Geeky Leggings Comparison/Review

Fashion leggings is an area that has exploded in the last three years. It seems like it all started with Black Milk Company. I remember seeing their galaxy leggings and their R2-D2 swimsuit first. Since then, they've acquired multiple licenses and churned out dozens and dozens of leggings with appealing prints. Geek ladies around the world rejoiced! Before too long, other companies got hip to the trend and now, there are leggings freaking everywhere. It's kind of awesome, but with all the differeing price points and materials, it's hard to know which brands are worth it.

Though I resisted purchasing leggings for a while because I didn't think I could wear them without showing my spandex covered butt to the world, I eventually came around. I recognized how comfortable leggings are and finally understood that I could just wear longer shirts with them. Finding lengthy, stretchy tanks and layering them with sheer flowy shirts have allowed me to expand my leggings collection enough that it now warrants its own drawer.

Since I own a few different brands of leggings, I figured it was time for a run down of the positives and negatives.

Black Milk Clothing Leggings

Black Milk Clothing

Good: Tons of options and getting more licenses all the time: Star Wars, Harry Potter, Adventure Time, etc. High quality material, wide variety of cool designs, not see-through at all, been around for a while with reliable reviews, free shipping, epic Cyber Monday sale

Bad: If you're in the US, the free shipping can occasionally take a while, pretty much the priciest leggings I own

Material: Polyester, lycra, spandex - it varies

Sizing: I wear a medium, true to size

Price: $65 and up

Her Universe

Good: Good quality, fair price point, the designs they have so far are fun

Bad: Just Doctor Who and The Walking Dead designs as far as I know (still good designs)

Material: Polyester

Sizing: I wear a large (a size up for me)

Price: $27

Hot Topic

Good: Frequent sales, several franchises including Disney, and Her Universe brand items show up here

Bad: Stock changes too fast to keep up with sometimes, medium quality but better than Forever 21, some prints are ones you see on lots of licensed apparel (especially Star Wars)

Material: Disney brand is 94% polyester and 6% spandex blend

Sizing: I wear a large (a size up for me)

Price: $19 and up

Forever21

Good: Really cool Marvel comics designs, most affordable leggings on the list

Bad: Fabric pilled up after the first wash, very see-through and lowest quality I've purchased so far (still wearable)

Material: 95% cotton and 5% spandex blend

Sizing: I wear a large (a size up for me)

Price: $15 and up

Gold Bubble Clothing

Good: Fun and unique designs

Bad: Initial shipment had delays (specific to the type of leggings I ordered) and myself and a friend noticed we could hear seams stretching and making unhappy noises when we put them on - nothing actually ripped, but I've never had that happen with leggings

Material: Polyester and lycra blend

Sizing: I ordered a medium/large

Price: $65 and up

WeLoveFine

Good: Snappy designs with artwork that begins low enough that it won't be covered up by long shirts, bright and colorful and several cute options

Bad: Slightly see through, print on demand so shipping takes slightly longer than other places (in the US)

Material: 95% polyester and 5% spandex blend

Sizing: I wear a large (a size up for me)

Price: $26.50

As you can see, price makes a difference in the thickness and overall quality. You get what you pay for. The less expensive and thinner options are fine as long as you're planning to wear something long to cover the underwear area and if you won't be outsize in freezing weather.

I'd love to hear about your experiences with different brands and make this a leggings reference compendium thing!