Are these viral 'active workwear' pants worth the hype? We investigate

I've been seeing ads on my Instagram for Halara for years now.

An activewear-infused brand, their pieces blend soft, stretchy fabrics with designs that are much more versatile: think casual summer dresses and tailored work pants.

The first thing I was advertised was an active mini dress, something I'd imagine a tennis player might wear. It was cute, colourful and convenient, designed with shorts underneath that had pockets. I'd never actually exercise in it, but it looked like a fun piece to wear around in the summer. However, it was the cost and hassle of shipping from the US that held me back. 

Thankfully, though, Halara now has an Australian website. So, when I was offered the opportunity to try their clothes on for size, I was excited to see if they lived up to their rave reviews on Instagram.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.

Halara Flex High-Waisted Straight Leg Work Pants

$54.90 for Midnight Blue$54.90 for Sepia

I was sent two pairs of the Halara Flex High-Waisted Straight Leg Work Pants, one in Midnight Blue and one in Sepia, which is a dark beige. I was keen to try them out immediately, only to find that once I had them on, they were much too long. 

Despite this, they did fit comfortably around my waist. They had twin pleats at the waistband for a more streamlined silhouette, and best of all, pockets.

The material was soft against my skin, instead of compressive like a pair of active tights might be. And best of all, it didn't really resemble Lycra unless you were paying close attention.

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The fit

I had to swap my original pair for a petite pair, but I was able to keep the same size. This felt important to me as someone who often falls between sizes and regularly sizes up just so certain parts of my figure can fit properly inside the clothes I buy.

It means that short girls (and tall girls – they also have a tall option) can select their size and length and expect a decent fit. You can do this from the landing page for the pants; you don't have to seek out tall or petite pairs in strange corners of the website.

The feel

The Halara Flex High-Waisted Straight Leg Work Pants are 79 per cent polyester and 21 per cent elastane. The elastane gives them their stretch, while their soft feel comes from the brushed, active fabric.

Basically, touching them feels like touching a pair of gym leggings. It's just that wearing them is totally different – they feel more like lounge pants than activewear.

Wearing the pants

I wore the pants on four different days to the office, making an actual effort to style them properly after getting a feel for them. Due to the pleats, they look best with a cropped shirt or with a shirt tucked into them.

The pants have two belt loops at the front. This makes sense, given the waistband is elasticated and designed to hold up; any belt you'd be wearing would be purely ornamental.

However, it meant my belt rode up a little bit at the back with nothing to keep it in place. Thankfully, I live under the assumption that no one really notices the back of your outfit, so I didn't pay it too much mind.

The look

Paired with the belt, a friend complimented the pants, saying they looked "chic".

"Thanks!" I said. "They're activewear!" 

Stoked with the compliment, I felt even more confident I'd found my new favourite pair of pants, especially given they're 100 per cent office-appropriate. They could also be styled differently for a weekend outing.

If I had my time again, I'd probably opt for black to give myself more colour-matching options.

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The one con

My one note would be not to order Halara if you need the items immediately. They state on their website that their "production process focuses on quality design over rapid turnover". Because of this, shipping can take longer as they create items "with purpose rather than producing in bulk".

I personally love this approach to slower fashion, but if you're looking for a quick turnaround on your order, Halara may not be the place to go.

Overall, I think Halara really does live up to all the hype I see online. I'd definitely buy more from them – in fact, these are the products I have my eye on for my next purchase:

Halara Ribbed Boat Neck Flowy Maxi Casual Dress

Now just $49.90

Halara SoftlyZero Plush Backless Active Dress

Get yours for $59.90

Halara Flex High-Waisted Wide-Leg Micro-Waffle Work Pants

Now just $49.90

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