Leggings and track pants have quietly become the pieces I wear most, and the line between them keeps blurring. A high waistband stays put and a mid one rolls, so that is where I look first. After that it is fabric: how it recovers, how it holds up under a squat test, and whether it still looks like clothing after a full day.

This edit starts with the track pants, from Champion's green Tennis Court wide-leg pair and RE/DONE's Sunland to the stripe-down-the-leg styles from Beyond Yoga, Sanctuary, Ksubi and Vuori, with Wales Bonner, Prada and Edikted further along. Lioness's Alba, the Splits59 Dallas French terry wide-leg pair, Theory's cashmere track pants and Burberry's Jodie joggers round out the group. The leggings that follow run from SKIMS's Capri Catsuit and First Layers to Carbon38, L*Space, Halfdays and MM.LaFleur.

What decides this is compression, waistband height and fabric recovery. Everything else is preference. SKIMS's Capri Catsuit gives you a one-piece option, while the Distressed Denim Leggings from Bare Necessities keep the focus on a classic bottom. I would judge both on fit and how well the fabric springs back, and the same goes for Beyond Yoga's Spacedye Dynamic, the Splits59 Airweight, Lioness's Sunset capri and Vuori's slim flare. Squat test anything light colored before you commit to it, and check the waistband stays flat when you sit.

Track pants ask different questions. Look at how the stripe falls when you walk and where the hem lands over a sneaker.

One color top to bottom makes the whole outfit look planned. Chocolate is the shade I keep reaching for: the Kosie chocolate and blue stripe track pants from Beginning Boutique, the Oh Polly modal cropped leggings and the Couture Club sculpting capri all lean that way. Pair them with a plain tee and a clean sneaker, and let one piece do the talking.

None of this needs the whole group. One pair from each shelf is usually enough.

I would not buy all of these, and neither should you. The Oh Polly modal cropped leggings are the low-risk way into the category, and a pair like the Ksubi Origin track pants only makes sense if track pants are already part of how you dress. The difference between the plain pairs and the ones with a bit of design is smaller than it looks, so I judge by waistband, fabric recovery and how the pair looks after a day. If you want the designer end of the same idea, the Prada Re-Nylon and Miu Miu knit track pants are there. Buy the one you can picture wearing this week, not the one you are saving for later. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Leggings, Tested and Best Leggings For Women.