I always wear leggings when I travel. I’ll be frank and say that I never understood people who dress to the nines for a flight. It’s impractical, uncomfortable, and downright annoying, especially without the luxury of TSA PreCheck and expedited security. But just because I don’t want to wear a dress and heels to the airport doesn’t mean that I have a blatant disregard for what I look like. After all, the right pair of leggings can take you from morning to night with a few minor outfit adjustments (mainly shoes).

When I stumbled upon Soma’s Slimming Leggings, I was initially skeptical. First off, they’re billed to take up to one-inch off your waist, and each pair comes equipped with a compression waistband that tucks in your stomach. Suffice it to say, they didn’t sound ideal for sitting down on a plane for hours. But once I tried them on, I drank the proverbial Kool-Aid. Not only do they have the uncanny ability to create a slimming effect—they’re made from a stretch lycra material that’s incredibly comfortable, with special wicking properties that keep you cool and dry, even when you sweat.

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Plus, the fabric is 100 percent opaque, so you don’t need to worry about having a Lululemon see-through debacle in public, and I can proudly attest that they retain their shape after several washes. They also go with just about everything: a crop top and sneakers, a sweater and over-the-knee boots, a blazer and heels à la Kim Kardashian. And when you consider that the athleisure trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, their versatility increases tenfold. Really, it’s worth keeping a few pairs in rotation.

BUY: Soma Slimming Leggings, $54; soma.com