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- TikTok user Hannah Schlenker caused a frenzy over Aerie's Offline Real Me High Waisted Crossover Leggings after a video of her wearing them got over 7 million views.
- The leggings sold out immediately, but some sizes are back in stock.
- I put them to the test, and yes, they are as flattering and soft as everyone says, but the material was a bit thin.
Aerie OFFLINE Real Me High Waisted Crossover Legging Shop at Aerie External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."A few months ago, a viral TikTok video by user Hannah Schlenker made Aerie's Offline Real Me High Waisted Crossover Leggings one of the most coveted clothing items of 2020. As others began to buy and post the leggings showing how good they looked on different body types, they quickly sold out in every single color. Now they're back in stock in a few sizes in the black color.
@hannahschlenkerYes queen give us nothing (dc: @rianneneill )
♬ Drummer Boy - Justin BieberI, like many others, joined TikTok at the beginning of the pandemic as a way to pass the time. Since then, I've bought my fair share of products based on TikTok reviews and recommendations and have had pretty great results — and these leggings were no exception.
If you're considering buying a pair, here's what the popular Aerie TikTok leggings are actually like to wear.
The leggings get their name because of a crossed band at the top that hits above the hips.
The band is extremely flattering and the double crossover layer isn't restrictive or uncomfortable. In fact, I ended up wearing the leggings on a cramped two-hour car ride and never felt like they were too tight.
They come in sizes XXS to XXL and also have options for short and long hems in each size.
According to the sizing chart, I was right on the cusp exactly between a small and medium and when the leggings first arrived, I was worried I'd made a big mistake going for the small.
However, the material is very stretchy and small ended up fitting me fine, though I don't think a medium would have ended up being loose at all, and would likely opt for that next time knowing how thin the material is now.
At 5-foot-8, the regular-length leggings don't quite come all the way down to my ankle and end a little bit short.
I definitely recommend those my height or taller opt for the long hem, unless you prefer your leggings to be slightly cropped.
The material is incredibly soft and I've ended up wearing these just to lounge around in on numerous occasions. However, the material is also pretty thin.
I made the mistake of wearing them on a long winter walk and my legs were freezing. If you do plan to use these leggings for workouts, I definitely recommend them more for outdoor workouts in the summer, hot yoga, or indoor gym time.
On the workout front, I did put the leggings to the test with a treadmill run and an at-home yoga class.
They held up well during both and I didn't have any issues with the band rolling down. However, for heavier duty workouts and lifting, I continue to turn to my trusty Lululemon's, both because the material is a higher quality and because my favorite Lululemon leggings have side pockets for my phone, which these do not.
I've only been wearing the leggings for about a month, so can't speak to long-term quality just yet, though I will update this review after wearing them for several months.
I've put the leggings through the washing machine and they've come out fine so far. However, a few reviewers online have noted that the leggings did start to pill after about six months.
The bottom line
If you've seen these viral leggings everywhere and are hoping to get the same flattering lounge look, then the Offline Real Me High Waisted Crossover Leggings definitely live up to the hype. The leggings are soft, stretchy, very comfortable, and the double-crossed, high-waisted band gives you a nice waistline without becoming restrictive.
However, the material is fairly thin. While they held up well during simple workouts, I'm not sure I would turn to them for heavy duty wear and personally prefer them more for lounging around the house.
Aerie OFFLINE Real Me High Waisted Crossover Legging Shop at Aerie External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Hannah Freedman Former Associate Travel Editor, Reviews Hannah is the former associate travel editor for Insider Reviews. She's been to over 50 countries on five continents and is always on the hunt for the best hotels, food spots, and off-the-beaten-path finds. Before joining the Insider team, Hannah oversaw all digital content and edited print features for Family Traveller magazine. Under her guidance, the Family Traveller website won multiple awards, including in the Best Online Travel Magazine category, from the North American Travel Journalists Association. She also previously worked at Oprah.com and has written for outlets including Vanity Fair, Travel + Leisure, Thrillist, Brides, Here Magazine, Greatist, and more. She holds a master's in Publishing and Digital Media from NYU. An avid traveler, you can follow along on Hannah's adventures on her Instagram @hfreed11. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Read more Read lessncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxno6nGrbGOraCkrJ%2Bgeq2xxqCgp5%2BjYq6mvsieZKielqG2r7GMoaCgoF2srqq%2F056bZpuipMC0u9WeqWaqlau2psM%3D