Finding the perfect pair of leggings can be tricky, especially when searching for one that's not see-through, flatters your body shape, is the right length and feels comfortable. However, Marks and Spencer's says its 'magic' pair of leggings can help shoppers with all those things.
On the M&S website, the leggings have an impressive 900 five-star reviews, with a pair of the Magic Shaping High Waisted Leggings setting you back £19.50. Meanwhile, for a cheaper price of £10 Primark is selling its own version, with its Shaping Active Leggings.
But which one truly works? Reporter Emily Collis of sister publication Birmingham Live put them to the test and compared both. Here's how she got on.
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M&S's leggings
While trying on M&S' 'magic' leggings, Emily said: "I'm a size 14 and 5 ft 10, so finding bottoms long enough can be difficult. I was pleased to see that M&S's leggings came in petite, regular and long, with a big range of sizes from 6 up to 24. I got a 14 long.
"My first impression was that the fabric was very thick. It felt nice and sturdy - the kind that would suck in your lumps and bumps, but I feared it would be uncomfortable to wear. Getting them on took a while the first time. I had to wrestle with the thick elasticated fabric to pull them up but once they were on, they were surprisingly comfortable.
"The waist was very high, but synched me in nicely, with no bulging on top." She added: "My body shape dips in slightly below my hips, but the leggings gave me a smooth, more hour glass shape. Side on, I didn't think my tummy looked any flatter, but they were flattering on my bum. Overall, I was impressed."
Primark leggings
When it came to Primark's leggings, Emily described the fabric as "nice and thick", but says it "didn't feel as stiff as M&S's". She said the leggings came in sizes XS to XXL, so she went for a large.
Upon putting them on, Emily said: "They were easy to get on, but I could instantly tell the fit wasn't right. Despite being a little too short in length on me, they fit like a glove around my legs and I was certain a size down would have been too tight.
"But they were oddly baggy around my tummy, which meant the fabric bunched up when I sat down and the leggings kept slipping down on my waist. There was also a stonking great seam down the centre front, which really didn't look nice. Most importantly, the leggings didn't seem to have any shaping effect whatsoever. In fact, they were quite unflattering."
Were the leggings good value for money?
Emily said she favoured M&S's leggings over Primark's, adding that the budget retailer's offering "didn't do anything for my figure and the sizing was off." However, she concluded: "So, are M&S's Magic Leggings really magic in terms of their shaping abilities? In my opinion, no.
"They didn't give me a flat tum or Kim K's bum, but they did flatter my curves and give me a more hour glass shape. I thought they were decent value for money and I'll definitely be wearing them again."
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