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I own four pairs of faux leather leggings at this point, and honestly, most of them taught me what to avoid rather than what to buy. Finding the best faux leather leggings comes down to a shorter list than you’d think: a matte, not shiny-plastic, finish, a waistband that doesn’t roll down after twenty minutes, and a price that doesn’t assume you’re only wearing them once.
I tested and researched my way through the current crop of faux leather leggings that look expensive, from a $34 pair that genuinely surprised me to a $128 pair worth the splurge if you wear leggings constantly, and landed on nine I’d actually recommend to a friend.
1. White House Black Market Faux Leather Legging
This is the pair I’d point you to first if you only buy one. The Hollywood waistband and princess seams built into this design give it real shape instead of the boxy, universal cut most faux leather leggings default to.
Faux Leather Legging ($99, White House Black Market). Structured through the hip and thigh with a genuinely tailored line, so it holds its shape instead of bagging out after a few wears.
Styling tip: Skip pairing this one with anything else black and shiny. The matte finish is what makes it read expensive, and a second faux leather or vinyl piece cancels that out.
2. HUE Faux Leather Leggings
HUE has been making legwear since 1978, and it shows here. The high-rise fit and zero roll-down waistband solve the exact problem that makes cheaper faux leather leggings feel cheap by hour three.
Faux Leather Leggings ($58, HUE). A specialist brand’s fit knowledge at a genuinely reasonable price, with reviewers specifically calling out the waistband staying put all day.
Styling tip: Don’t buy your usual size up for extra stretch here. These already have plenty of give, and going up just adds bunching at the ankle.
3. Commando Faux Leather Legging with Perfect Control
If you wear leggings under a blazer for actual workdays, this is the one built for that. A structured, smoothing fit holds its line sitting at a desk all day rather than stretching out by noon.
Faux Leather Legging ($128, Commando). Built-in smoothing through the waist and hip means it reads polished under tailoring, not like off-duty loungewear that wandered into the office.
Styling tip: This isn’t the pair for a workout or a long walk. The structured fit that makes it office-appropriate is less forgiving over hours of movement than a softer style.
4. Soma 24/7 High Waist Faux Leather Legging
The waistband is the whole pitch here: smooth in front, genuinely no-dig elastic in back, confirmed right on Soma’s own product page. That’s the detail that actually matters if you’re wearing these from morning coffee through a full day out.
24/7 by Soma High Waist Faux Leather Legging ($79, Soma). Engineered specifically for all-day wear rather than photos, so it’s the pick if comfort matters more to you than a dressier finish.
Styling tip: People assume a comfortable waistband means a looser, loungewear cut, and size down expecting a tighter fit. True to size is right here.
5. Abercrombie High Rise 90s Relaxed Vegan Leather Pant
I went in looking for a cropped, ankle-length option here and came up empty. Every genuinely cropped faux leather legging I could verify was either sold out or nearly there, so I’m recommending this relaxed, straight-leg style instead. It has the same soft, non-plasticky feel and a considered ’90s cut that reads intentional rather than cheap.
High Rise 90s Relaxed Vegan Leather Pant ($34.97, Abercrombie & Fitch). Relaxed through the hip and leg rather than fitted, with a size range from 23 to 38 waist and short, regular, and long inseams, which is rare at this price.
Styling tip: Styling this like a fitted legging is the mistake. It’s a relaxed pant by design, so it wants a tucked-in top and a heel or boot to keep the proportions from swallowing you.
6. Commando Faux Leather Flared Leggings
The flare at the hem is subtle enough that this still reads as a legging, not a costume, and it’s the one pair on this list built specifically to balance a chunky boot or platform without your ankle disappearing into fabric.
Faux Leather Flared Leggings ($79, Commando). Same internal smoothing waistband and four-way stretch as Commando’s $128+ styles, just built into a flared silhouette.
Styling tip: A flared hem needs a heel or a substantial boot to look finished. Pairing it with flat sneakers makes the flare look accidental instead of styled.
7. Abercrombie Curve Love High Rise 90s Relaxed Vegan Leather Pant
Most “plus-size” leggings are just a graded-up version of the straight-size pattern, and it shows in the fit. This one isn’t that: Abercrombie re-drafted the pattern itself for a curvier hip-to-waist ratio, with a full 23 to 38 waist range actually in stock, not just listed.
Curve Love High Rise 90s Relaxed Vegan Leather Pant ($34.97, Abercrombie & Fitch). Cut from the same soft vegan leather as the brand’s straight-size version, but with genuinely considered sizing built into the pattern itself, not a graded add-on.
Styling tip: Sizing down expecting a snug fit is the mistake here. This is a relaxed cut by design, so true to size gives you the intended silhouette, not a tight one.
8. Spanx Faux Leather Moto Leggings
The seaming here does real work. Moto-inspired stitching down the front adds just enough visual interest that this pair doesn’t disappear into “plain black leggings” the way a lot of faux leather styles do.
Faux Leather Moto Leggings ($110, Spanx). Considered stitching detail without being loud, in Spanx’s usual reliable faux leather fabrication.
Styling tip: The seam detail is the whole point of this pair, so don’t cover it with a long tunic or an oversized sweater. Let a cropped top or fitted jacket show the leg.
9. Spanx Faux Leather Leggings
At $39, this is the one I’d actually recommend to someone testing out faux leather leggings for fall before committing more money, and it doesn’t feel like a trial version. The Power Waistband uses hidden compression mesh that most leggings twice this price skip entirely.
Faux Leather Leggings ($39, Spanx). A sleek finish that reads more expensive than the price tag, and the most budget-friendly pair on this list I’d still call genuinely wearable.
Styling tip: Assuming a $39 pair needs replacing within a season is the trap here. Wash it inside out on cold and skip the dryer, and it holds up far longer than the price suggests.
None of this requires buying all nine, obviously. If you’re only adding one pair this fall, start with whichever note above actually matches a complaint you’ve had with leggings before, a roll-down waistband, a boxy fit, a cheap-looking sheen, because that’s the real problem faux leather leggings that look expensive are solving. The $34 Abercrombie pair and the $128 Commando pair prove the same thing from opposite ends: price alone doesn’t predict how good a faux leather legging looks. Construction does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do faux leather leggings actually look expensive, or is that just marketing?
It genuinely comes down to finish and fit rather than price. A matte finish, a waistband that doesn’t roll, and seaming that holds its shape read expensive regardless of whether the pair cost $34 or $128, while a shiny, boxy pair looks cheap even at $150.
How do I keep faux leather leggings from cracking or peeling?
Wash them inside out on cold, skip the dryer, and hang or lay flat to dry. Heat is what breaks down the coating on faux leather, not normal wear.
What shoes actually work with faux leather leggings?
Ankle boots are the easiest default, but a flared hem like the Commando pair pairs better with a heeled boot or platform so the proportions balance out. Ballet flats work with a slimmer, fitted pair, just not a flared one.
Is it worth spending more than $60 on a pair?
Only if you’re wearing them constantly. The $128 Commando pair earns its price in structure and control for daily office wear, but if you want to try the look before committing, the $34 to $39 options on this list are genuinely good, not just acceptable placeholders.
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