Best Post-Pregnancy Shapewear Leggings - Tried & Tested
Leggings are the most versatile after-baby transitional pant when you find your maternity pants are too big and your pre-pregnancy pants are too tight. In come compression leggings - wonderful wardrobe marvels that give a little bit of nip and tuck to the tummy and a gentle squeeze to energize your legs. You don’t have to be a mom to fall in love with compression leggings. Once you’ve tried them, you’ll wonder how you ever got on without them.
How are shapewear leggings different from regular leggings?
Shapewear leggings are designed to be flattering. They feature targeted compression to smooth and sculpt your body. Shapewear leggings give you tummy control, lift your butt and slim your legs.
Is there a difference between shapewear leggings and compression leggings?
Yes! Technically speaking, there is a difference. While in women’s wear (and in this guide), shapewear leggings are interchangeably called “compression leggings,” the distinction should be made that in sportswear, “compression leggings” refers to athletic performance leggings. Athletic compression leggings are usually much tighter than shapewear leggings and are designed to optimize bloodflow and support muscles during intense physical exercise. The compression leggings featured in this guide are not athletic performance leggings. Their main purpose is body sculpting. Our shapewear leggings offer targeted compression in the tummy and rear and gentle to moderate compression to slim and energize your legs.
Can I wear shapewear leggings all day?
Yes! Wear them as you would normal leggings. Our compression leggings are designed to be comfortable for all day wear. They give you full freedom of movement and keep up with all your daily activities.
Can I wear compression leggings while I’m pregnant?
We don’t recommend wearing compression leggings during pregnancy. Check out our maternity leggings guide for our recommendations on great leggings to wear during pregnancy. There are styles that offer belly and back support specially for pregnant bodies.
Do shapewear leggings eliminate the need for shapewear?
Shapewear leggings are designed to be worn alone, without additional shapewear. They provide light to moderate generalized support. They don’t take the place of post-partum belly bands and binders which give firm, targeted support intended to help you recover from pregnancy and birth. See our Post-Pregnancy Guide for more information on after-baby recovery.
Best Post-Pregnancy Shapewear and Compression Leggings
Best Everyday Cotton Shapewear Legging
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
COMPRESSION
COVERAGE
WAIST Falls slightly above Belly Button
TARGETS Tummy Rear Legs
FABRIC: Medium weight cotton matte finish
88% Cotton; 12% Elastane
INSEAM: ∼25"
FIT NOTE: True to size
WHY WE LOVE IT:
We found a winning combination in this legging’s soft stretch cotton and 360° smoothing compression. Yummie’s Rachel Cotton Control Legging is incredibly comfortable to wear throughout the day and even for a work out. It’s probably the most comfortable warm weather compression legging. Yummie’s special 2-ply waistband gives you extra hold and coverage in the tummy.
Best Active Power Legging
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
COMPRESSION
COVERAGE
WAIST Ultra High Waistband
TARGETS Tummy Rear Legs
FABRIC: Medium weight moisture-wicking fabric with slight shine
79% Recycled Polyester; 21% Elastane
INSEAM: ∼28.5"
FIT NOTE: True to size
WHY WE LOVE IT:
What if you could have all the goodies and do good for the planet? That’s what we’ve found in Girlfriend Collective’s Compressive High-Rise Leggings. It has the highest level of compression and coverage (100% opacity) in our collection, and its premium 4-way stretch fabric is made from recycled water bottles – 25 to be exact!
Ultra-high waist and all-around compression seriously sculpts your body and energizes your legs for better post-baby workouts. Squat-proof, moisture-wicking and breathable these power leggings will keep up with you.
Best Everyday Seamless Shapewear Legging
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
COMPRESSION
COVERAGE
WAIST Ultra High Waistband
TARGETS Tummy Rear
Thighs
FABRIC: Medium weight seamless fabric with slight sheen
88% Nylon; 12% Spandex
INSEAM: ∼24"
FIT NOTE: True to size
WHY WE LOVE IT:
For ultimate high-waisted core support, Belly Bandit’s Mother Tucker® Compression Leggings offer firm compression and the highest waist in our collection. The ultra high waistband smoothes away any muffin top and keeps you covered while nursing. You get an energizing 360° compression
from these leggings from your waist down through your thighs. For a thicker, more opaque version,
try
Mother
Tucker® Moto Compression Leggings.
Best Everyday Cotton Shapewear Legging
with Adjustable Tummy Compression
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
COMPRESSION up to
COVERAGE
WAIST High Waistband
TARGETS Tummy Rear Legs
FABRIC: Medium weight cotton matte finish
Body: 88% Cotton; 12% Elastane
Mesh Panels: 82% Polyester; 18% Spandex
INSEAM: ∼27"
FIT NOTE: True to size
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Yummie’s 3-in-1 Shaping Legging has a floating inner mesh waist panel that can be worn three ways to customize your level of support as! This versatility will keep up with your changes as you bounce back post-partum. You can choose to have 360° all around compression, focused front compression for a flatter tummy or focused back compression to smooth out love handles. If you love the all-day, everyday comfort of cotton leggings but want more compression around the tummy, these are your leggings. The inner mesh panel offers adjustable compression around the tummy while the cotton spandex body offers gentle 360° compression all over down to the ankles.
Best Active Shapewear Seamless Legging
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
COMPRESSION
COVERAGE
WAIST High Waistband
TARGETS Tummy Legs
FABRIC: Moisture wicking, Medium weight seamless fabric with slight sheen, and ribbed detail along side of leg
76% Polyester, 24% Spandex
INSEAM: ∼25"
FIT NOTE: True to size
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Boob Design’s Soft Support After-Baby Sports Leggings are truly made for working out, but they are so comfortable that we have been wearing them all the time. Designed with a high 2-ply waistband for solid post-baby tummy support. After you take them off, your legs and tummy feel like they have been through a workout. Made in Italy, from recycled polyamide, this is a high-quality sustainable choice. The extra touches like the ribbed detailing along the side of the leg and a lace pattern behind the knees for ventilation really make this a standout legging.