When you spend most of your time in workout clothes, wearing jeans can feel like a chore. In fact, it probably seems like sacrilege for me to even talk about jeans on here at all. Bear with me a minute, folks.
The problem is, although my work dress code is casual, it’s not that casual. I can’t get away with leggings and a workout tank, so unfortunately I do have to occasionally wear real pants. My go-to outfit is skinnies, a nice top and jacket, and some boots. But ever since my tried and true pair of skinnies bit the dust a while back, I’ve been struggling to find an acceptable substitute.
Enter my jeans dilemma. Besides most of them being uncomfortable, it’s also really hard to find jeans that actually fit properly. I tried on a couple dozen and the fit or feel or all of them just was not good. Even the same cut of my old favorites just wasn’t working for me.
While I was shopping online and getting frustrated, I came across a pair of jeans listed as “yoga legging jeans”. Now THAT got my attention.
I read a couple of reviews and ordered a pair. I was not disappointed.
The magical jeans are James Jeans twiggy dancer leggings in piro clean. The fabric is wondrously stretchy and soft, while still being sturdy enough to look like actual jeans. Piro is an ideal dark wash. It has good dimension and doesn’t look flat, but they go easy on the whiskering so they don’t look gaudy.
I used to be a bit of a denim junkie, but I’d never tried James Jeans before and had no idea what to expect. My typical jeans size is 24, but I ordered both 24 and 25 to compare. I kept the 24, which was definitely the right move. They felt a bit tight putting them on for the first time, but have quickly relaxed just enough to be comfortable without bagging out. I recommend sticking with your normal jeans size. I don’t recommend sizing up, since they may slide down. I have to adjust mine a couple times throughout the day, but the occasional adjustment seems pretty much inevitable with skinny jeans, and they’re not as bad as most pairs. Plus, they make up for it in comfort. They’re so stretchy that I can do a full squat in them without feeling like I’m going to rip out of the jeans or cut off the circulation in my legs.
After a few weeks of wearing the piro clean pair, I liked them well enough that I ordered a second pair in black swan, a pure black. My old pair of black skinny pants are literally falling apart, so I was really glad to find a replacement right in the nick of time.
One of my biggest fit issues with skinny jeans is that they’re not truly skinny. I usually end up with an extra inch or two of fabric around the ankles, which turns my “skinny” jeans into more of a straight leg. Loose ankles are very unflattering on my petite build, so I have zero tolerance for skinny jeans that don’t fit cleanly.
You can imagine my surprise and delight when these fit like a true skinny leg. They do have a bit of extra bulk at my ankle due to excess length, but if I get that hemmed off, they will still be quite skinny. The inseam is around 30″, so they’re short enough that hemming isn’t completely necessary, though I’ll probably do it at some point. On that note: don’t expect these to be a full length skinny for you taller girls.
Another jeans fit issue I was struggling to manage: rise. I used to wear low rise and low rise only, but since my butt has grown from lifting, low rise jeans don’t offer as much coverage as they used to. These jeans aren’t ultra-high, but they’re high enough that they don’t dig into the flesh of your hip or tummy and don’t have you holding onto the back of your jeans when you bend over. Although I was skeptical at first, I’ve grown to really like the rise on these.
One unusual aspect of the twiggy dancer jeans is the seamless side construction. On the plus side, it makes these look nice and clean. On the other hand, it also makes them look a little bit less like real jeans. It’s nice not to have the side seam digging into my leg, though.
I only have one worry with these jeans: longevity. Since the stretchy, lightweight fabric is fairly thin, I’m worried it will wear through quickly. I’ve been wearing these about twice a week for a couple months now and they’re still looking great, so I’m hoping they’ll stay like that for a long time.
If you’re an active lady who needs comfortable, stretchy jeans, I definitely recommend giving these a try. And if you’re petite and have my same baggy ankle problem, I recommend these even more strongly.
On that note, make sure you look for the “twiggy dancer” jeans, not just “twiggy”. If a retailer (like Nordstrom) doesn’t list the “dancer” part, just look at the photos to see if the side is seamless. The plain twiggy has a seam down the outside while the twiggy dancer doesn’t. I haven’t tried the twiggy style myself, but they don’t seem to be as stretchy, so I’m sticking with twiggy dancer.
P.S. Jeans tip: to keep your dark jeans dark, turn them inside out before washing. This keeps the dark color from rubbing against other fabrics or parts of your washing machine. And just like your activewear, cold water and letting them air dry will help preserve the elasticity and great fit.
Shop twiggy dancer jeans
The piro clean pair are available via Nordstrom. There’s a handful of sizes in black swan on sale at ShopBop, otherwise you can get them via James Jeans. Amazon also has some sizes on sale in black swan and oil slick (coated black), as low as $56. There are quite a few other versions out there, too, which you can find below:
How do the black ones do with your pet hair? That’s my biggest issue with my current pair of black stretchy skinnies- everything sticks to them.
They’re pretty comparable to my other jeans. The pet hair sticks a bit, but it’s not horribly difficult to get off. My old pair of black skinnies were a ponte knit (not denim), and those were quite a bit worse!
Great review! What is that top you’re wearing? Very cute!
It’s Albion Fit’s swing top: https://albionfit.com/products/swing-top-slate It’s from last fall so that’s the only color that’s still online.
Thanks! I forgot you were short (I’m really tall), so it wouldn’t look the same on me. Very cute outfit on you!
