College is all about comfort… or maybe college is about learning, opportunities, and kickstarting the rest of your immediate future. Either way, comfort is key, and flare leggings are the key to comfort. With their rise in popularity came the debate between millennials and Gen-Z over what to call the beloved pants. Whether you’re team flare leggings or yoga pants, you simply can’t deny the comfort, style, and versatility they offer.
Maybe you’re headed off to a draining lecture or on your way to office hours. Either way, comfort is the only way you’ll make it through this taxing day. The way I see it, you have four basic pant options for a day on campus:
Shorts
Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good shorts moment, but a cloudy day or plastic lecture hall chair can quickly foil your plans.
Jeans
I have a love-hate relationship with jeans. Beyond the hardship of finding a good pair that fits properly, by the end of a long day of classes, the first thing I want to do is rip them off. They’re often convenient and definitely a fashion staple, but for the sake of a college lecture, I’m often looking for a more forgiving fabric.
Sweatpants
If sweatpants were a cereal, they would be Lucky Charms. Sweats are comfortable, reliable, and can be styled in a multitude of ways — but you need to be in the mood for them. Additionally, they can certainly be too hot in a toasty lecture hall with an unreliable heating system.
Standard Leggings
If I could write a love letter to leggings, I would. My black Lululemon Align leggings deserve 50% of my high school diploma, succoring me through exam after exam, and study hall after study hall. Despite their unwavering support, I’ll admit that just like any relationship, balance is key, and this balance is found in flare leggings.
Don’t just take my word for it — I asked around campus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to hear fellow students’ perspectives on the pants taking over the quad.
Jane Edison, a freshman at the University, owns the Aerie High Waisted Crossover Super Flare Leggings and swears by them. She loves the material because it is “very lightweight but also comfy and not see-through.” She mentioned that she prefers them over leggings that are “form-fitting all the way through” due to both comfort and style.
Additionally, student Laura Alt owns a pair of flare leggings with a high crossover waist from Amazon but was unable to find the exact link. Similarly to Jane, Laura purchased them in May because she was “sick of the plain basic legging.” What she wasn’t anticipating was how comfortable the pants turned out to be and is planning on buying more. Her favorite aspect of the leggings is that they “can make any outfit look cuter” and “they feel cozy.”
Another student at the university, who wished to remain unnamed, shared similar praise for her flare leggings. She explained that she resisted getting them at first because she “just kept seeing them everywhere” and didn’t want to buy into “the next dumb trend.” Eventually, she says she borrowed a pair from a friend after a night out and realized she was simply being stubborn. She later purchased the Aerie OG Groove Flare Leggings and loves them. She says they’re perfect for adding “something fun to [her] typical lazy outfit” while being as comfortable as ever.
Yoga pants or flare leggings, soda or pop. Regardless of the title, these pants are the ideal combination of comfort and style. If you’re looking for the perfect campus basics, look no further.
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