style. Cotton pants are more likely to pill in the crotch, but also breathe well. Long staple cotton will be less pilly, but that's usually used in sheets and dress shirts, not workout gear. I'd look for some sort of technical or wicking fabric.
posted by mollymayhem at 10:09 PM on November 30, 2010

Lucy makes some nice yoga pants. Bonus: if you need full length pants, you can get them in different lengths.
posted by asphericalcow at 10:27 PM on November 30, 2010

I have and like these wide-leg capris from Old Navy's Plus size collection, but after about 6 months of wearing them three times a week or so, they're starting to pill between the thighs and stretch out everywhere else--just like everything else Old Navy makes.

I LOVE these yoga pants from Cacique. They're comfortable, very well-made, and while they're not wide-leg capris, they're made of a thick but breathable material and flared just enough that they don't look like leggings and I don't feel overly-exposed. I also love that they come in petite, since I'm kinda short and most non-cropped yoga pants are too long for me.

Other places to look for decently-made plus-sized yoga pants: See Jane Run and Junonia. The latter is a little overpriced IMO, but then again, it might be worth paying for the perfect pair.
posted by rhiannonstone at 11:13 PM on November 30, 2010

I like Lucy as well, though I find their sizing runs a little big for me. For years I had a great pair from LL Bean,of all places.
posted by metarkest at 2:45 AM on December 1, 2010

What about Athleta? They do carry in your (our) size but do run small so I had to bump up a size. Stay away from anything the reference as being "sueded" as that material pills something fierce. They have a cut little legging/capri skirt combo that I'm dying to try - leggings and butt coverage, who wouldn't want that?
posted by PorcineWithMe at 3:26 AM on December 1, 2010

I know this sounds like an odd suggestion, but the Victorias Secret foldover yoga pants fit amazingly well, are made of great fabric, don't over-stretch after a few wears, and could pass for good pants. I'm a dancer and have 4 pairs I bought in 2006, and only had to throw them out last year. The first 2 years i had them, I wore a pair every day.
posted by shazzam! at 3:54 AM on December 1, 2010

I'm about your size, and have been wearing the same few pairs of Danskin yoga pants for years with no pilling. They have a "plus" section, but I just wear xl in their regular sizes.

They sell on their website, but lots of other stores carry them too. (I forget where I got mine, sorry.)
posted by AlisonM at 4:18 AM on December 1, 2010

Lululemon really are the gold standard, although technically they only go up to a size 12. I still think it's worth a try because they are gosh darn it the most amazing pants on earth, and very stretchy, and some styles very roomy (like the Still Pant).
posted by telegraph at 5:24 AM on December 1, 2010

Blue Canoe makes these awesome wide-legged pants. They're full length, but I'm pretty sure they sell a capri version in spring or summer.
posted by DestinationUnknown at 5:34 AM on December 1, 2010

My BFF also swears by the Victoria's Secret yoga pants . . .
posted by MeiraV at 7:51 AM on December 1, 2010

Seconding Danskin; I wear a L at a size 14, so an XL should be plenty roomy. They're quite durable and affordable.

Gap often has good yoga pants in its Gap Body section, and I also wear L in those so imagine XL would work fine for you.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:31 AM on December 1, 2010

You could try J.Jill wearever pants. They are essentially yoga pants that can pass as (sorta) nice work pants.
posted by sulaine at 4:16 PM on December 1, 2010

I third the Danskin pants, I get mine from Walmart- they're really comfortable, flattering, and cheap enough that I don't feel bad throwing them out when they're too ratty to wear. FWIW, when I was about your size I tried a few styles of Lululemon pants and none of them fit comfortably.

Also try looking at pants marketed towards dancers- they're usually more synthetic, made to withstand a lot more use and friction, and are incredibly lightweight.
posted by kro at 10:13 PM on December 1, 2010

hard tail. LOVE.
posted by amycup at 9:49 PM on December 20, 2010