Are faux leather leggings worth it? – Spanx leggings review and outfit ideas

I wanted to wear my leggings around for a few months before writing this Spanx leggings review. It was important for me to try them first, see how they felt and style them in many different ways to make sure they were really that versatile. Good news! They are!! That’s why today I’m sharing 4 black leggings outfit ideas for you to recreate and a very detailed Spanx faux leather leggings review (the faux leather ones). Just pay attention to each outfit formula above each look and you’ll be able to make even more cute outfits of your own, with things you already have in your closet.

*I bought these leggings myself. This is NOT sponsored.

It took me 2 years to bite the bullet…

I finally caved in and spent almost $100 on a pair of leggings. That’s a lot of money for that particular piece (at least for me), but I’m here to tell you that they are 100% worth it. I now want them in every color and print LOL. I honestly thought I wasn’t going to have many leggings outfit ideas in my head to really get the most out of them, but get ready, because more posts with leggings outfit ideas for you to recreate are coming your way!

(update: it’s been 2 years since I got them and I’m still happy with just the one pair!)

Ready for an honest Spanx leggings review? Let’s go!

In a hurry? Jump straight to:

• Why I got them
• Are Spanx leggings worth it?
• Spanx leggings sizing
• Care Instructions
• Answering Q’s from Instagram
• Learn how to maximize what’s in your closet
• How to style Spanx leggings:
  • For the office
  • Weekend casual
  • Date night
  • For brunch or to go out with girlfriends
• Final thoughts
• Related style posts you may also enjoy

Estimated reading time: 14 minutes

Why I got Spanx leggings…

A lot of you know that we are saving money to travel the world for 2 years, so certainly shopping for things I don’t need, is something I don’t do as often as I used to. However, I’ve been seeing these leggings everywhere! I actually tried to buy them a couple of times but they were sold out and I saw it as a sign, but a couple of weeks ago I saw an Instagram ad (I’m a sucker for those!) and convinced myself I needed Spanx faux leather leggings because I ripped my black skinny jeans LOL. Besides, I will take them with me on my trip around the world.

I’m the first person that will tell you that leggings are not pants and I haven’t changed my mind, but these are like leggings on steroids lol. They are comfortable, suck everything in but not in an uncomfortable way and I’m about to prove you that you can even wear them for the office.

2021 update: Last year we sold everything we owned and started living in Airbnb’s full time and guess what? I live out of a suitcase and I kept the Spanx faux leather leggings! They are that good!

So… are Spanx leggings worth it? Spanx leggings Review

In one word, YES. I really do think they are worth it. This is coming from someone who spent the $98 herself and has worn them a lot and styled them in many different ways. I do like to invest in certain pieces that will last me a long time and I have zero regrets with the Spanx black leggings.

Do you need more than one pair though?

I thought initially yes, but you will be just fine with one pair. I have styled them in every possible way and the Spanx black faux leather leggings have worked great for me, so if you are a minimalist like me, I recommend getting the black ones too.

Ok, now let’s do this!

Spanx Faux Leather Leggings Review

First, let’s cover Spanx Leggings Sizing:

They have from size XS to 3X.

I’m 5 4′ and 128 lbs. I got them in size S and they run slightly small in my opinion. If you are in between sizes I would suggest to size up. Right now that I’ve gained some weight, they are definitely tighter, but they stretch a decent amount.. I think they are one of those ‘faithful’ pieces.

I wasn’t sure if I should have gotten the Petite version, because they are a little bit long (but can you tell?). I’d say if you are shorter than 5 4′ they are going to be a little too long, but the good news for you is that they now have Spanx petite faux leather leggings, so yay!! And they are also available in Tall. I don’t know anyone tall that has these leggings, so I have very little to say about that (sorry!).

I ended up keeping them because I’m the worst when it comes to having to return an item LOL. Is it just me?

This is the exact link to the ones I’m wearing. They do recommend to get the Petite version if you are 5 4′ or under. How did I miss that? Do’t make the same mistake!

