Stand-Out Activewear Piece: Athleta's Relay Capri

Confession: I have plenty of black leggings. I have more black stretchy pants than regular ones, and that's the way I like it. But it also means that it's hard for me to find a pair that truly wows. But that's where items like Athleta's Relay Capri come into play.

Behold: the amazing run capris.

This story starts like most activewear solutions do. I went for a short run in my neighborhood and had to keep pulling up my capris. So I headed off to Athleta to find a great fit. And although I had my doubts about these (I don't usually go for cuffed capris), these were just what I was looking for.

Cuffs with the mesh.

They hit about mid-calf, which is ideal for running capris. I don't like shorts since they tend to ride up and knee-length capris can get all sweaty in the crease. But these are the perfect length. And the cuff helps the pants stay on. The sheer panel attached to the bottom of the pant leg helps the pants breathe well.

My favorite feature is the high waist. It will hold you in without feeling constrictive. I'd suggest buying a size down if you want an even tighter fit. The back of the pant features a handy zip pocket so you can store your keys. The store employee even showed me how to tie an adorable little bow with the drawstring waist to help them stay on. As if these couldn't get better, each pair is UPF 50+--so you're protected from the sun. 

You'll want this waistband. Trust me. 

 The rip cord.

 The handy pocket that you'll love.

These offer compression too. I always need some help smoothing out my trouble spots, and these do the job perfectly.

The only downside is that there's just a touch of sheerness. That doesn't bother me since these aren't meant for yoga/Pilates/other bend-centric classes. If you're searching for an all-around great pair of running capris, I'd suggest you give these a test run. If you're unhappy, you can always return them since this brand's return policy is phenomenal. Thank you for another great product, Athleta!

My Latest Activewear Obsession: Lucy's Perfect Core Halter

I've written about my love of the brand lucy before, and even though it feels redundant, I'm going to do it again. Because you see, I've fallen in love ... with lucy's Perfect Core Halter. I go through phases with my activewear. I was in love with lululemon's scoop neck tank tops for the longest time. Then I appreciated the cool racerbacks (that's CRB for you lulu newbies) before moving onto the In the Flow crops. Since then, I haven't really had anything that's really gripped me. But then along came lucy activewear's perfect core halter. 

I had to have this minty blue tank. 

This tank has it all. It comes in a variety of stunning colors. I've got two--one is a light, minty blue and the other is a navy. The flattering back features a cute cut out. My favorite part is that the material really flattering. The tank really smooths everything out and holds you in. The ruching in the middle makes you look slimmer. It's not without its faults though. 

The gorgeous ruching of the middle. 

The tank does ride up during exercise, but it's not too bad. And it is very tight. You'll probably want to size up on this one. But it will be worth it. I'm in the process of working off weight, and this tank makes me feel great--a necessary component of any fitness wardrobe. 

A gorgeous back. 

Here's to great activewear! I hope you've found a few pieces that you can't live without too. 

Lole: Beyond Flattering Activewear

The activewear world is dominated by three brands: lucy, lululemon and Athleta. I'm a fan of all of them, but I'm always searching for another great line that can hang in my closet. And that's where brands like Lole come in handy. This Montreal-based company opened a New York City store in June of last year, and let's all hope it's here to stay. Lole creates gorgeous, functional and flattering pieces. I fell in love with all four pieces the company sent me to review, but I want to discuss two of them.

The Central Tank Top has a wonderful built-in bra. Like, it actually works if you have a chest. No small feat there. Plenty of tanks designed to be worn sans bra just don't cut it. But not this one. Wear this during spinning or other high-impact activities. And the cranberry red color is perfect for these chilly holiday months. The seams are flattering too. I'd leave this hanging in the closet for long runs though, but I'd pull it out for every other activity. 

 
Next up for my favorite pick includes The Lively Pant. These were, hands-down, the best  activewear pants I've worn in a long time. They provide just the right amount of compression without being too restrictive. The seams are ultra-flattering--yes, this company's clothes have the best seams. The material is thick, compressive and moisture wicking. The high waist is perfect, especially after the calorie-laden eating fest that is the holidays. If you've got the money (these are not cheap at $105 a pop) or can wait for the pants to go on sale, I'd purchase these for sure. This blog is all about celebrating things I love. Here's to great activewear!

My Activewear Wish List

Oh, the holidays. They can be dreamy and they can be nightmarish. But wouldn't it be fun if you could get everything you wished for? So I came up with this fun list. Price isn't a factor since this is a wish list. And who cares if it doesn't come true? This is supposed to be fun. Behold my dreamy activewear picks for the holiday season. Who knows? Maybe it will come true. Miracles do happen. 

