Dark Fuel Define.
Cosmic Teal Swiftly - So bummed this has a print on it.
Another bummer this is not solid Bon Bon but since the stripes are tiny I might get this.
New hot yoga Drop It Like It's Hot line. The tank has a luxtreme front and mesh back. There is a Menthol version that was in the Hong Kong upload but it only went to size 8 there. I'll be interested to see what size it runs to in North America/the US. I think I'd like it since I am always on the hunt for cool tops but it looks short.
Menthol Drop It Like It's Hot Tank
Drop It Like It's Hot Bra - this does nothing for me.
Drop It Like It's Hot Leotard
45 comments:
No words for that leotard....
Do people actually wear leos like that for hot yoga?
That leotard....
Lol!!
Lol!!
I'm no yoga expert but it seems to me the crotch on that leotard would be a bit, uh, violating in stretching positions (i.e. all of yoga).
@11:48 a.m. Lol, EXACTLY.
Agree, that leotard is hideous.
I'm not excited about anything here, not even the Fuel Green Define, which would have got me pretty excited not long ago. I've been slowly but surely getting turned off Lulu, I am (or was) a true addict but have slowly and surely been getting over my addiction. Lululemon has been making this very easy with their unjustified price increases, the lack of customer appreciation, their excuses, their unfair way of distributing their product (and sizes) between the countries, the games they seem to play with their customers, they are an extremely frustrating company in many ways and I'm getting tired of it.
BTW, Did anyone else notice the new What We Love banner features a dude? This is another issue they have been slowly creeping up on us with, much like the creeping up price increases, the vanishing fancy details they were known for (ruffles, etc) and the downgrading in quality over last couple of years :( Seems like all these things are sneakily phased out over time hoping we won't notice until it's too late.
@ anon 2:53 pm - I didn't notice the dude but that pisses me off. If you want to add men, add them in with the women. Men are NOT waiting for the upload. I agree with you about how they're distributing product between the countries. It annoys the crap out of me, particularly since it seems the North American buyer blows.
As for the lack of nice details, I just got my Mesh With Me LS and the detail on the back - the ruffled detail on the back, the flattering but simple cut of a pure technical top in gorgeous colors remind me of old lulu of 2010. It's a very nice top. My only concern is how snaggable it is but it's made of the same kind of mesh that is being used in the mesh panels on crops and run tops. I'd put fragility up there with swiftly - for sweat, not casual wear, and wash in a lingerie bag.
LLA, how did you like the fit ? Is it tts? I went to my store today hoping to try one on, but they didn't have them in yet. So I ordered my size & a size up online. I also tried On the double PO , but didn't care for it. It's very short on the front
There are a few guys who consistently check out WWL and ask pointed questions about (the lack of) new products. I don't blame them for wanting to give the men's side a little attention. It's a market they hope to expand!
@lululover - I'd say TTS.
But why expand into the men's market when you have women trying to throw their money at you for quality, amazing products?
As far as I'm concerned, all LLL has to do is give me things I love, and I will give them my money. THEY KEEP FAILING TO DELIVER BECAUSE THEY'RE DISTRACTED BY OVERLY FAST EXPANSION.
Sort of like the Drop it Like it's Hot Leotard: the intentions are good, but all of the sudden you're in down dog and you can't remember why you're doing yoga because youre overly distracted with a nice breeze being where no breeze should be. Lululemon can right the ship by focusing on its core brand, its core audience, and its core product. There's no magic sauce.
I bought my first Lulu item in San Francisco in 2007, since then have spent thousands upon thousands and been totally obsessed and in love with the brand. I just realized today I havent purchased anything in several months. In fact, I have a $100 gift card that I've been trying to spend for over a month. It's just crap upon crap these days. It makes me sad but I really think I have moved on. It wasn't me Lulu, it was you.
As a business person I totally understand the price increase. As a company lululemon has not increased their prices for years, in line with the economy companies do increase their prices of their product in line with increase of minimum wage, cost of living etc. Understand that you are buying a premium product as the price reflects. Look at the prices of other companies and see what technical product costs and the price increase will be self explanatory.
