I'm building up quite a nice collection of Athleta items. For now, I've linked all my reviews of their gear
under this tab but I'm probably going to break it out into its own tab (and perhaps change the name of my blog ;) ). I'm a huge fan of Athleta's
Breezy Tank - I have three now and another on the way - but I hadn't tried on the tee shirt version of this top until yesterday. I ended up getting the striped one yesterday - I have a fatal attraction to navy striped tops for the summer. I usually get a large in the Breezy Tank (my first was an XL but I like the L better) but the sleeves in the tee are a little snug for my upper arms so I stuck with the XL. I think the tee is a little more fitted than the tank, too. The material in the Breezy line is a modal/polyester blend that is very airy ('breezy', lol) - I wear the tanks for workouts all the time - and cool. It's soft but a little see through so you need to wear a cute or color-matching bra underneath.
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| The photo of the striped tee makes it look less shaped than it is. This photo shows the true fit better. |
The real reason I went down to Athleta was to try these babies on - the Tie Die Salutation Capris, made of Powervita, the nulu dupe. I have a pair of
black Salutation crops that I love and it's great that Athleta has figured out how to make prints in this awesome fabric. I've been seeing lots of try on photos of these in the groups which spurred my trip. My store was sold out in all sizes and, unfortunately, the website was out of my size, too. However, the store called another to have a pair mailed to me. I'll have photos once it gets here.
I tried on the Essence Tie Back tank but didn't buy it. I really love the
Essence Low Tank I bought in March. However, I did order it last night so that I have a few tops to try on with the tie dye crops. It's made of a polyester, lyocell, spandex blend that is super soft but doesn't seem as delicate as lululemon pima tops.
I also tried on the Shibori Fully Focused bra, made of Powervita. That was another item I didn't buy but ended up ordering later after I couldn't stop thinking about it. It's very soft and comfy. I've been wanting to try an Athleta bra for awhile and had my eye on this style but this is the first one I've ordered. The bra cookies in the one in the store were rather wrinkly and bulky so I also want to try it using my lululemon cups. I'm hoping one straight from the warehouse will have less-wrinkly cookies. I did try the bra on without the cups but my shape is better with them in.
I also tried this new Powervita bra style called the Deep Breath Bralette. I like bras with this back strap configuration because I find them super comfortable but I am not a fan of the really high neck in a bra, though I know this look is in now. The bottom band also does not have any elastic inside it, from what I could tell. This was very comfortable with good coverage but the high neck was a turn off for me, since that is a high sweat area on me.
The Striped Relay Capris are making a big splash in the facebook groups, too. I tried these on but the material is a polyester blend and I'm not a relay fan anyway. Numerous reports and my tryon confirm these fit smaller than your normal Athleta size.
Athleta also has a pair of gray Tie Dye Salutation Tights in the catalog but the stores haven't received them yet. There is quite a difference in color, some people have gotten ones that look like this photo and others have received ones that are much darker. You might want to order a couple of pairs to be able to cherry pick your shade.
Athleta has this very cute combo in their Lookbook that is tempting me to order these tights, too, but I bought the Varsity Blue Shibori WUPs last week and there are only so many shibori prints I can use.
I also ordered this tank - the Refine Tank. It's a modal/spandex blend but I haven't seen it in person so can't tell you much more than that until I get my order. I ordered it to have a white tank option with the navy tie dye crops.
I bought this Stripe Linen Tee back in March but didn't post about it at the time. I've been on the hunt for cute summer tops to wear with jeans and leggings and this fit the bill nicely. I've worn and washed it a few times and really like it. The material is not as soft as the Breezy tops but it's very airy. The top has a boxy fit.
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| Athleta Striped Breezy Tee and Linen Tee |
These two navy striped tops are totally different (ok, I know they're similar but I really like navy stripes).