Maybe I'll get some brand new activewear under the tree.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user Alan Cleaver. 

1. Lucy's Pocket Capri in Ultramarine Spacedye

I cannot get over that color. I'll say it again. Icannotgetoverthatcolor. I'm going through a space dye phase and that dark blue is just perfect. Plus, I'm in love with the pocket capris. Like I would marry them. (OK, so not that much, but you get the idea) I don't why activewear creators hadn't thought of this already. A pocket in the side panel is not that revolutionary. But man is it helpful. I love being able to stick my iPod/keys/knick-nacks in there without those items adding bulk.

2.  Alala

I love that color!

Everything from this entire brand makes me swoon. Everything. It's like wearing Chanel to the gym. The company loaned me a pair of its capris to review, and I could not get enough. The material is thick, but light weight and moisture-repellent. Alala is expensive though, which is why it made this wish list and not my closet. Sigh. Oh well, it's always nice to look, right?

3. Athleta Chi Tank in Red

Sometimes you just need a plain tank top. And my favorite tank du jour is Athleta's Chi Tank. It's soft, but doesn't let the sweat cling to you. It also has slimming lines and hangs just right. In short, if you're looking for the perfect, basic top, make it this one. And I cannot get enough of that pretty Saffron Red color. 

4.  Nancy Rose Performance

Look at this beautiful red colored wrap top. 

If you're not familiar with this brand, you should be. Nancy Rose crafts the most gorgeous activewear on the market. And that's a fact. One of the brand's signature styles are its wrap tops. They're slimming and gorgeous. I own one, and I've been lusting after another for a long time now. Right now, my eye is on this Arabesque Tank Top. 

5. lululemon Emerge Renewed Crop

Look at the mesh! Look at the texture! 

I'm always lusting after something from lululemon. My current obsession: lululemon's Emerge Renewed Crop. I love seams, and I love mesh and these are the perfect combination of both. Now, the material on these does look like it could be a little stiff, but these also might be the best.

6. Nike Studio Wrap

Stupid shoes, we've all got 'em. You know the pair. Those kitten heels you tell yourself you'll wear, but then actually do and it sucks so you give up. Since I'm not big into high heels, athletic shoes are my favorites. And these are my stupid shoes. They look beautiful--like something a real dancer would wear--although I have a feeling they're not terribly functional. But who cares about function when it comes to beauty? Nike even makes a pair in Tiffany blue for the company's annual half marathon. All I can think of when I see these is "want, want, want." And that's why they made this wish list.

Happy holidays! 

Ways to Save on Activewear

As an activewear lover (with a special place in my heart for brands like lucy and lululemon), I know how hard it can be to justify shelling out mega bucks on clothing that you only wear when you're sweating. I suffered from severe sticker shock the first time I looked at a price tag in lululemon. But then I let myself buy a few items, and I was hooked. Funny how that goes, huh? Since I've been following the market for a few years now, I've picked up in a few tips and tricks to really save money. Besides, you should never pay full-price retail. Here's my first tip: don't shop Black Friday. You can usually get better discounts throughout the year. That is unless you enjoy tackling herds of stampeding crowds.

Discover ways to save on activewear using my tried-and-true tips. Courtesy of Flickr user: 401(K) 2013.

1. Sign Up for the Mailing List/Facebook/Instagram

This is key. Companies will alert you to sales, giveaways and other in-store deals. Lucy and Athleta are the two biggest brands that have the best sales. Following the companies on Facebook and Instagram is useful too. My favorite company to follow on Instagram is Nancy Rose Performance.

2. Read Blogs

This probably only applies to lululemon, but sometimes bloggers will know of a sale before it happens. Check lululemon addict or lulumum for the latest news and cute pictures of new gear.

3. Attend in-store/brand-sponsored events

Going to a store event is somewhat of a crapshoot since the store will rarely advertise that it's going to be discounting items. But sometimes they do, and you can win big. I once attended an outdoor Pilates class at Studio BE that lucy sponsored and scored 40 percent off the sale. And I got to get a workout in too. As an added bonus, you may even score free gear. I went to an event at Alexandria's Swet Ride and got a free lululemon towel, and I once won an Athleta raffle that included a gift card and a headband. Certain studios also will host trunk shoes and have their own sales too. That's why it can pay to get on their mailing lists too.

4. Know the Brand

One of the easiest ways to save money is by getting familiar with the brand. Here's what I've learned about my favorite ones:

1. lucy

lucy is probably the best when it comes to having great sales. This past Veteran's Day the company discounted everything on its site by 30 percent. Everything. But the easiest way to score deals here is to wait for the seasons to change. The company will discount everything once and then offer more discounts later. Once you get that first email, wait for the next one before you purchase.