As for lack of detail, maybe the company is trying to go back to core technical product and perfecting that. Some people love frills but some dont. Product feedback from the company is how that is decided. If you have feedback, give it!!
So sad about that Define. I would buy it in a heartbeat if it was a Forme. I know the two jackets are quite similar, but I can't get past the vent flap in the back of the Define. I guess I should be happy to have saved so much money not buying Formes for a while, but I'm sad. Fortunately, there's the leotard to offer some comic relief!
@2:53, how do you know that men aren't awaiting the "upload". I am right to assume that LL has an extensive market research department. LL wouldn't feature men & make men's clothes if men weren't buying it. The women's athletic-leisure wear is over saturated. Every retailer from Target to Gap to Tori Burch has their toe in that pool. Until LL steps up its game, (ditch the re-tread, repeat products in mortuary color schemes, limited sizing options, & out of whack prices!) let's hear it for the boys....
@ anon 9:30 am - I'll answer that - I am a member of numerous lulu-oriented FB discussion, OOTD, and sales groups with members numbering into the thousands. Do you know how active many male members we have? Three. So, men might like the product but they're not obsessed with it and they have other things they rather do - like blab about the new Star Wars trailer on Reddit - than wait around for the upload on 3:30 on Tuesdays. Women are 85% of consumer purchases. Men might go berserk for video games, comic book movies, and gadgets but not clothes.
Another thing that has turned me away from Lulu is their atrocious returns processing system. Four weeks minimum to get a refund by mail, and 99% of the time they send you a gift card instead of processing the credit back to your credit card. And every time I try to print out one of their prepaid labels, it prints out gigantic and then I just give up and send it priority mail with my own label. Contrast that with when I recently returned something to Amazon and they INSTANTLY refunded my credit card, with the stipulation that I had to return the item within 30 days. A free UPS return label popped up and printed easily and UPS picked up the package from my doorstep the next day. WTF Lulu, get with the program.
Thank you!
@ Anon 8:08, “as a business person” – c’mon. I’m a business person too. You are uninformed. LLL is NO LONGER a truly premium product, definitely not across the board. Years ago every item was a superior item. We’re not just talking a few ruffles here, we are referring to thickness, softness, comfort – overall quality and finishing of material and clothes. Higher prices could be garnered and for the record, they are already extremely inflated. Today, due to global expansion the overall quality and finishing of EVERYTHING has deteriorated. Very few items past muster in comparison to the LLL of old (even as 'recent' as a few years ago). It is true there are still some great items but this is not uniform or the majority of product. There is a ton of crap. Here is what has happened: you reduce quality of material and finishing as well as design (overall and details) in order to cheapen costs but still pump out the gear – more than ever due to global expansion – and STILL charge exorbitant prices. The longtime, many year, loyal customer goes “wth is this crap?! And why are you offering more appealing product overseas than in NA? Sorry, I’m not buying this inferior, unappealing product at the same price. I’ll shop less and less, I’ll wait for wmtm, or I don’t care at all, bye bye.” This is precisely why sales are dropping! Thus, LLL increases certain items $10 here, $10 there, for the uninformed customers who know no better, or existing customers who justify it in some other way, or are just blind--so LLL still makes up some shortfall from decreasing OVERALL sales.
I say this as a long time customer, 10 years at least. The amount of purchases I used to make compared to today is dramatically different. I rarely shop now whereas before I would buy several items a month, even a CRB every week! Now, forget it - because I’m not a sucker or blind. If LLL does not want my disposable income (and I am a hardcore athlete), that is fine by me. My older items still hold up and are classic looking. They still serve me well but I now explore and buy from other retailers.
As for marketing to mainly men now: LLL wants to increase sales there, that’s fine. However, fully agreed (with LLA) that men are not throwing as much disposable income at LLL as women will or want to. LOL dudes waiting on an upload. Good god if that was my mate! The sales from men will never equate to the sales from women. Let’s say 30+ age women with solid jobs and disposable income. I think LLL was (still is?) trying to go after the twenty something market (see &GO items) and I think that has not been as successful as they anticipated. Now they will try to go after men. Good luck.