Second – Care instructions for faux leather leggings:

It is very important to take proper care of you faux leather leggings. Whether they are fancy Spanxs or not. They should be washed on gentle cycle and cold water. Do not use fabric softener and flip them inside out to maintain the legging’s sheen appearance (specially the faux leather ones). Lay flat to dry and never ever iron them.

*2021 update: my Spanx leggings still look the same! And honestly since you mostly wear them when it’s cold, you don’t have to wash them that often (don’t judge LOL). I’ve been washing them exactly like this and it has worked perfectly. The idea is to take care of your clothes so you can wear them for a long time and not shop that often.

I wanted to include care instructions as part of this Spanx leggings review, because sometimes we forget how important it is to take care of the things we already have. Especially if you spent almost $100. These leggings should last you for years, but it is important to wash them properly.

Questions I received via Instagram:

I asked on my Instagram if you had any questions before I shared this Spanx leggings review and here are the answers:

• Are Spanx leggings warm? No, they are not. They are not great for days when it’s colder than 40 degrees in my opinion. If you want to feel warm, I suggest you to style them with OTK boots and a cozy sweater.
• Are they versatile? Yes. At least I think so. They basically replaced my black skinny jeans. I styled them for Spring here, for Thanksgiving here, with a sweater dress here and with long cardigans here.
• Would you wear them for Summer? NO! It’s cold enough in Chicago the rest of the year, so leggings are the last thing I want to wear in summertime. (but you sure can)
• Can you work out in them? You sure can! I’ve only done that a couple of times, but yes you can wear them for the gym. I don’t do it often because they get sweaty and I have to wash them LOL.
• Camel toe? No camel toe!!!!

4 leggings outfit ideas for every occasion – How to style Spanx leggings

(Scroll down for details on each look and to learn how to recreate these with pieces you own)

Before sharing the looks, keep this in mind.

How can you maximize the things you have in your closet?

My goal with sharing these posts is to inspire you to recreate some of these looks with things you already own, help you dress better and easily every day, so you can feel better and go out to the world feeling confident. That’s why I’ve been creating these ‘outfit formulas’ you’ll see below.

How to recreate your own looks?

• Pick one of the outfit formulas under each look.
• Take out similar pieces out of your closet and separate them in piles (all the dress options together, all the t-shirt options together, all the shoes options together, etc).
• In this case the ‘Hero piece’ are the faux leather leggings, so take those out first and create the looks around your Spanxs (or whatever brands you have).
• Start mixing! Follow the formula. That’s really it!
• Take some photos for future reference. That way you won’t have to think about it too much in the future.

So, without further ado….

Spanx leggings outfit ideas – 4 looks, 4 different occasions:

Remember to follow the outfit formulas and you will be able to create many looks with what you have in your closet. you don’t have to spend a dime. Even if you don’t have Spanxs, then use whatever leggings you have available.

Look 1 – How to wear faux leather leggings for the office:

Leggings for the office? Yeah right. Until now! There are many ways to style your leggings for the office. The only thing I would make sure about is to cover the back area with a blazer or sweater. You can even layer them with a dress!

Follow this outfit formula to recreate this look with things you already own:

Spanxs + A long blazer + pumps (or booties, flats or OTK boots) + sweater (or button down shirt) + necklace.

Pro tip: Take out the pieces you have out of the closet and put them in bed. See what goes with what. Trust me, taking things out of the closet will help you visualize things better and you’ll be able to create more looks! Also, remember to take photos of the outfits you create so you can easily have access to them later.

Other pieces to consider to create more looks with leggings for the office:

Pumps, booties, OTK boots, a long vest, an oversized sweater, blouse, button down shirt, a sweater dress or anything that covers the back area in general LOL. At least that’s what I would do! Also, you can use them as tights, so feel free to add a skirt or a dress paired with boots or even flats/sneakers.