39 comments:
I bought and returned those striped relay capris for a size up. The design is so cute, I had to give them another try. Also, I am selling all of my inspire/pace rival crops to switch to athleta's sonar line exclusively. I bought a cobalt blue pair of mesh sonar capris off of ebay last week and wore them to crossfit. They absolutely did not move an inch. I never realized how actually UN comfortable I am in my lulu crops. I think the crotch is too long and I always try to hike them up to get rid of sagging. I didn't realize someone sold crops that were not see through that I would not have to mess with at all!!!! And, because I wanted "all the colors" I ended up scoring 4 pairs off of ebay NWT for $35. Now I'm obsessed, I even got the floral fade pair you bought last year. They are so cute and match everything.
Powervita is so great. I do hot yoga, and since Powervita was introduced, those are the pants I reach for the most. I have plain black and navy. The cookbook picture you posted makes me want to order the gray/white shibori! I tried the essence tie back tank, and didn't love it. It exposed more skin than I like to put out into the world. I am currently loving the lulu hot like agni tie back top. Totally rambling comment, but I also got the navy print Powervita bra you referenced. The cookies weren't wrinkled -- may have just been the batch at your store.
Lululemon Addict I purchased same striped breezy top as you did and love fabric and style. I am hoping to pick up tie-dye capris later this week. Last time I went to mall I walked right past LLL to Atheltica and bought two breezy tops. I can no longer do black, white, grey, blue and all these dark colors with no print. I am so bored with LLL lack of design, lack of color, lack of anything exciting. I have a hard time with sizing and Atheltica and seem to be more between sizes than a solid 10 or 12. Thanks for posting pictures and your thoughts I appreciate your expertise on workout clothes.
Hi LLA, I purchased both tie dye crops last week after seeing them on the catalog. I'm waiting for them to arrive. I have quite a few things in my cart from Athleta. I've been eyeing the linen top you've posted about so I think I'll add that to my cart as well. So far my workout clothes money have been going to Athleta this year. Have not been tempted by any of lululemon's designs lately. Thanks for the review!
I snagged a pair of the limited edition tie dye Salutation Crops and absolutely love them. The fabric is amazing.
Nice review and lovely items! With the exception of the Deep Breath Bralette (too much bra for me), I love all the items! I'm in Canada however so I am pretty much sol. It's just too expensive with conversion and duties. I have tried, even when items are on sale, and it's just not worth it. As many Canadians who read here will attest, we wish Athleta would set up stores in Canada (I'm in Toronto. Greater Toronto Area/GTA is the third largest retail market in North America!)
Brava on considering changing the name of your blog and having a multi-brand or multi-stream focus. You'll still do well with readers! :) and your historical knowledge of LLL is of course still invaluable.
Luluaddict, thank you for the Athleta review. My sister and I started purchasing their workout and casual wear. We've decreased our lulu purchases by quite a bit given the uninteresting colors and styles. Athleta designs have really delighted us. One last note, my sister appreciates the wide range of size offerings from Athleta, she's on the bustier side.
I've been really loving Athleta tees this year. I got the Restore Tee a month ago and loved it so much I went back a couple weeks later and got the two other colors it comes in! Also the Trekkie Jogger pant is amazing! Most of my wardrobe these days is Athleta since they make great stuff in both casual wear and athletic wear. The only thing I'm still buying from Lulu nowadays is the Swiftly Racerback, as I don't really love the Athleta version.
After so many years of purchasing lulu, and buying a few things from Athleta I have bought so much more from Athleta this year. I love their bras! I never found one that worked for me from Lulu. They always dug into my shoulder muscles. Their casual pants are fantastic! I also like their return policy! Such a breathe of fresh air after all those years of 14 days! My sister and I have really been impressed with the style and for it of Athleta!
@ anon 2:36 pm - I have three pairs of Sonar Crops now and really like them. I think my favorite are the Tropical print ones from last summer. I only wish they had more pockets but for general workouts they're great.
@ anon 3:25 pm - good to know about the bra. The inside of both cups also had snags in them, too, so I don't know what happened there. I'm hoping the one I ordered is perfect. I love Powervita. At the $69 price point for the solid crops it's an easy choice over Align crops.
@ anon 3:50 pm - When I shop at Athleta these days I often skip stopping by the lulu store. My purchases have been pretty evenly divided between the two brands, so far this year.
@ anon 4:59 pm - I love the Powervita fabric and the design of the salutations.
