The Loose-Fit Shift: Why Lululemon Is Betting Against Leggings, and the Wide-Leg and Flare Pants Worth Buying Now

On September 3, Lululemon cut its full-year outlook for the second time this year, reported comparable sales down 9 percent, and watched its stock fall roughly a fifth in a day. Buried in the explanations was a line that matters more to anyone who wears studio clothes than any of the numbers: the company is shifting its product mix toward "away-from-body" pants because customers are moving away from form-fitting leggings.

That is the brand that built the modern legging telling you the legging is no longer the whole story. It matches what we have been seeing in studio lobbies all year. Flares came back first, then wide-leg trousers in technical fabrics, then straight-leg sweatpants worn as real pants. This guide explains what the loose-fit shift is, what it means for what you wear to class, and which pairs are worth buying now, all of them in stock as of this week. For the fitted end of the wardrobe, our best workout leggings guide still stands.

What "Away-From-Body" Actually Means

In apparel language, "away-from-body" is anything that does not cling: flares that skim the hip and open below the knee, wide-leg trousers, straight-leg sweatpants, relaxed joggers. Lululemon has been building this range for two years with Softstreme, the Groove flare, and its trouser-cut pants; the September call simply confirmed the company thinks the mix has tipped.

Why now? Three reasons we would put money on. The first is fatigue: after a decade in leggings, a looser silhouette reads as new. The second is that the studio-to-street idea, which Alo made the whole industry chase, works better with a pant that looks like a pant. The third is quiet luxury: soft neutrals and drape photograph as expensive in a way compression does not.

Leggings won the last decade because they were the only thing you could wear to class and then to lunch. Now there are two answers, and the second one drapes.

What Still Works in Class

Be honest about movement before you buy. A flare with a fitted hip and thigh performs like a legging in yoga, mat Pilates, and barre; the hem swings but nothing rides up in a forward fold. Wide-leg trousers are different: in a reformer footwork series or a deep lunge, fabric pools around the ankle and catches. Straight-leg sweatpants are for the walk in and the coffee after, not for the mat.

Silhouette	Yoga / mat Pilates	Reformer / barre	Street	Best fabric
Flare (fitted hip, open hem)	Yes	Yes, mind the footbar	Yes	Brushed nylon, no front seam
Wide-leg trouser	Slow classes only	No	Yes	Modal or drapey stretch
Straight-leg sweatpant	No	No	Yes	Brushed fleece or peach-fuzz
Legging	Yes	Yes	Yes	See our leggings guide

Five Pairs Worth Buying Now

1. Sunzel Crossover Flare — Best Value Flare

The crossover V-waist is the detail of the season and Sunzel does it well: a wide, flat band that sits at the natural waist, fitted through the hip, and a flare that opens from the knee. The fabric is buttery, opaque in a fold, and the three inseams solve the flare's one real problem, which is hem length. Choose 29 inches for flats. The Sunzel flare is the pair we recommend to anyone trying the trend for the first time.

Best for: first flare, class-to-street, and anyone who wants the Groove look for $33.

2. CRZ YOGA Softretch Flare — Most Polished

No front seam. It sounds like a small thing; it is the difference between a flare that looks like leggings with a wide hem and one that looks like tailored pants. CRZ's Softretch fabric is lighter than its Butterluxe leggings, so the leg swings properly. The Softretch flare is the one to wear when the coffee after class is really a meeting.

Best for: the most expensive-looking flare under $35.

3. ODODOS Modal Wide Leg — Best Wide-Leg Trouser

This is the pant Lululemon's investor call was describing: modal-blend fabric with real drape, a smooth high waist, pockets, and a leg that moves like a trouser. It is not a class pant, and it does not pretend to be. Worn with a fitted tank and sneakers it is the cleanest version of the loose look on Amazon.

Best for: the walk to the studio, travel days, and the office that allows soft pants.

4. Heathyoga Wide Leg — Wide-Leg You Can Practise In

Where ODODOS is a trouser, Heathyoga is a stretch pant cut wide. There is enough recovery to do a slow flow or a mat class, the pockets hold a phone, and at $30 it is the cheapest way to find out whether wide-leg suits your body and your practice. Our yoga pants vs leggings guide covers the fabric logic behind this.

Best for: slow yoga and yin, and testing the trend on a budget.

5. CRZ YOGA SoftAura Straight Leg — The Loose Option Without the Flare

Not everyone wants a flare. The SoftAura is a straight-leg sweatpant in peach-fuzz brushed fabric, cut to sit under an oversized hoodie without the swing. It is the pant for people who like the loose silhouette and find flares theatrical. For the top half, our fall studio-to-street layering guide has the pairings.

Best for: the loose look on rest days and in the colder months.

How to Buy a Flare

Inseam first. A flare that puddles on the floor looks like a mistake. With sneakers or flats, 29 inches suits most people up to about 5'6"; 31 inches suits 5'6" to 5'10"; 33 inches is for tall frames or heels.

Fitted hip, open knee. The silhouette works because the top half is fitted. Size for the hip and waist as you would a legging; the flare takes care of itself.

No front seam if you can. It is the single detail that separates a $30 flare that looks like $90 from one that looks like $30.

Dark neutrals first. Black, espresso, and navy hide the extra fabric and read as trousers. Pale flares are a second purchase.

What About Lululemon Itself?

If you want the original, the Groove flare and the Softstreme trouser are the pieces the company means when it says "away-from-body", and they are the ones most likely to hit the markdown section this fall as the brand rebalances inventory. The Amazon pairs above are the sensible way to try the shape first. Then, if you love it, buy the Lululemon version on sale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are leggings going out of style?

No. Lululemon's own point is that the mix is shifting, not that leggings are finished. For class, a legging is still the most versatile pant. What has changed is that a looser pant is now equally acceptable on the street.

Can I wear flare leggings to Pilates?

Yes for mat Pilates and barre. On a reformer, keep the flare modest; a very wide hem can catch on the footbar or straps.

Which inseam should I buy?

Match it to the shoe you wear most. Flats or sneakers: 29 inches for most heights. Heels or platforms: 31 or 33.

Do wide-leg yoga pants look good on petite frames?

Yes, if the rise is high and the inseam is right. A high waist lengthens the leg; a hem that skims the floor shortens it. Go 29 inches and consider a straight leg rather than a full flare.

Are Amazon flares as good as Lululemon's Groove?

Close enough for a first pair. The Groove's fabric and waistband are better; the shape and the look are very similar. Try the Sunzel or CRZ version first, then decide whether the upgrade is worth it to you.

The Bottom Line

Buy one looser pair this season, and make it a flare if you want something you can still practise in: the Sunzel crossover flare for value or the CRZ YOGA Softretch flare for polish. Add the ODODOS wide-leg if your week has more coffee than reformer in it. Keep your leggings; the loose-fit shift is an addition, not a replacement.