Why Do Your Leggings Keep Falling Down?


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Leggings may keep falling down due to a poor fit or low-quality materials that do not have enough elasticity to hold their shape. Additionally, leggings that are too big or too small can cause them to slip down. Wearing leggings with a smooth waistband, such as a high-waisted style, can also help prevent slippage. It’s important to choose leggings made of high-quality, stretchy materials and to ensure a proper fit to avoid this issue.

Why Do Your Leggings Keep Falling Down?

Ah….. leggings… The one clothing item that can be worn by women of all sizes….. shapes….. and ages… Leggings are one of the most versatile articles of clothing you can have in your closet… They’re so easy to wear and look great with so many different tops!

Unfortunately….. leggings can also be a bit finicky… Sometimes they fall down! We’ve all been there… You’ve probably experienced the frustrating feeling of your leggings falling down.

Or maybe you’re new to this and are trying to figure out why it’s happening… Don’t worry….. you’re not alone! This is a common problem for many people who wear tight clothing.

Why Do My Leggings Keep Falling Down?

The trouble with leggings is a very common problem among women who wear them… If you think about it….. there are many different types of leggings that all fit differently and have different patterns….. so it makes sense that they would all fit differently as well.

For example….. the fabric type matters in how tight or loose pants fit… The thickness of the fabric will also affect them as well… The same goes for whether or not they are spandex-based or cotton-based… You also have to take into account the cut of the leggings themselves and whether or not they have ruching or pockets in them.

However….. the chances are if the leggings you are wearing are too big for you then they will fall down… If they keep falling down while you are standing still then they will also fall down while you are walking… The reason that your leggings have fallen down is that there is extra fabric around your waist area.

Leggings are supposed to fit snugly against your skin and not leave any room for extra fabric….. particularly in the thigh area… If your leggings are falling down….. it’s possible that you could be wearing a size too large.

If your daily routine includes any sort of activity in which you bend over or squat down….. then this excess fabric could easily cause your leggings to fall down around your ankles.

Do Leggings Fall Down Because They Are Too Big or Too Small?

There are actually two major reasons why leggings fall down: They’re too small or they’re too big… If you’re wearing a truly well-fitting pair of leggings….. they should stay up without any problems because they won’t move or slide around on your body.

If they’re too small….. however….. they’ll be constricting and uncomfortable… Plus….. if the waistband is too tight or the fabric is bunched up in the crotch area (think bike shorts)….. there’s an extra fabric that will pull down if it has anywhere to fall.

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If your leggings are too big or too small….. this is probably (but not always) the reason they keep falling down… If your waistband is stretched out of shape or if you’re swimming in fabric (especially around the thighs)….. it could be causing your leggings to fall down or slide down your legs while you’re wearing them.

This is particularly true if you’re petite or curvy and have trouble finding pants that actually fit around the waist without being huge everywhere.

How Do You Get Leggings to Stay Up?

The answer to this question depends on many factors… There are several types of leggings… Some are thick and padded….. others are thin and stretchy… The fit of your leggings also makes a big difference in how they will stay up… The materials used in the manufacturing process also make a difference because some materials will stretch more than others.

  • Tightness: If you have loose-fitting leggings….. you may want to try wearing them with an equally loose top or garment to help hold them up better… In the same respect….. if you want to wear your leggings tighter….. make sure that you are wearing a tight shirt so that it does not pull up on your leggings.
  • Fabric: If the fabric is heavy and stiffer….. such as spandex….. the fabric is going to hold its shape better and will not stretch out as much… Whereas thinner fabrics like cotton blends have more give in them and will stretch out more easily when worn.
  • Style: Leggings that have a built-in waistband are going to be more stable than a pair that does not have one built in because there will be less chance for them to slip down your hips or waist.

A few ways that I have found to help leggings stay up:

  1. Try wearing some sort of underwear with your leggings… My mom told me about this trick and it works every time for me… She also said that if you don’t like underwear showing then you can buy some of those seamless undies (the ones that make you look like you’re not wearing any underwear at all).
  2. Wear a belt… If you wear skinny jeans or leggings often….. then you probably already own a belt… This works especially great if your leggings are dark in color as you can’t really see the belt through the pants.
  3. Rolling your waistband helps too! You can roll just a little bit or a lot depending on how tight your pants are.

How Do You Fix a Waist in Leggings?

If you’re familiar with sewing….. there are a couple of things that can be done to fix a waistband in leggings.

It’s not difficult to make a pair of leggings fit properly at the waist… It just takes a little extra work… Here are a few things you can do to get the right fit:

Make sure your waist measurement is correct.

  1. Check the size chart for your leggings brand….. and choose a size that fits comfortably around your waist.
  2. When you’re trying on leggings….. keep in mind that they may stretch slightly once they’re on… If they feel too loose while you’re trying them on….. they’ll be even looser once they’ve been worn a few times.
  3. Try different brands of leggings until you find one that has the right fit in the waist… Different brands have different sizing strategies….. so it’s worth taking some time to shop around before settling on one brand for all of your leggings needs.
  4. Buy two pairs of “control top” leggings if you want to wear them with shirts or blouses that have high necks or are otherwise fitted close to the neckline (think sweaters or turtlenecks)… That way you’ll always have an appropriate pair for any outfit you intend to wear.

Depending on the type of leggings you’re making….. you may not even have to do anything at all… Some patterns are drafted with a built-in elastic waistband….. which saves you the trouble of having to sew one yourself.

