Ah, black leggings—I love to hate them. I’ve tried many in my day: different fabrics, cuts, rises…. I’m a relatively active person who only wears black, so you’d think they’d be my bread and butter. But I’m also someone who cares a lot about aesthetics (hello, fashion editor), and it’s not easy to make black leggings feel special. In my book, the ultimate find would be a pair that is fitness-friendly but also incredibly stylish, ones that, indeed, you can wear as pants. For a while I thought this idea was too good to be true.
Then I was introduced to Époque Évolution. The line was founded by two friends, who traveled together to Morocco: One noticed the other packed everything she needed—for hiking, wandering, cocktails, dinner, and everything in-between—in a single backpack, which inspired them to design clothing so versatile and no-fuss, you could fit it all into a small bag and not have to worry about it. That turned into a collection of tops, sweaters, skirts, dresses, jackets, and trousers—all made from sustainable materials—that retail for under $500. And that includes its signature Orion leggings, which come in at $98.
Jessica Mironov/époque évolution
What instantly drew me to the Orion—other than the price—was the measured slit on either leg, right at the ankle. It reminded me of a pair of leggings that had come down the Céline Fall 2016 runway that I never got my hands on, something I regret to this day. (Phoebe Philo forever.) That collection was a seminal one for the Great Leggings-as-Pants Comeback, encouraging styling people everywhere to wear their black leggings under dresses, tunics, and so on. Céline instantly made it the cool thing to do—but because I couldn’t get those black leggings, I never actually tried the trend for myself. Since then, more designers, from Paco Rabanne and Jil Sander to Off-White and Burberry, have introduced their own version of the Fashion Legging, with have made me even more eager to incorporate it into my day-to-day.
It wasn’t just the Philo-ness of the slit that I loved—it was also the material and fit: high-waisted with a wide, no-pitch waistband that doesn’t dig in, made from a sleek 35% Lycra, 65% Econyl fabric that doesn’t pill. The leggings are also water-friendly, meaning you can literally do water sports or swim in them, and the quick-drying, moisture-wicking style will hold up. Other cool things about them: They come with built-in sun protection (UPF50) and don’t sag or stretch out with wear.