Links: Nude Pumps – Spanx Faux Leather Leggings – Similar Sweater – Boyfriend Blazer – Necklace

Look 2 – How to wear faux leather leggings for a casual weekend:

These leggings are so perfect for the weekend because they are comfortable and make you look more polished that regular sneakers, not to mention, skinnier LOL. Just remember that they are not warm so if it’s really cold outside maybe pair them with something very warm on top, OTK boots or extra warm socks.

I styled them with a hoodie (love this one from Roots), Adidas sneakers and a moto jacket. Feel free to add a hat if your hair is dirty lol. Let’s be real, everyone does that!

Follow this outfit formula to recreate this look with things you already own:

Spanx Leggings + Hoodie + Jacket + Sneakers + Optional (a baseball hat)

Other pieces to consider to create more looks with leggings for the weekend:

White sneakers, slip ons, ballet flats, a long cardigan, a chunky sweater, a denim jacket, a white t-shirt, a striped t-shirt and a chambray top. Sky’s the limit! Just use what you have.

*Note to self: This is a great airport look too.

Links: Sneakers – Spanx Faux Leather Leggings + Hoodie + Moto Jacket

Also read: How to wear a leather jacket – 34 outfit ideas & styling tips!

Look 3 – How to wear leather leggings for date night:

I saw G’s face when I showed them these leggings the first time and I knew I had to wear them for date night ASAP… even though he said they look like scuba diving gear LOL. He loves diving, I’m sure it was his way of saying they are sexy!

Follow this outfit formula to recreate this look with things you already own:

Spanx Leggings + A cami + lightweight trench or jacket + strappy heels (or OTK boots)

Other pieces to consider to create more looks with leggings for date night:

Pumps, anything with lace, a bralette and sheer tops. Also, ladies, if you have OTK boots please style them with these leggings! I regret giving mine away last year, but whatever, they are not going on my trip around the world, so I’m not going to buy them again LOL, but if you have them make sure to use them.

I’ve seen how these leggings look with those on other girls and I 100% approve!!

Links: Heels – Spanx Faux Leather Leggings – Cami – Similar Trench – Clutch Bag

Look 4 – How to wear leather leggings to go out with girlfriends or brunch:

This is kind of an additional look that I never know how to categorize hahaha. If you go out with girlfriends you tend to be more bold and use pieces that your partner may or may not consider ugly or weird LOL. (i.e: faux fur vest)

Follow this outfit formula to recreate this look with things you already own:

Spanx Leggings + A sweater + faux fur vest + booties

Other pieces to consider to create more looks with leggings for brunch:

A hat, fun accessories and OTK boots. Feel free to add a hat or a statement piece (like a sweater with cool sleeves). It’s always fun to dress up when going out with your girlfriends!

Links: Booties – Spanx Faux Leather Leggings – Sweater – Faux Fur Vest

Also read: How to style an oversized sweater

Here are the other styles and colors they have. I am just keeping the black ones for now, but if in the future I decide to get another pair, it would be one of these just to spice things up you know?

Final thoughts about leather leggings:

I know there are many reviews of Spanx leggings out there, but I honestly hope this one helped you! If you have any questions, seriously, don’t hesitate to ask! I’m here to help ? I really mean that. Don’t hesitate to reach out.

I have been trying really hard to live with less things. I recently shared a Summer capsule wardrobe with just 25 pieces and I will create one for each season. Of course the Spanx leggings will be part of my capsule wardrobe for Fall, but you can also wear them in Spring and Winter. In the meantime, make sure to check out this post where I talk about capsule wardrobes VS minimalistic wardrobe and a step by step guide on how to clean up your closet. It is way better to live with less things. I assure you will be a lot happier.

Anyways…

Any favorites leggings looks? Did you like this Spanx leggings review? Do you own Spanxs too? Let me know how you style them in the comments below! If you need even more outfit inspiration, check out this post where I shared 10 more looks with Spanx leggings.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

XO,

Aimara

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• These Spanxs leggings are a part of my capsule wardrobe for Fall – Check out the post to learn about the 25 pieces I included
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