We tried Spanx's faux-leather leggings and they were equal parts supportive and flexible

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• We tried Spanx's Faux Leather Leggings ($98 to $102) after testing out many other fan-favorites like Spanx bras, tights, denim, and various athleisure and athletic leggings.
• Made with the same level of support as its signature shapewear but with a little extra stretch, these leggings are designed to not only make you look great but feel great, too.
• We were pleasantly surprised by how comfortable and breathable they were compared to real leather and other faux kinds, and how their built-in shapewear helped smooth and show off our natural curves. Plus, no center seam means no front wedgie.

Spanx is known for making seamless shapewear that helps women to look, and most importantly feel, how they want to in their clothes. But the company's mission of providing smooth, clean, and confident lines to every outfit extends beyond the basic shorts and bodysuits you already know of.

From 1998, when founder Sara Blakely cut the feet off of her panty hose to create an undergarment that helped her feel confident in cream-colored pants to 2014 when Spanx launched its sculpting denim line, Spanx's products have remained tried and true.

The Insider Picks team has tested and liked several fan-favorite lines including its bras, tights, denim, and leggings, so we felt it was about time to try its popular Faux Leather Leggings ($98).

What they're made of

The Faux Leather Leggings aren't actually made from artificial leather. The body of the leggings are made from 87% Nylon and 13% Spandex/Elastane, while the waist band is made from 80% polyester and 20% Spandex/Elastane. They're crafted to appear crackled with a sheen resembling leather itself and come in four different colors (black, olive, navy, and wine).

Like all Spanx products, the Faux Leather Leggings come with next-level support that feels like a firm hug, plus its famous Built In™ contoured, slimming waistband. I actually was a little hesitant when I first got my leggings because the waistband seemed too small for me, but boy does that 20% spandex go a long way. It was like I had tiny fairy godmothers tailoring them specifically to my body. The waistband is designed to meet your natural waist line and there are is no center seam, so you can say goodbye muffin tops and camel-toes.

What's also great about the Faux Leather Leggings are the wide variety of sizing options. Like all Spanx bottoms, sizes run from XS to 3X. In addition, these leggings also come in both regular and petite sizes for those who find that their vertical stature falls below 5-foot-4.

Here's what we thought about the leggings

I've tried both the basic and the moto version of Spanx's leather leggings, and I think the plain ones win out for me. The moto pair left imprints of all the seams on my legs, which probably could have been lessened with a larger size, but they generally just weren't the most comfy of the two. I really like the plain ones though - they're not too restrictive, but they compress me just enough to feel sleek and supported. I prefer to wear them in the cold weather since they're not quite as breathable as regular leggings, but if your office is cold and you have a relatively casual dress code, you can definitely get away with layering them under a tunic of lightweight sweater at work since they look more like real pants. They definitely don't look like real leather, but they give you the same edgy vibe when styled right. - Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

While I've always liked the physical look and style of leather leggings, they never seemed particularly comfortable or practical. You say leather and I imagine thick and restrictive. Spanx's faux leather leggings were thus a pleasant surprise: stylish, stretchy, and comfortable. They're cool and slick, but most importantly, you can actually move around in them. The high rise top offered some support but didn't squeeze me too much, and I liked that it was smooth throughout - no annoying center seam. - Connie Chen, Insider Picks commerce reporter

I have to admit, my daytime look is pretty effortless (as in I don't put a lot of effort in), but I like to err on the side of edgy when putting together a nighttime look. Mind you I'm not very edgy at all, but I truly felt that if anything was going to help me achieve the look, it'd be these leggings. The Faux Leather Leggings hugged every curve on my body and not in an unflattering way. They accentuated everything that I like about my hips and helped smooth out all the parts that I don't like as much. The waist band was my favorite part because it landed perfectly in the hourglass of my waistline and gently hugged me. - Francesca Rea, Insider Picks content producer

Bottom Line

Like all other Spanx products we've tried, the Faux Leather Leggings did not disappoint. They're a fashionable alternative to classic leather pants, but fit and feel exactly like leggings - plus they have some real sculpting power. For $98 to $102, these leggings will make you comfortable and maybe even a little extra confident - two feelings you can't put a price on.

Buy the Faux Leather Leggings from Spanx for $98 to $102