I have been doing yoga for more than a decade and I’ve seen all manner of trends come and go – from the tech neon sportswear worthy of a marathon to floaty fisherman trousers and the current, slightly inexplicable, fad for crop tops. I have always stuck with my tried-and-tested cotton shorts, pilfered from some long-forgotten pyjama set and that are far from fashionable.
But even with my general suspicion at any kind of designed gymwear, I was intrigued by the idea of sports jeans. Inspired, possibly, in response to a trend such as athleisure, which merges our exercise and non-exercise gear, these are a hybrid jean that can, in theory, be worn to work and to your exercise class.
Diesel have a pair called Jogg jeans (which, my colleague assures me, are stretchy enough to walk quickly in although they are definitely more street jeans that gym jeans). I’m trying out Uniqlo’s £24.50 Denim Yoga Pants. Designed without pockets or zippers, they look like leggings with a thicker denim feel. The brand says they are stretchy enough to offer the freedom of movement needed for a class of downwards dogs, planks and triangle poses, but they also look like a normal pair of skinny jeans.
There’s only one way to find out if they work. I attend a dynamic class on Thursday lunchtime. I must admit, it does feel like a bit of a life hack to go straight from the entrance of the gym to the studio without having to get changed.
The jeans are fine through a few vinyasas and standing poses but they’re a bit tighter around the knees than I am used to in any lunging poses – though this may not be so noticeable for those who prefer leggings. During the bridge pose towards the end of the class, the teacher asks if my jeans are “restricting” my movement. But they’re definitely an improvement from wearing actual jeans to exercise in and they still look jean-like enough to pass on the street. As a time-saving device for women (like me) who squeeze exercise into busy days, regaining that three minutes in the changing room either side of a class could make them a very wise purchase indeed.
