lounge pants with non-restrictive waist
July 10, 2020 7:54 PM Subscribe
I am looking for women's lounge/yoga/sweat pants with a loose waist that aren't full-on pajamas.
When I'm on my period or my IBS is acting up I want as little constricting my waist as possible, but still want to wear pants as opposed to skirts/dresses. I am looking for women's lounge-type pants without a big elastic sweat-pants-type waist band BUT! that aren't just loose floppy pajama pants. They don't need to be pants I could wear to work, but preferably pants I'd feel comfortable hanging out around other people in (as if that will ever happen again) or running to the store in. This probably means something with somewhat skinny legs as opposed to wide, shapeless legs - for whatever reason, pants that fit a little more closely always make me feel more "dressed" than, say, something like these. I recognize that this is likely somewhat at odds with my desire for loose-waisted pants, but I'll try to find a happy medium.
I'm asking for personal recommendations because I'm not shopping in person these days, and it's incredibly hard to tell from a picture on Amazon or Old Navy or wherever what kind of waist a pair of pants is actually going to have. Something like these joggers appear to have a big obvious sweat-pants-style waist, but on others it's a lot harder to tell.
Basically I am looking for comfortable pants that won't constrict my stomach and that don't feel like pajamas. Looking for both lighter wear for summer and heavier for winter. I'm really annoyed by ankle-length pants like those joggers, but I'm willing to make an exception if needed. Thanks!
When I'm on my period or my IBS is acting up I want as little constricting my waist as possible, but still want to wear pants as opposed to skirts/dresses. I am looking for women's lounge-type pants without a big elastic sweat-pants-type waist band BUT! that aren't just loose floppy pajama pants. They don't need to be pants I could wear to work, but preferably pants I'd feel comfortable hanging out around other people in (as if that will ever happen again) or running to the store in. This probably means something with somewhat skinny legs as opposed to wide, shapeless legs - for whatever reason, pants that fit a little more closely always make me feel more "dressed" than, say, something like these. I recognize that this is likely somewhat at odds with my desire for loose-waisted pants, but I'll try to find a happy medium.
I'm asking for personal recommendations because I'm not shopping in person these days, and it's incredibly hard to tell from a picture on Amazon or Old Navy or wherever what kind of waist a pair of pants is actually going to have. Something like these joggers appear to have a big obvious sweat-pants-style waist, but on others it's a lot harder to tell.
Basically I am looking for comfortable pants that won't constrict my stomach and that don't feel like pajamas. Looking for both lighter wear for summer and heavier for winter. I'm really annoyed by ankle-length pants like those joggers, but I'm willing to make an exception if needed. Thanks!
Uniqlo sweatpants? The waist is elastic, but you can pull it very loose.
posted by airmail at 10:53 PM on July 10, 2020
posted by airmail at 10:53 PM on July 10, 2020
I love my Lululemon Groove pants for this. They're flared yoga pants (NOT ankle length, hallelujah), with a very wide waistband. For several years, Lululemon's fabric was too thin for me, but I've been really pleasantly surprised by how much structure the current iteration has. The cut and the fabric mean I'm totally happy going out and about wearing these, though I wouldn't wear them to work.
For lounging, I could live in the Athleta Studio Flare pants. The waistband is so wide as to be basically nonexistent, and the fabric is super soft. However, it's also thinner than Lululemon's fabric, so I'm a little less comfortable wearing them for errands.
posted by Metasyntactic at 11:06 PM on July 10, 2020
For lounging, I could live in the Athleta Studio Flare pants. The waistband is so wide as to be basically nonexistent, and the fabric is super soft. However, it's also thinner than Lululemon's fabric, so I'm a little less comfortable wearing them for errands.
posted by Metasyntactic at 11:06 PM on July 10, 2020
These from Amazon have a wide waistband and lots of size options. I have a couple of pairs of these sort of pants and I find the waistband is very comfortable.
posted by essexjan at 5:19 AM on July 11, 2020
posted by essexjan at 5:19 AM on July 11, 2020
I really like Uniqlo's options too. This one is pretty comfy, but also pretty stylish (in the grand scheme of things)>
posted by ellerhodes at 6:42 AM on July 11, 2020
posted by ellerhodes at 6:42 AM on July 11, 2020
I recently bought a couple of pairs of Eileen Fisher linen pants on Poshmark so that I would be Wearing Pants but still very comfortable. I opted for the ones that are elastic waist. Highly recommended!