These look amazing on you!! I love how the pockets have minimal detailing giving them a nice clean look. My favorite have been jeans are AG ankle leggings and recently I bought a pair of the beautiful Lana- it is a wide leg style that is just gorgeous, simple and clean.
Your review was so positive about them that I ordered a pair of these twiggy dancers in blue velvet- looks like a nice fully blue denim on amazon to try. I lucked out they were only 48.59 in my size which is an amazing price for great jeans. Maybe you will convert me off AG.
Thanks for the feedback too about the Persu bag. I am glad to here you are still loving it and using it everyday. I ordered the Jessica and the Tom to take a look at and tryout. I’m super excited, they arrive tomorrow. They just look so classic and amazing!!
I appreciate your reviews as always, have a Great Day!!
tell us how you like the Tom bag!
I got the Tom bag and it is really cute. It does not stand up like the jessica bag though and the bungee is on the bottom. I would likely remove that if I had kept it and thread it when I needed it. The fabric is fantastic and classic in the solid black. It fits my 15 inch MacBook Pro safely in the side pocket, I rarely need my computer at the gym and I do not bring it to work. I think this bag could get pretty heavy with the computer and change of clothes but is roomier than the jessica. Personally for what I need the jessica meets my expectations. I bought the tourquoise and black bag, it is gorgeous in person. Just need to make sure I love it, no resale value like Lululemon… Although it is a better bag. I have about 15 Lululemon bags in various sizes. I truly do not need another gym bag, honestly they are just not meeting my needs like this one could. I think these could last quite awhile without any major breakdown. Only concern is the mesh with the water bottle pocket on the jessica bag. The Tom bag has 2 inner water bottle pockets which are really nice. Hope this helps.
FYI: These are sold on Amazon with free prime shipping and returns so you could check it out. I also saw a Tom bag on eBay for 69.99 starting bid that was just relisted.
wow, thanks for the awesome details and tips on amazon/ebay. i really really appreciate it!
i was especially worried about the bottom bungee, so I’m glad you mentioned that it can be removed.
Thank you so much for posting your thoughts!! :)
THANK YOU for this. I’ve been on the lookout for comfortable skinny jeans for ages to no avail – the piro wash looks right up my alley. Apparently, if you have even the slightest of muscle tone in your legs, most traditional skinny jeans just aren’t made for you – granted I probably have a more luscious shape than skinnies are actually designed for but I want what I want.
Fingers crossed for you! I’m not particularly muscular, but they’re so stretchy that I would think they’d accommodate a variety of body types.
Hi Suzanne! Tbh I have completely given up on jeans and real pants altogether. At 5’10” with a relatively short torso in comparison to my legs, it’s hard to find a pair long enough. Besides the issue with length, I have 27″ thunder thighs and my waist is 28″ so nothing ever fits well. Thankfully my butt is 39″ which isn’t that big, but don’t get me started on the size of my calf muscles. I wouldn’t wear jeggings though, I’ve tried them and hated them because I overheat easily. I’m glad you found a pair that works well for you though.
That sounds like such a frustrating combination! I don’t blame you for giving up at all. It’s true that the jeans are a lot more stifling than leggings or a dress/skirt. But, I really like how they look and I’m usually cold all the time anyway. I hope someday you can find your perfect pants, Marie! :)
cool! I got my jeggings (leggins/jeans) from uniqlo. really cheap and so far pretty good . managed to carry them off at work with a more formal looking top and nice shoes.
I hear this brand is pretty popular too http://barbellapparel.com/
have not tried them before though.
I’ve heard of Barbell Apparel too. Fran is another one. I’ve never tried them though, because although I’ve built a lot of muscle (believe it or not, haha), I’m generally not muscular enough for that aspect of fit to be a big problem.
I am a big fan of Rag and Bone jeans, as they are soft and stretchy with mid to high rise. Also Kit and Ace have lovely soft skinny stretchy pants with tailored pockets called apollo pants. They look like grownup past but feel like leggings. I wear them to work.
Funny you say that, I actually tried on 2 or 3 pairs of Rag and Bones during my hunt. The fit was awful on me! I’m not sure why, they just didn’t look right. I guess that’s just how it goes with jeans! The Apollo pants look awfully nice though. I haven’t tried anything from their line just yet.
That’s pretty funny… After I posted, I thought R and B jeans might not work for you as well as for me. I have a wide waist and narrow hips (rectangle? banana shape? who knows), which is completely not your shape at all. Glad to hear your thoughts on R and B!
I don’t know what I am doing wrong. Each time I wear skinny jeans (regardless of brand or price), they sag and I get a “snapping” sound when I walk. Incredibly odd and I avoid skinnies because is this. Does it happen to anyone else?
That’s so strange! Actually though, sometimes that happens to me for a few minutes after I first put on my other pair of jeans (bootcuts), but it goes away pretty quickly.
another great review of something I didn’t know I had to have! I’m pretty loyal to J brand for jeans, but I did pick up a pair of these James skinnies in the black ponte knit material. I had been searching for a black skinny pant that’s comfy but work appropriate as well. thanks again, chica! your reviews are always so detailed and helpful.
My most perfect pair of skinnies (that I wore til they fell apart) were actually J Brand. I got them for $29, so they were perfect in every way! I ordered 3 or 4 other J Brands recently since I figured that would be my best bet, but none of them worked. Go figure! I haven’t given up on them yet, though. Anyway I hope you love this pair too, and thanks for the kind words! :)