@ anon 7:37 pm - I think it's great that Athleta not only goes into the lower end of plus sizes but also offers Petites and Tall. A lot of petites really struggle with lululemon.
@ Amanda - what bra do you like from Athleta? I've tried on the Triple Dare Bra a few times and liked it but haven't found a color I liked. I also tried on the cute Mind Over Mat bra with the trendy criss cross front, hoping it'd be kind of sexy, but instead it was pretty sad on my deflated mom boobs. :/ I'd need more uplift than the bra gives to make it work.
@Ball$ - I tried on the Restore tee, too, the other day but forgot to write about it. I loved how soft it was. It's definitely on my radar to add to my closet.
I bought those beautiful blue and white tie dye crops shown in the first bra photo and I LOVE THEM! They're so pretty and amazingly soft. Really giving my aligns a run for their money because they're a little thicker so I don't worry about cellulite as much.
What would the new name be? AthleisureAddict?
Lanky 5'10 checking in! I'm a fan of Athleta's size ranges and tall options. Their stuff seems too inconsistent to me though. I've tried the chatarunga tights and found them soft but wildly unflattering as they showed every chunk and lump. And even when lulu is see through it still doesn't show off cellulite quite like that. I have two pairs of sonar capris, and like the weight and coolness of them, but I'm just not a fan of the fade since they're usually backed in white. And I have a top that's got that starchy polyester feel which is an icky feeling. But I have ordered a pair of powervita leggings (the tie dye print!) to try, and I'm will to give them a good go.
Thanks for the reviews! Coincidentally I ordered both tie dye Powervitas to try. Should be receiving today. Love Powervita fabric & always seem to reach for my black capris everyday now. Comfy & sturdy. Wash & dry no problems. I don't need to baby them!
I love that you're reviewing Athleta! Like many other readers here, I'm was a longtime Lulu fan (started obsessing around 2007-ish), but I have been off the Lulu bandwagon for a couple of years now, except for the odd piece here and there.
I have really been loving Athleta. They've stepped up their game, and now a lot of my workout gear and my casual clothes are Athleta.
I also love their model diversity, messaging about empowering women, and their commitment to ethical sourcing.
Their Powervita fabric is divine, and their Chi tanks are my favorite tops.
I'm pretty hardcore into crossfit and trail running, and I've been really happy with how my Athleta purchases have performed and held up.
OK, enough of sounding like a walking advertisement for Athleta, lol. (sorry)
Just loving the idea of you expanding beyond Lulu! Would be super interesting.
Thanks for this great blog/resource!
That's great your potentially broadening your blog content! I love your athleta reviews. This most recent batch of new products was excellent and I think their patterns are superior to lulu at this point. I ordered the shibori pants, the stripe relay crops, and the high neck bra top you posted here. I also tried some run shorts, but sent them back immediately - that's their weakness from my perspective. Looking forward to following along as your blog progresses!
@luluaddict-I like the fully focused bra. It is super comfortable and the powervita material is quite nice. It also has a pretty back which I could never get the fun backs at Lulu to work for me. I gave it a couple of days test and it passed with flying colors! Hope you find one that works for you!
@ anon 1:35 pm - Thanks! I was surprised to see my oldest Athleta pieces, besides my swim wear, are already two years old and I don't really baby them. I do wash them like my lulu - on gentle and hang - but I tend to wear them for much rougher activity - like cleaning doing yardwork, and they're holding up great. Athleta's stuff always seems very well sewn.
@ anon 8:16 am - I agree about Athleta's sizing being inconsistent. I have found it better if you stay within a style, though, e.g., Sonars fit looser on me than Chaturangas.
@JFW - My store got the tie dye Powervita Salutations in so I was able to try them on. I think I like them better than my plain black ones. I hope they continue to make prints in the powervita material, I'm pretty sure I could fill a closet with the style if they started offering a ton of options in it. The other pair of crops I love from Athleta are the striped Chaturangas. I wish they'd made every pair of Chats in a nylon blend and with that fit. They're perfect.
@ anon 2 pm - I tried on that cute Eyelet Dunes tank today and keep thinking about it. It's $79, though, but so cute and perfect for summer.