If you go this route, keep in mind EF sizes run large, so you won't want to just take your normal size but first reference the brand's size charts to figure out your size.
For cooler temps I recommend tencel, wool, or silk. I basically only buy elastic waist anything while choosing contemporary styles so that I look like I haven't gone full sweat pants mode. :)
I've also very much been a strictly pants person up until recently, as I've slowly started to embrace longer flowy dresses. Similar guidelines apply, where I pick a contemporary style that suits me to avoid looking and feeling sloppy.
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 7:14 AM on July 11, 2020
If you go this route, keep in mind EF sizes run large, so you won't want to just take your normal size but first reference the brand's size charts to figure out your size.
For cooler temps I recommend tencel, wool, or silk. I basically only buy elastic waist anything while choosing contemporary styles so that I look like I haven't gone full sweat pants mode. :)
I've also very much been a strictly pants person up until recently, as I've slowly started to embrace longer flowy dresses. Similar guidelines apply, where I pick a contemporary style that suits me to avoid looking and feeling sloppy.
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 7:14 AM on July 11, 2020
I just got two pairs of the Old Navy, women’s lounge/pj pants and they are great. The softest material ever and feel very expensive and high end for old navy. They do have a wide, elastic band at the top with a generous draw string, but it’s wide and covered in that same, soft fabric so it’s not restrictive at all. They are really big so be careful what size you order. I’ll probably order two sizes down next time.
posted by pearlybob at 8:53 AM on July 11, 2020
posted by pearlybob at 8:53 AM on July 11, 2020
I really hate anything cutting into my waist, and being an apple shape with skinny legs, almost every type of pants ends up feeling uncomfortable when I’m on my period (even including something like Lululemon yoga pants). I can’t tell you how many times someone recommended pants or shorts to me as comfy and they turned out to have a terrible waistband. However, these yoga pants from Yoga Democracy are an unusually comfortable fabric—maybe it’s thinner than usual?—and they don’t feel at all constricting or even “shaping.” I bought one size up from usual and they are very comfy to wear (my #1 go to when I’m feeling bloated). I do wish they came in more plain colors, but they have black.
posted by sallybrown at 10:59 AM on July 11, 2020
posted by sallybrown at 10:59 AM on July 11, 2020
I second Goblin Barbarian's Eileen Fisher recommendation, comfy and presentable is their thing. I'm a particular fan of their Renew program, which aims to keep clothes out of the waste stream. People send back their used garments and EF Renew repurposes them or resells them (at a more attainable price point!) You can shop online and filter by size and even fabric, but since your profile says you're also in Seattle, you could also call or visit the Renew store in Columbia City. I believe they've reopened and I'm sure they would be happy to help you find some dream pants.
In the before times they would run regular "Not Quite Perfect" warehouse sales with great deals on slightly flawed clothes. I have come out of those sales with huge bags of linen, silk, and cashmere for under $200. Hopefully they will find a way to transition that program to the new normal!
posted by doift at 11:56 AM on July 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
In the before times they would run regular "Not Quite Perfect" warehouse sales with great deals on slightly flawed clothes. I have come out of those sales with huge bags of linen, silk, and cashmere for under $200. Hopefully they will find a way to transition that program to the new normal!
posted by doift at 11:56 AM on July 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
Honestly, check out some maternity leggings/pants. There’s a reason I held onto them for so much longer even after giving birth! ASOS is pretty good for fitted styles.
posted by like_neon at 1:11 AM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by like_neon at 1:11 AM on July 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
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I also just got these from Athleta, and I'm kind in love with them; I'm actually preemptively annoyed that I can't wear them to work when I go back. I wear them with the waistband folded over, and they look pretty nice that way, not like sweatpants at all. Also, they're a good weight for summer. They do have wide legs, though, so I'm not sure they'd suit. They're on sale right now, but they're apparently backordered.
posted by holborne at 10:06 PM on July 10, 2020