And I also think it is very narrow sighted of Laurent and team to think this will be the winning strategy. But then again, some men (even very smart men) compartmentalize and can’t see the big picture or what’s staring them right in the face (i.e. existing women LLL customers who always coin out for new product when they love it and know it to be solid quality - design and technical properties included). Yeah, I know that sounds harsh, but I think it happens to be true.
Anyway, bit of rant I guess. Thanks if you read all of that and definitely did/do not mean to offend anyone. To me it's very simple. And yes, blinders are totally off and free of lululemonaid!
Totally agree lulu addict!
Just asked my husband what he thinks about lulu trying to get more of men's market. He wears lulu casually and to the gym and loves it. He said that lulu has already drilled women's market and if by trying to attract more men they will loose 5% of female buyers then oh well, but they can get 30% of men and that matters. He was like look how many girls at our gym wear lulu, like probably 30-40% and how many men. Like 2 dudes that's it . So when their CEO asked how they can make more $$ that was the answer , to broaden the men's market
Anon@ 4:57pm....you laid out their game plan precisely! And kudos to you for being such a careful and mindful consumer. The arc of Lulu's success and now current plateauing reminds me of jcrew...when they assumed long time customers would forget what quality was like and replace it instead with cheapened construction and inferior material. The fact that the ceo's two biggest hires are all men also speaks to a disheartening atmosphere. Guess we shouldn't be surprised that they are going after the men's market as well -nothing wrong with that- but like everyone else has stated, it shouldn't be at the expense of their core customer.
Spot on! They decided to water down and infiltrate new markets to explode short term growth. Long term? Useless. Ah, capitalism.
Maybe they could have chosen to target men's wear without simultaneously targeting international, increasing poly content, exporting labor, etc. it's like some intern from Harvard business was on break from school and was like "I got it: go big big big! Short term profits! Yeahhhhh!"
Sometimes I wonder if the quality of the women's is just as good as the mens. You won't find a man washing his gear in a lingerie bag to preserve it's lifespan (I don't have a deep knowledge of technical fabrics, admittedly. Still, take a look the next time you're in the store.
On another topic, the Restless Long Sleeves are hitting Lulu at King of Prussia (PA), which also had a healthy supply of the Stressless hoodies.
@4:57pm Maybe it's just time for you to move on. If you're no longer happy with the brand, then let it go and find a brand that fits your needs and makes you happy. Despite all the negative comments, I still find plenty to love about Lululemon and am still buying pieces every few weeks. My recent purchases are the sapphire define and the mesh with me long sleeves. Nice, saturated colors and great details.
Uninformed I think not. Check your own sources. People complain all the time and they always want what they don't have the option to buy hence why people will buy things at ridiculous prices on ebay. Merely pointing out the fact that all people seem to do is complain about absolutely everything. Also when a company has a new ceo they are going to change things to leave their mark and steer clear of what gave the company a bad name in the past.
As for quality of product, yes things have changed however that is what happens when a company tries different fabrics, fits, etc to keep up with the complaints of others. Just tired of hearing everyone bash a company. If you dont like it don't buy it. Stop complaining!
Tonight - my local lulu had a special invite only event. 25% off regular priced items and 50% off sale priced items (was supposed to be off the original tag amount not the sale price). I ended up getting a scuba, vinyasa scarf, wunder under crops, 2 in flux jackets and base runner pants for about $240 + tax. Score
@ anon 8:25 pm - Yes, I hear stores in Canada and the US are having these. Eds are allowed to invite three customers.
@Amy - the men's tops are a lot more heavyweight, I think, especially these days. Whenever I feel up a Metal Tech Vent top for my son or husband it feels a lot thicker than our Swiftly tops. I don't mind since I buy lululemon because it's so breathable. If I want to overheat in my run tops, I'll buy other brands but I buy lululemon because their tops have such a silky tactile feel (for the most part, those nasty Sapphire Kanto Catch Me Half Zips are a horrible step backwards into big box brand territory) and are super breathable. Lots of other brands use polyester in their activewear because it's more durable but it's not as wicking and prone to being stinky.
My husband throws his lululemon tops in with his regular laundry and he never closes the zippers on his shorts/pants. He gets snags in his metal tech vent shirts now and then but he doesn't care about it as much as I do. He did get some abrasions on one of his tech shirts from his water belt.