2. Athleta

This brand has seasonal sales too. If you go to one of their special events, you also can get discounts too. I feel like I've almost always scored discounts after going to in-store events.

3. Lululemon

My favorite brand of all time almost never has sales. :-( Aside from the warehouse sale the company holds annually in one spot in the country, you just have to get lucky. The have what they call "mark-downs" of goods in-stores. The discounts are usually good, but the merchandise can be somewhat picked over. The mark downs are either on a moveable rack or spread throughout the store. The employees will usually put a bright purple discounted tag on the long price tag that you can spot. You can head over the website's "We Made Too Much" section (also known as "loot" to the lulu fanatic) to get deals online. Heads up though: this section does sell out quickly.

Sites Where You Can Score 

eBay

You've got to be careful with this one since people do scam each other. But you also can great some great deals too. I've bought a handful of items from the site, and I've always had good luck. To prevent scams, just be sure to look into the buyers' rating. If the buyer has a bad rating or one of the comments is that the person didn't send an item or sent something in horrific shape, I'd never purchase from them. You can even set up really specific alerts so you get emails when you want is available. It can pay to "track" an item so you can see if the buyer ends up coming down in price.

Craigslist

I've never bought anything off this site, but it's another option too.

Threadflip

This is a much smaller clothing site, but you may be able to score deals here.

Facebook

I belong to two different Facebook groups (lulu lounge and lululemon trading post) and every so often someone will post sale items. You have to be careful with scams here though. It's not regulated in any way like eBay or a bigger website.

There you have it. I hope you enjoy this list and score some great deals on activewear. Because the only thing more satisfying than a great workout is wearing clothes you paid a lot less for. Happy shopping! 

Activewear That Lasts: Why I Love lucy

When it comes to activewear, I've got my few go-to brands that I can always rely on. Like that great friend you can count on in a pinch, these brands perform well, look great and holds up after many sweat-soaked workouts. And it's hard to beat the quality of a great brand like lucy. Notable for its bright orange signs and truly fabulous seasonal sales, lucy is a line that lasts. 

And my favorite part of the entire collection? Their bottoms. These are second to none. I have a pair of long pants, the Hatha Capri Leggings and a pair of shorter Ultimate X-training capris that are my favorite, favorite, favorite warm-weather capris. And that's saying somethings since I've got A LOT. The fabric is thick, durable and never sheer. My stuff I bought a few years ago looks just as good as my newer items. 

Those perfect core capris will make you look fabulous. I promise.

Lucy's perfect core capri is the stuff dreams are made of. The panels hold you in, lift you up and just smooth everything out. It's a little pricy, but worth it if you're looking for an investment piece. 

But right now, my current favorite item is the lucy Pocket Capri Legging. The design is so simple, that I can't believe other companies haven't thought of it before. The pocket on the side of the capri can hold an iPod, keys and whatever other essentials you might need. The seams are flattering and this was my go-to pair this past spring.  

Behold: The Holy Grail of capris, lucy's pocket capri. 

And now to the important part: here's how to save money on lucy. Another thing I adore about lucy is its sales. You'll almost never pay full-price retail if you time it just right.

First off, get on the company's mailing list. The company has seasonal sales where they cut prices pretty drastically. And if you can wait even longer, lucy puts its sale on sale so you can score even deeper discounts. You can try going to classes that lucy has sponsored or partnered with, as you'll sometimes get a discount on activewear. There's no guarantee, but it's worth a shot. Plus, you'll get a workout in too--an added bonus. 

If you're searching for an activewear line that you can count on, look no further than lucy. 

Alala: Where Fitness Meets Elegance

If there's one thing I love, it's fitness fashion. I surprised myself way back in 2010 when I fell in love with luxurious lululemon. In high school, I wore baggy hoodies and sweatpants every day. Now, I wear nice stretchy pants just about all the time--I was always ahead of trends like that*. 

Dreamy photos of Alala. Swooning yet? 

Now, I review clothing regularly for heath and fitness site Bite Size Wellness and have written a handful of activewear features for Refinery29. But even with my vast fitness wardrobe, I still find pieces that I fall head over heels for. My latest find: these bright blue Alala leggings. I've had my eye on this boutique brand for a while--the company manages to create pieces that are both beautiful, innovative and understated. Alala recently loaned me a pair to try out, and I'm glad to report that the capris live up to the hype. The material is thick, soft and smooth. The sheer panels in the back add just a touch of sass and make good use of that current trend. These capris are like wearing Chanel to the gym--they're that elegant. Take a look and fall in love with this luxurious fitness brand. 

*Note the sarcasm.