What To Look For
Turn the pant cuff inside out and look at the wrong side of the fleece. A thick, soft-napped surface, such as a polar fleece, will ensure warmth for après-skiing. High-performance fleece pants are generally lightweight and are often made of moisture-wicking fabric that pulls perspiration away from the body to keep you dry and comfortable during exercise. Although this garment is mostly related to exercise, the stretch properties in fleece blends, which include spandex, allow it to be cut into form-fitting silhouettes. Stretching a section of the fabric diagonally, vertically and horizontally ensures a fleece blend.
Common Pitfalls
Acrylic fleece, although economical, will begin to pill after the first or second wash. Graphics with a thick, opaque, and waxy surface are made from plastisol, containing PVC and phthalates, which are not eco-friendly. The screens will begin to crack and fade away after a few washes. Wide elastic bands with multiple-needle stitching as well as elastic leg cuffs are tight and will often cause discomfort during exercise. Fleece pants that start to hike up during exercise have an inaccurate measurement at the front and back rise as well as inseam.
Where To Buy
Retail stores like Niketown, Puma and Footlocker as well as department stores such as Macy's, Nordstrom and Bloomingdales carry a variety of athletic brands. If you want to shop online, websites such as Like.com, Shopbop.com and TheFind.com, offer a variety of designer as well as athletic fleece pants on one webpage for comparative shopping. Retail stores like Old Navy as well as the Gap also offer their version of fleece pants.
Cost
As of summer 2010, designer fleece bottoms range in price from $45 for a Calvin Klein high-performance lounge pant to $168 for an Ulla Johnson slouch cotton fleece pant. According to Luckymag.com, the Ulla Johnson pant is one of the top five looks for the fall 2010 season. Young, Fabulous & Broke features wide leg harem fleece pants ranging from $87 to $158. Old Navy's sporty, economical fleece starts at $9.99. American Apparel fleece ranges from $32 for a straight leg to $36 for a track pant, and the Nike classic fleece warm-up pant ranges from $30 to $40.
Comparison Shopping
Polartec fleece is lightweight, allowing the fleece to be styled in form-fitting silhouettes like the skinny pant. Brands such as North Face have introduced eco-friendly Recycled Polartec made from 90 percent post-industrial waste and 10 percent post-consumer waste. Battalion.com's "Jaclyn" eco-fleece leggings are made from a blend of bamboo, organic cotton and spandex. According to The Battalion.com, Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines featured the eco fleece legging as the most coveted pant of the fall 2010 season. Plush or polar fleece are heavyweight and have a thick-napped surface, making it a better selection for exercise such as walking or jogging.
Insider Tips
According to Luckymag.com, the fleece pant is one of the most popular styles for the fall 2010 season. Look for trims such as zippered leg cuffs for a comfortable leg opening. A ribbed waistband with an adjustable drawstring will conform to your natural waistline giving you more comfort and ease during movement. Full elastic or 1/2-back elastic waistbands, with adjustable drawstrings, will also remain snug during vigorous workouts. Making sure the fleece fabric is 100 percent cotton as well as cotton blends will ensure the garment is breathable.
Member Comments