LLA - thank you for the great Athleta review. I haven't bought workout tights from Athleta before, & I'm wondering if the tie dye salutation crops fit true to size, or if they're a size down item? Thanks!!
I wish lulu offered a wider selection of athletic wear for men. I'm always having to look to the women's line for leggings / tights / shorts / etc.
Hi, longtime reader, first comment. Just wanted to give you and your readers a head's up - if you are near a Vons, sign up for their rewards card and download the Just for U app. You can add a coupon for 20% off Gap family of brands (including Athleta) gift cards. I usually find that deal on there every few months. This one goes through 5/16. You have to add the deal and n their app though.
@ anon 4:04 pm - most Athleta bottoms are a size down from your lulu ones.
@ anon 7:26 pm - thanks! I'm debating signing up for their credit card.
Another (ex) Lulu addict that has moved over to Athleta! I agree with a poster above that their one weakness is their run short. I still go to Lulu for Speeds, Run Times and Hotty Hots but even that's been hit and miss due to awful color selection and nothing but black and white prints - I have enough black and white speeds. I'm dying for fun COLORED patterns in my shorts (oh how I miss the plaids and prints like Secret Garden). I love my run skirts but since the demise of the pacesetter and the pace rival, their "replacements" have been less than stellar (i.e.- not really even functional with cost cutting measures like no leg grippers, no pockets etc).
Athleta has really stepped it up in general over the last year or so. Their quality has really gone up and the inconsistency in sizing has diminished some. Let's face it, sizing and fit on Lulu has also been hit and miss as well. It's the nature of fashion though as unless each pant/top/short/skirt is cut by hand one at a time there will always be inconsistent fits depending on where in that pile of THOUSANDS of layers of fabric it was when it was machine cut. Anyway.....sorry for the rambling.
I look forward to more Athleta clothing reviews and now I need to go and hit up my closest Athleta store soon!
Love the Athleta posts, LLA! I've been buying almost all my gear there for at least the last year now. I went to my local store yesterday and spent way too much money. I bought a couple of their t-shirt dresses for an upcoming trip to Hawaii. They're so cute! I finally bought some Stealth capris in the Sculptek fabric too. I've been loving my Powervita capris but thought it was about time I gave Sculptek a try.
Did they discontinue the lined studio dance pants in other colors? Or will they bring it back during fall? Thanks!
My crops arrived yesterday and I love them! Was thinking of getting the blue shibori lulu tights but won't bother now I have these.
I don't own anything from Athleta. for some reason it still seems like a knock off of lulu to me. I actually have been buying from Sweaty Betty and Teeki lately.
M
@M - Sweaty Betty just opened a store near me so I'll be checking them out soon. However, they put the store in a shopping center that charges $6 for two hours of parking - paying for parking is not the norm here yet, and certainly not a steep $6 minimum - and it's not in the same mall as all the lululemon, Athleta, Lorna Jane, Nike, and all the other sportswear stores. Not sure how being marooned out on Lido Marina will work for them. I think they made an error putting the store there but time will tell. I see SB now has free shipping with no minimum purchase. I was looking for something to order but I either didn't care for the styles or the items I liked were made of polyester. I almost stopped in last weekend but they were having a boat show so parking was nuts.
@ anon 8:45 am - Let me know how you like the Sculptek. I tried them on but the price is close to a pair of luxtreme WUCs so haven't seen the point to indulge yet.
I sooo agree with Anom@8:40 I am an ex-Lulu addict who started buying Chat crops and tights (I like the high rise fit) from Athleta about 6 months ago, and now the only thing I think Lulu does better (maybe) is shorts. Although, they've jacked with the fit of the Trackers and the Speeds, so I haven't bought any in a very long time. I miss plaid prints and fun florals like Secret Garden and Jungle. I keep checking to see if they'll come sound, but it's looking hopeless
I LOVE their Sculptec stuff! I bought a pair of crops and pants when they first came out and recently bought the Stealth Tru Cool Capri. While the fabric isn't as soft as Lulu, the fit is fabulous and I got a ton of complements on them. I also bought the printed Fully Focus bra - it's adorable and I love the six straps, though I wish the bottom band was a little wider. (My favorite Lulu bra is the Strap It Like Its Hot and I own four of them - I would die happy if they re-released it.) I tried on the Salutation Power Vita pants today but wasn't wild about the fit - I'm only 5' tall and the high waist kinda bugged me - however, the fabric was awesome and I'll keep checking back to see if it comes in something I like better.
