Lululemon: The “Sheer” Truth
Okay, I’ll admit it. My gym style up until a couple of years ago was
very “old school.” Soccer shorts and oversized boxy t-shirts were my go-to attire. Sure, I often had to roll up the short sleeves halfway through my workout and tuck in my shirt during certain exercises, but the clothes worked and I didn’t have any problems with them. Well, that is until two years ago when I began my weight loss journey and joined a gym. It seemed like all of the women were walking around in outfits put together by a stylist! I felt very out of place, underdressed, and many years out of style! All I could think about during my workout was “What are these perfectly form fitting pants with colorful details and stylish matching tops and where can I get some?”
Too embarrassed to ask fellow gym goers, I scoured the stores that I regularly shopped but could not find this elusive brand. I finally turned to my sister-in-law, an avid runner and spinner and learned that the brand I had been searching for with the horseshoe shaped “ohm” symbol on them was none other than, LuLulemon, a Canadian based company, that “makes athletic gear for yoga, running, and other sweaty pursuits” for both men and women.
I immediately went to a local store and although I was completely ready for my new stylish gym outfit, I was not ready for the price tag shock that came along with it. With the price of sports bras starting at $42, simple tank tops ranging from $42 to $68, and shorts and crop pants from $42 to $88, for most people, the question arises of whether or not the new stylish workout gear is worth it? Sure, they look amazing but for that sticker price, isLuLulemon really worthy all of the hype?
As a person who was used to using old high school soccer tournament shirts and $15 sports bras, it was difficult to make the initial purchase without finding out more about this company with the cult-like following.
Lululemon, while catering to multiple athletic pursuits, mainly specializes in yoga attire. As such, the pants are form fitting yet stretchy and have been noted by many reviewers to be extremely soft and comfortable while transitioning between positions. A quick search online about the reviews of Lululemon pants brings up multiple blogs raving over the supernatural way these pants instantly make the glutes appear higher and tighter. A phenomenon I witnessed firsthand in the glutes of the clique-like wearers at my new gym.
The variety of tops alone, perfect for anything from yoga to running are also enough to please anyone.With hidden pockets and zippered compartments, and stay-put sticky elastic hems, the brand also does not fail on providing the extra features. It’s not hard to see why the brand has done so well and has amassed a loyal following of customers.
The appeal of the brand however, does not end with the visual quality. They also offer a variety of signature materials with varying degrees of thickness and fiber composition, but that all provide the benefits of “moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, breathable and cottony soft.” Perhaps the best attribute to their gym gear is the “silverescent family” of material that contains silver, which acts as an anti-bacterial to prevent the stink that can occur and stay inside of sweat laden clothes. I think at some point we’ve all
had that one person in the gym pass by that has that telltale “sour” smell. This line ensures that you won’t be that person getting the crinkled nose stares.
Multiple online sites and blogs giveLululemon products very positive reviews on both quality and appeal with ratings varying from 4-5 stars. About.com offered the following review of the line with the pros including “stylish, light and comfortable fabric that is easy to wash, nice colors, nicely sculpted padding in tops, true to size.” Cons include “fabrics wrinkle more than some, and that the online store does not do the clothes justice.” Overall, reviews for Lululemonare very positive and most bloggers actually recommend their readers give the brand a try.
But despite all of these features and positive reviews, LuLu, has not been without controversy over quality. In March of this year, Lululemon was forced to recall 17% of its black yoga pants (WunderUnders, Skinny Will leggings, and Astro Pant) due to complaints of the fabric becoming see-through when bending over and stretching while performing positions such as the “downward dog”.
The company has since traced the defective pants and its parts back to a supplier and haveassured their customers that the pants in stores now meet “revised specifications for modulus (stretch), weight, and tolerances.”
Despite these assurances, there are still customer reviews on the company’s website as recent as August 11, claiming that the pants are “still see-through!” According to CBC News, LuLulemon has since reported that customers claiming persistent sheerness of the pants are likely wearing pants that are too small for them. The brand also met complaints in the past with bleeding colors and a line of seaweed fabric that did not contain any seaweed at all.
