The year 2020 was unique. Women, confined to their homes due to the pandemic, took a break from their demanding beauty routines. Makeup was abandoned and sweatsuits became the go-to attire for running errands. As we entered the new year, a new trend emerged, shattering the relaxed approach to fashion that had prevailed. Introducing the first viral fashion trend of 2021: the Amazon legging.
"Amazon leggings" is a term used to describe a particular style of workout pants. These affordable, colorful, and textured compression gear, ranging from $12 to $28, are available from various sellers on the e-commerce giant's platform. However, it's not the price or the design that has everyone talking; it's the unique and cheeky feature that sets them apart. These leggings have a dart-like waistband that points directly down to a ruched seam, creating a distinctive "butt-crack" effect.
In other words, they leave little to the imagination.
Has there ever been a more revealing piece of clothing? A more audacious fashion statement? These pants make even the tightest skinny jeans look like personal protective equipment (PPE). Cosmopolitan even went as far as to label them "butt-perfecting" in their coverage.
It's safe to say that TikTok played a significant role in the popularity of these provocative leggings. Users like Devin K. Olson, a self-proclaimed "leggings queen," showcase the snug bottoms and proudly display their backsides for all to see. "Oh my god, please go buy these," she exclaims while flipping her hair, reveling in her newfound booty-liciousness.
Naturally, I was intrigued. I purchased a highly rated pair for $22.99 via Amazon Prime. As I slipped them on and turned around to view myself in the mirror, my expectations were high.
To my disappointment, the effect was underwhelming. The aesthetic felt like a combination of Jane Fonda's iconic workout videos from the '80s, with the butt dart resembling an over-the-pants thong, and something straight out of Swamp Thing (perhaps a different color would have been more flattering). The scrunch feature had a certain appeal, but it somehow managed to discourage me from wearing them outside the comfort of my own home.
Instead of feeling like Kim Kardashian, I felt more like I was begging people to avert their gaze.
I walked past my husband, attempting an EmRata impression, waiting for his reaction. He looked at me with a puzzled expression. "You look good," he said, "but I wouldn't call them pants."
Interestingly, these leggings' ability to drive partners wild has become another selling point on TikTok. Numerous videos feature women parading in front of their significant others, proudly flaunting their new revealing workout wear. User @raniaclayton even posted a video of herself trying them on, strutting toward her husband as Christmas music played in the background. His response? "Like a bullseye to your butthole."
Ah, romance!
Now, don't get me wrong; I'm not one to shy away from bold fashion choices. After a year of hiding out at home, we're all eager to mix things up. But are these cheap, risqué leggings really the fashion statement we need right now?
After months of sitting on our derrières, the Amazon leggings feel like a bizarre combination of trying too hard and completely giving up on style. Furthermore, they lack durability. After a half-hearted 30-minute workout, my pair developed small holes in the knees. Haven't we learned our lesson from the infamous Amazon coat, which reached a point of overexposure where no one wanted to be seen wearing it anymore?
Personally, I can't wait for the pandemic to end so I can showcase my most captivating feature: the lower half...of my face.