LLA, I also highly recommend getting the Athleta card. I ended up paying about $12 for a pair of $98 pants due to regular rewards and birthday rewards - so worth it! Not only that, but they have frequent sales and you can use your rewards toward sale items too.
PS - when I was in the store today, I showed them a pic from this post of the Refine Tank - they hadn't gotten it in yet - I can't wait to hear how you like it!
@ anon 6:31 pm - I tried a pair of their plain black Sculptek crops a few months ago and found them compressive but I've been waiting for a cute print to come out before I take the plunge. I have quite a few luxtreme bottoms so don't really "need" Sculptek bottoms and the lighter weight Powervita pants are filling a niche need - they're lighter, more breathable, and softer than luon but gives better coverage than nulu - for me right now.
My order won't come until next week but I will post about it once it gets here.
I've never been an Athleta fan, but I stopped by a store today and was pleasantly surprised. There's still too much of their stuff that reminds me of Neiman Marcus catalog stuff. I didn't try anything on, but Powervita did seem promising. That said, I don't think it's a Nulu clone. I don't think it's that soft and it's a lot thicker. Still, it's a long way from where they used to be, so I will start checking in there when I'm at the mall.
On a totally different note, Ivivva is supposed to be coming out with size 16 sometime in the next year. At 5'9" 150 lbs, I'm too big for a 14, but as long as the proportions make sense, I could do a 16. Now, at the tender age of 47, can I shop at a children's store? Hmm. We'll see, but they continue to kick Lulu's butt, so I probably will start shopping there.
@Rise and Shine - yes, powervita is a bit thicker than nulu but it's not as thick as luon so it's nice for warmer weather for me. I think it's pretty soft. Did you try black ones on? The tie dye ones feel a little different than plain black.
Interesting about the size 16 in Ivivva. I swear they changed up the size range about two years ago and for some reason I thought they contracted it. In my area it seems that high school girls like to wear lululemon.
LuluAddict, yeah, they like Lulu because when you're 15 you don't want to be seen at the pediatrician's office anymore. You're a big girl who goes to an OBGYN now! Ha, seriously, I overheard a woman asking at Lulu for plain, black, yoga pants for her 13 year old who was too small for a size 2 and the GEC said, "uh... Ivivva" and the woman said that her daughter didn't want to shop in the kids' section any more. I get it, and yet it's stupid.
Now, I'm not saying that all the Ivivva styles translate to their more mature (let's say 12 and up) customers. There are definitely some prints that are way too young for me and I can understand where even a young teenager would feel similarly. That said, they've got a lot of Lulu clone styles in plain, but vibrant colors. Why wouldn't I buy a Set The Pace skirt in light blue? It's almost identical to my Pace Setters. If Lulu hadn't thrown away nearly everything that was good about the brand, I wouldn't have to do this, but it was their choice to employ and continue to employ Lee Holman.
Safe to say, if I buy anything from Ivivva, it won't be much, because even at a 16, the clothes are cut for younger bodies. I would much, much rather have the old Lulu back, but I've pretty much given up hope of that ever happening.
@ Rise and Shine - I thought I heard that the Ivivva bottoms don't have gussets in them like lululemon ones do. I haven't personally verified that, though.
I get you on Ivivva still embodying the old lululemon fun and whimsical feel, though.
In late again as usual but it was because of you I tried my first athleta piece (powervita leggings) a few months ago and surely do love it. Totally agree with the name change and widening out.
@okollusion - My order from last week came yesterday and I tried a couple of new items out today - the Shibori Fully Focused bra (really like) and the new Essence Tie Back tank (also really liked and my bootcamp group loved it). I'll be posting about it either tonight or tomorrow.
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