I get the dreaded camel toe in every pair of leggings I ever buy and it’s starting to piss me off

[AngeloMysterioso]

I’ve just bought a gorgeous pair of Sweaty Betty power leggings, and was so excited to put them on, but there it is again. It doesn’t matter whether they’re cheap, expensive, what brand, what fabric, it always happens.

it’s not because they’re too small or tight- I’m a size 10 and I’ve bought a high waist pair in medium, they’re actually a tiny bit baggy at the knees. I’m wondering if it’s because I’ve got narrow violin hips but chubby thighs, so they always rub at the top.

The only way I seem to be able to get rid of it is to wear them so low that I get a muffin top and they’re baggy and wrinkled everywhere else. Is there another solution?

Baffled by all the comments telling you to size up!

OP, those leggings look too big for you. There is excess fabric at the knees and the hip (second photo shows this). I always size down in leggings. Power leggings are compression leggings and should be tight.

That does not look good. I have at least 10 pairs of Sweaty Betty power leggings and I don’t get this even though I don’t wear underwear with them. It must be a personal shape thing. Wear a longer top.

It's just your shape, OP - there's nothing remotely "wrong" with you, you just carry your weight differently and that means the Powers don't fit you the way they do the model.

I live in Power leggings (only ever bought in the sale, mind) and they don't do this to me because my extra weight is all elsewhere.

From those pics, the leggings are far too tight on the top yet baggy on the knees. They don't fit you - you deserve better!

I don't think it was 'fat-shaming', unless you personally think it's shameful to be larger than a size 10.

Wear something else?

What a ridiculous comment!
Everyone is sharing their own experiences, learned the hard way, we're all different shapes and sizes and we don't all suit the same style or fit of clothing. Labels sizing is not always reliable and a lot of us are different sizes top and bottom.
We should share our experiences and help each other, there hasn't been one negative comment here to put anyone down.
OP knows this particular pair of leggings isn't working for her, that's why she started a thread. Nobody has been negative about her, there's nothing to be negative about, the leggings are the issue and we're all trying to help.
And we all have our preferences on what we think is acceptable everyday clothing. Someone might think leggings should be banned, someone else might think pinafore dresses should be banned, or tiny handbags or oversized bags or hoodies or large earrings or whatever, it's all very personal.
If your mum/sister/daughter was to wear something that didn't suit them, would you not say so and explain why and help suggest an alternative?

@Flossflower I've made perfectly successful leggings with just a zigzag sewing machine. I prefer to use the overlocker but it's not strictly necessary. I agree fabric sourcing is the biggest issue, DM me if you want to exchange suppliers so we don't derail the thread.

Don't try shiny period pants, I find my leggings slip down over them something terrible.

Size down! Then the material stretches across the front of the crotch rather than sinking in.

Agree with high waist too. I like M&S good move for a really high waist and a drawcord to keep them there.

And thighs touching isn't about size if you're muscled there. Mine touched when I was old school 10 (so I guess 8 today?).

All that said..... You look totally, utterly fine! The photos are retouched anyway. Also, even if you eradicate it, as soon as you raise your leg to move surely it returns? These terms for women's bodies are so deeply misogynist. Yet most men don't actually notice that level of detail. Somehow the patriarchy has women obsessing over this shit that only harns women. I wouldn't want to attract a man who cared about this shit anyway.

I'm surprised the leggings are Sweaty Betty as they don't look a good fit, and look very thin in the way they have totally encased your labia. You'll just have to wear a longer top!

I get the dreaded camel toe in every pair of leggings

If it happen with every pair maybe you need to aways try them on in the store, or change from leggings to joggers.

Very few people actually fit off shelf clothing well. Women have far more varied body shapes than men imho.

A 10 might feel like its the closest to being right for you, but that brand of leggings is too tight around the thigh for your shape. You need something that cuts with more fabric around the thigh (but that isn't any bigger around knee/waist)

You might just need to try on loads of brands to see what works for your shape. Try french or Italian brands.

Boden hareem pants.

Stuff cotton wool down there. Worked for me. Of course it's a nuisance every time you need to pee (!) but you get used to it.

Can people run in joggers? I wear leggings and cycle shorts for running because I find having all that fabric flopping about incredibly annoying and I don't need any extra excuses not to run. <wanders off muttering>

You don't have a camel toe, you have narrow hips that make your thighs touch and give creases at either side of your vag, leggings sit alot different on people with wide hips and no thigh gap and thus no creases at the sides.

Agree with pp saying you need a larger size, start with a 14 and work upward. It doesn't matter if your knees/calves/ankles are a size 10, you choose the size that fits the largest part of you. For many of us, that a generous hips/arse/tummy!

Or, try a different style - plenty of activewear styles are looser through the hips and thighs but still hug the calves or ankles.

Argh! The dreaded central seam! How can that be comfortable for anyone?

I favour Gymshark leggings. They keep everything smooth-looking.

Get ones without the central seam! Definitely helps and is more comfy.

I have these - super flattering

bambooclothing.co.uk/shop/mallea-ultra-crossover-leggings-bitter-chocolate/

I don’t think you have the body type for leggings I’m afraid, I’m not saying that to be mean but you carry weight differently than the models in the photos you attached and it looks like you have them pulled up over your waist when they’re probably not high waisted leggings?

I have some grey Boux Avenue leggings that work pretty well.

The model in the first pic with the purple leggings has a bit of a 'camel toe', or at least what I understand of the term. But look at the way they're standing, they've got their legs in a position where the leggings won't crease, and in 2 and 3 they're clearly pulled down slightly.

You see the same with mom jeans. For photos of the back, the models almost invariably pose with their bum stuck up in the air to make them look more flattering, when in reality, stood normally, they make even the most shapely bum look unshapely IMO.

Some women naturally have more fat on their mons pubis than others. There's nothing wrong with that at all. If the creases bother you then wear a longline top over leggings. I always wear a long-ish top with them as personally I feel too exposed with such tight fabric.

They look too short in the 'rise' for you. And too tight across the hips.

I'm not sure if these are for gym/sport or just everyday wear?

For the third time… they are high waisted.

I don’t need a larger size, and definitely not a 14, that would be way too big

Why don't you just try a larger pair and see if you're any more comfortable?

There's zero point telling yourself that you're a size 10 in these leggings when they don't fit you comfortably. You can either try a different size, or a different style, or most likely, both.

Btw, they are not high-waisted. You can clearly see on the model photos that they sit a couple of inches below the belly button on one model and just below the belly button on the other model. They are styled with a deep band around the top, but that band sits at the high hip/below waist on the models. The models have flat stomachs; on anyone more rounded, they will sit lower still.

Like other pp, I also thought they were pulling at the crotch on you because you had pulled them up too far, because there is not enough fabric in the size 10 to cover your hips/bum/belly.

For those who clearly think I’m in denial about my clothes size, here I am in two different pairs of jeans, in two styles from two different shops… both a size 10.