The Best Leggings for Every Body Type

With the rise of athleisure, leggings have earned a major spot in our everyday wardrobes. But with all the colorful, cutout, and cropped styles out there, it can be tricky to figure out what actually looks good. Since leggings are designed for a practical purpose (breaking a sweat), comfort will always be key. But, for those of us who consider them an off-duty staple, however, knowing what fits our bodies best makes finding The Ones that much easier. The best leggings for a curvy figure aren't necessarily the same as those with a more athletic shape, but how do you figure it all out?

To help you find the most flattering leggings for your body type, we tapped Robyn Berkley, founder of super-stylish activewear line Live the Process, to share her expert advice on what style of leggings looks best on every shape. So whether you're petite, curvy, or athletically built, you can feel confident that your leggings look great, no matter what you plan to do while wearing them.

"Mid-rise waist is best suited for the Apple figure," says Robyn. And while, lucky for you, both crop and long styles work with your shape, she recommends staying away from prints. Instead, "incorporate mesh detailing in the low leg area if you want to go with something a bit more fun," she suggests. In terms of colors, stick with something that's "low-key and doesn't draw too much attention to the stomach or waist area."

"High-rise is definitely the perfect style for the hourglass shape," notes Robyn. She adds that "the higher cut slims at the midsection." Her other tip for those with curves is to try a style with side-paneling, which "gives a slimming illusion while elongating the leg."

"For ladies with curves around the hips, make sure to choose a pant that doesn't dig into your waist," says Robyn. Instead, search for styles that fold over or feature a wide waistband "that hits right below the belly button." For women who are wider on the bottom, Robyn suggests skipping prints for "bold solid colors" and avoiding a crop style for a longer one instead.

For anyone who is more petite, the ideal legging is a lower-waisted style and "definitely a crop, which tends to elongate your legs offering a taller illusion," says Robyn. As for style, "I would say print or color blocking works best for this body type, or even being more risqué and trying cutouts."

For a rectangle shape, Robyn recommends a cropped or long lower waist style. The ideal style "hits right below the belly button," she says, which "is perfect as they make the waist look more narrow and body more curved." She also notes that this body type can "wear any colors or prints for this as well as matte metallics," so don't be afraid to go bold.