Whether or not these incidents will impact the popularity of Lululemon is yet to be seen.However, a quick look around my current gym suggests that Lulu is still a popular brand among all of the women, whether spinning, weightlifting, or performing calisthenics.
For me, the answer of whether or not Lul
u’s hefty price tag was worth it became clear when I slipped into the clothes, felt the fabric, saw the fit, and noticed the attention to detail with the extra features. Like most women, I’ve searched high and low for the perfect fitting, stretchy pant that breathes well and dries quickly. Often, the fabric was spot on but the fit was less than ideal. As my body has changed from weight training, mainstream pants and shorts were too tight in some places and too lose in others.
LuLu’s pants and running skirts fit me perfectly in all of the right places and offer all of the extra features that I’ve been searching for. Notably, I wore my LuLu “pace setter” running skirt and matching “no limits tank” during a half-marathon and was extremely pleased with how it kept me cool during the entire race, stayed dry, and the fact that the undershorts did not ride up as I ran. It was also humorous that I got several compliments on my outfit during the race!
I have since added additional Lulu pieces to my gym wardrobe and have been happy with every purchase.
Overall, I’ve been very pleased with the stylish outfits I have purchased at LuLulemon and with its form and function. If you’re searching for the perfect gym outfit that is both functional and fashionable, I would definitely suggest visiting a Lululemon store and finding out for yourself what all of the hype is truly about. As a non-yogi however (no downward
dogs here!), I would still strongly suggest a fitting room trial “good morning” to make sure that your gym workout does not later get a “Hello!” in return.
Dr. Brandy Segura is a National level Bikini competitor with Oddo’s Angels, health and fitness blogger, and published fitness and nutrition writer. She has been featured on RxGirl and QuestNutrition.com. She is also a mother of two and former Medical Doctor.
She can be reached at:
www.facebook.com/DrBrandySegura
http://bseguramd.blogspot.com
Instagram: @DrBsegura
Twitter: @BrandySegura
References:
1. “Crazy for Lululemon Pants (Yeah, Those Ones That Make Your Butt Look Amazing). Bodyrock.tv Jul 24, 2009. Accessed at http://www.bodyrock.tv/2009/07/24/crazy-for-lululemon-pants-yeah-those-ones-that-make-your-butt-look-amazing/
2. Ekachakra. “Yoga Product Review: LululemonAthletica: Worth the High Price?” Om Shanti: A Yoga Blog. Aug, 30, 2006. Accessed at http://yogaisforlovers.wordpress.com/2006/08/30/yoga-product-review-lululemon-athletica-worth-the-high-price/
3. “Fabrics and technologies.” Lululemon.com. Accessed at http://info.lululemon.com/education/info/fabricsandtechnologies
4. “LululemonAthletica.” Wikipedia. Accessed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lululemon_Athletica
5. “I’m Lulu for Lululemon.” Modern Baby. Jul 19, 2011 Accessed at http://modernbaby.com/im-lulu-for-lululemon/?utm_source=crowdignite.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=crowdignite.com
6. Ogle, Margueruite. “Lululemon Athletics-Workout clothes for pilates and yoga.” About.com:Pilates. Mar 22, 2013. Accessed at http://pilates.about.com/od/pilatesclothing/gr/Lululemon.htm
7. “Product Review: Lululemon athletics, not just yoga gear for women.” iRunnerBlog. June 15, 2010. Accessed at http://www.irunnerblog.com/products/product-review-lululemon-athletica-yoga-gear-chicks/
8. Shane, Jo-Lynne. “Fashion/fitness Friday: lululemon review.” Musings of a housewife.Jan 11, 2013. Accessed at http://www.musingsofahousewife.com/2013/01/lululemon-review.html
9. Suddath, Claire. “What Lululemon’s Yoga Pants Recall Reveals.” Bloomberg Businessweek, Lifestyle. Mar, 28, 2013. Accessed at http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-28/what-lululemons-yoga-pants-recall-reveals
10. The Canadian Press. “Lululemon says see-through pants being worn too small.” CBCNews:Business Jul 11, 2013. Accessed at http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2013/07/11/business-lululemon-luon.html
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