If you’ve made the pattern yourself….. however….. or if your leggings pattern doesn’t come with an elastic band….. here are some ways you can add one:

Sewing an elastic waistband on after you’ve already sewn up the first waistband seam is difficult and time-consuming… One way to make this process easier is to cut your fabric about an inch wider than the pattern asks for.

Then fold it over and baste a new seam down the center of your fabric… This way….. when you open up your fabric again….. you’ll have enough extra room to sew the elastic band.

How Do You Know If Leggings Are Too Big?

Are they too big in the waist? Do they bunch up? Do they fall down while doing squats or lunges? Why does it matter? Because if the bottom is too big….. it can bunch up and give the appearance of being too short…especially when walking or sitting down.

This is the most common problem people have with their leggings….. so if this phenomenon has occurred to you….. you are not alone!

It happens because a lot of women make one mistake: they don’t pay attention to the rise of the leggings.

The rise is the distance from where the waistband sits on your body to where it hits your crotch… It’s important because along with the inseam….. it determines how much fabric there is between your crotch and your shoes (or wherever else your leggings end)… The higher-rise styles often come in a longer inseam than lower-rise styles do… But even within a style….. there can be differences… So how do you tell if your beloved legging has become too big?

There are a few ways to check:

  1. Put on the leggings and stand with your legs together… If there is any bunching it will happen here… It may be a little difficult to tell since you’ll have an outer layer over the top of the leggings.
  2. Try them on with an outfit just like you would when going out… This will help you see if the leggings cause any bunching or pulling in other areas of your body… You can also see how long your tights are when wearing them for reference as well.
  3. For squatting and lunging….. gauge how well they stay up by taking them for a spin! Make sure that as you move through various exercises and positions….. that there is no bagginess or bunching that happens due to the size of the clothing.

How Do You Know If Leggings Are Too Small?

Leggings are a fashion staple for many women….. and for good reason… They’re comfortable….. stylish….. and easy to wear… The problem is figuring out if leggings are too small… This can be tricky because different brands have different fits….. but there are also some universal signs to look for when you’re trying to figure out if your leggings are too small.

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  1. Tightness – The most obvious sign that your leggings fit too small is that they’re tight in the legs or waist… When you try them on….. they should feel snug….. but not overly constricting… If you feel like your leggings are cutting off blood circulation or making it difficult for you to breathe….. it’s time to get a pair that fits better.
  2. Material – Another way to tell if your leggings are too small is by looking at the material itself… Leggings that are too small will show all of the flaws in the material from an outside source… For example….. if you can see through the material or notice that the material has become worn and thin over time….. this could mean that your leggings are too small for you.

If they’re too small….. they’ll cut into your skin and become uncomfortable to wear during the day… A good pair will give you a smooth silhouette without making you feel like you’re wearing tights.

Should Leggings Be Tight or Loose?

So what’s the answer to the question “Should leggings be tight or loose?” The answer is: it’s completely up to you!

If you prefer to wear them tight….. go for it… If you prefer to wear them looser….. that’s fine too… Both styles look great on different body types and both look equally good with any kind of top….. whether it’s a crop top….. tunic….. or dress… So really….. as long as you feel comfortable in your leggings….. there’s no reason not to wear them however they feel best on your body.

In fact….. wearing leggings that fit means you’ll be more confident and less likely to have wardrobe malfunctions (or have people focus on your outfit instead of your presentation)… And if you’re a bit self-conscious about sporting leggings in public….. then it might take some time to build up the courage to do so… But once you overcome that first hurdle….. you’ll never look back!

Tight and loose leggings both have their own set of problems and their own pros… Let’s take a look at both leggings styles and see which you should wear:

Tight Leggings

Tight leggings are sort of the “classic” legging… They’re skin-tight on your legs from the waist to the ankle and usually match in color.

The tightness is usually what makes tight leggings so flattering because it accentuates your curves….. hugs you in all the right places….. and makes you look really slim.

However….. tight leggings can be tough to pull off if you have any sort of body imperfections or cellulite on your legs….. plus they can make it difficult for you to bend over comfortably because they’re so tight… You might even find yourself getting a wedgie!

Loose Leggings

Loose or baggy leggings come in a variety of styles that range from wide-legged to Capri length….. but they’re all baggy around your legs.

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Style options… The best place to start when you’re looking for loose leggings is to find a style that fits you well and is flattering… There are many different styles available….. so be sure to spend some time trying on different types to find a style that’s comfortable and looks great on you… You can always go back and exchange the ones that don’t fit well later if you don’t have time to do it right away.

Fit… The fit of your pants is one of the most important parts of buying loose leggings… They should be tight enough so they don’t fall down but also not so tight that they restrict movement of your legs or hips… You should be able to move around comfortably in them without feeling like they’re going to fall off.


In summary….. my best advice for buying leggings is to buy a size bigger than you think you need… If they’re too small….. they’ll be uncomfortable to wear throughout the day and can cause bulging at your thighs.

What is your body type? If you’re curvy (read: big in the middle) then you’re probably going to want to look for thicker waistbands and/or more control top style legs than someone who has a straight body type like mine.

Leggings with more control top styles will help keep everything right where it needs to be and make sure that nothing pops out while you’re moving around or sitting down (especially important if you’re wearing something low cut).

You may also be interested in… Can You Wear Socks with Leggings? and What Are Leggings Good For?