The single most common legging complaint is discovering in a gym mirror what you could not see in a fitting room, and the reason is that almost nobody tests them under the conditions that actually cause the failure. Here is why opacity fails, how to test properly, and what predicts it when buying.

Why Opacity Fails

Stretch thins the fabric: the the-stretching-thins-the-fabric (the fabric becoming thinner as it stretches from the fabric-science logic — the stretch-thins-fabric), the the-the-seat-takes-the-most-stretch (the seat and thigh stretching most in a squat from the fit-problems logic — the seat-stretches-most), the the-standing-still-tells-you-nothing (the a standing mirror check revealing nothing from the fit-problems logic — the standing-tells-nothing), the the-fitting-room-light-is-flattering (the fitting room lighting hiding what daylight shows from the fit-problems logic — the flattering-light), the the-light-colours-fail-first (the pale colours showing the failure soonest from the choose-the-right logic — the light-colours-first), and the reframe (the see-through legging as a stretch problem invisible in a fitting room — the fabric thinning under exactly the stretch a standing mirror check never applies).

How to Test Properly

The proper checks: the the-full-deep-squat-facing-away-from-a-mirror (the a deep squat with your back to the mirror from the fit-problems logic — the squat-facing-away), the the-bend-fully-forward (the a full forward fold loading the seat fabric from the fit-problems logic — the forward-fold), the the-check-in-natural-light (the checking in daylight rather than fitting room light from the fit-problems logic — the natural-light), the the-stretch-the-fabric-by-hand (the hand-stretching the fabric to see through it from the fabric-science logic — the hand-stretch), the the-sit-and-cross-your-legs (the sitting positions revealing different failures from the fit-problems logic — the sit-and-cross), the the-check-the-seams-and-gusset (the seam areas being separate failure points from the fabric-science logic — the check-seams), the the-do-it-before-removing-tags (the testing while still returnable from the fit-problems logic — the before-tags), and the the-test-after-washing-too (the some fabrics failing only after washing from the fabric-science logic — the test-after-washing).

The Buying Notes

What predicts opacity: the the-fabric-weight-is-the-best-predictor (the heavier fabric weight predicting opacity from the fabric-science logic — the fabric-weight), the the-a-dense-knit-over-a-thin-one (the knit density mattering as much as weight from the fabric-science logic — the dense-knit), the the-darker-colours-are-more-forgiving (the dark colours hiding thinning better from the choose-the-right logic — the darker-forgiving), the the-a-gusset-signals-better-construction (the gusseted construction indicating a better garment from the fabric-science logic — the gusset-signals-quality), the the-high-waisted-does-not-guarantee-opacity (the rise being unrelated to opacity from the high-waisted logic — the rise-is-unrelated), the the-brands-vary-within-their-own-range (the opacity varying between styles from one brand from the fabric-science logic — the varies-within-brands), the the-read-reviews-mentioning-the-squat-test (the reviews specifically mentioning opacity being useful from the choose-the-right logic — the read-opacity-reviews), and the frame (the legging opacity as tested by a deep squat in daylight before the tags come off — with fabric weight, knit density and a gusset being what predicts it. Squat and fold in natural light before removing the tags, and buy for fabric weight, knit density and a gusset).

The single most common legging complaint is discovering in a gym mirror what you could not see in a fitting room, because almost nobody tests them under the conditions that cause the failure. Opacity fails because stretching thins the fabric, the seat takes the most stretch, standing still tells you nothing, fitting room light is flattering, and light colours fail first. Test properly with a full deep squat facing away from a mirror, a full forward bend, checking in natural light, hand-stretching the fabric, sitting and crossing your legs, checking seams and gusset, doing it before removing tags, and testing after washing too. When buying, fabric weight is the best predictor, a dense knit beats a thin one, darker colours are more forgiving, a gusset signals better construction, and brands vary within their own range.

See It in Motion

Seen here: Super High Waist Embossed Yoga Leggings with Inner Pocket — shop it on bubblelime.com