I have pricey tops with embellishments and sweaters that I use a lingerie bag for - I like to keep my clothes in good condition and I don't like to do a separate wash just for a few items so it's easier for me to protect them within a larger load.
@ anon 4:57 pm - You are right about the lack of embellishments and finishing on the clothes. Every now and then a more vintage-style product pops up - like the Var City Muscle tank, with the cute weave detail down the side, and I tend to jump on those but most stuff is blah, like the Cardio Squad tank. BTW, what other brands are you buying? I find it hard to stray since I really like the feel of lululemon's fabrics and I am acutely aware when features such as flat seaming, cuffins, or gel pockets are missing.
Anon 4:57 PM - Very well said and of course, I completely agree! Also, completely agree with LuluAddict.
I can only shake my head in disbelief at some of the comments... obviously some of us have been drinking the koolaid...
Obviously I still like some of the product that Lulu has to offer, or else I wouldn't even be on this blog, but my love of all things Lulu has certainly diminished, thanks to the way Lulu seems to like to run their business. Now, even when I really like an item, I find myself thinking if I really want to be supporting a company like this. I've passed on a number of items recently, that not too long ago I would have thought I 'must' have or else, and guess what, I've already moved on and forgotten about them. I've discovered that I really don't 'need' all of the Lulu all of the time - I guess you could say that Lulu has cured me of my addiction to them :)
Anon 11:58 am - Sure, there are still some pieces that are really nice (but I doubt the quality is as good as it can be for the price we are paying), but that doesn't make up for the reality of all the negative I can think of about the company. It sounds like you're wearing blinders. Just because there are occasional things we find to love doesn't justify all of the negative aspects.
LLA, just want to say that I completely agree with your 3:08 PM comment and thank you for answering the question that was directed at me! You hit the nail on the head.
Lululover, they may have drilled the womens market, but they are now losing us... btw, in no way is that meant as an attack on your comment, just had to say first thing that came to mind when I read it and had to say it! :)
I think lulus pricing is comparable to all other high end fashion athlesure wear like sweaty betty (which is pricier. splits 59 athleta yogasmoga etc. I don't care much about the frilly femenine add ons, I care about the quality and the way the gear performs.
M
As a hot yoga devotee - no one is wearing leos like this in class. I can't help but roll my eyes at how ridiculous it looks. Now, some of the ballet dancers I know might rock it, but no one else.
My question to all of you - after taking almost 10 years off from running, I'm getting back into the sport and need some winter gear. What LLL do you recommend?
I have realized that the "new" Lulu really isn't superior in terms of quality. I recently received a giftcard to Athleta and bought some leggings and a pullover. For significantly less money, I've found the quality to be far superior to 95% of Lulu's recent stuff. Plus, the return policy is outstanding. You can take stuff back worn without a receipt at any point! Lulu won't even take back stuff with a receipt sometimes if it's been too long. Hell, even "mainstream" brands like Nike are changing up their patterns to make them more appealing. Lulu really needs to return to quality AND change their return policy to keep me as a loyal customer.
Anon @8:19, I share your concerns. One of the things that really drew me to Lulu was that they seemed to really understand women and treat them respectfully in terms of their athleticism. I always felt as though Nike, Adidas, et al, thought that women who weren't elite athletes were all just mall walkers. Or maybe aerobacizers. Lulu seemed different, and it was extremely refreshing. With new imports who are male and come from Nike, I'm nervous. I haven't found any other athletic brand that I like, and now I'm thinking that Lulu is going to go down the tubes. Yes, there are fewer products of theirs that I'm buying now, compared with say 2 years ago, but there are still some good pieces. With Nike guys at the helm...? Hopefully, they'll focus on things like supply chain and stay out of the design process, but still, it's not encouraging.
I am a newbie to lulu and I am a long time Athleta girl...I have to say that a lot of my Athleta gear performs better than my Lulu. I love both but really have to feel the materials. Makes it hard when the closest store is 45min away (both stores!)
Maybe us ladies should just enjoy the extra photos of the cute men, right? And not worry about it much beyond that !!! Why not?!
@Caitlin - I have to say I do like the new blonde model. They could feature him in the banners more. ;-)
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