I hope y’all are having a GREAT weekend! I just wanted to take a moment to discuss my FAVORITE Lululemon Bra: the RUN: Stuff Your Bra. I absolutely love these. They’re great for ladies who need a little extra support, and the wide straps make it a very comfortable selection.
Here are the features as listed on the website:
Wide, Smooth straps provide comfort and support
Breathability: Open back provides ventilation
Medium Support: Intended to provide medium support for a B/C cup
Yes to those straps providing comfort and support. And I agree that this bra is best for a B/C cup- it is definitely medium support. If you need more, I’d go for a Ta Ta Tamer. I think the claim of “breathability” is a little over-stated, though, considering that almost all their bras could be said to have breathability in my opinion.
I was actually worried that they weren’t going to bring it back, and there were several threads, as I recall, on HeyLululemon.com asking for a re-release in America, before they closed that website down. I’m glad that they did choose to bring it back, it’s definitely a fan fave!
Anyways, I thought it would be fun to share a collection photo, so here they are, my RSYBs:
OH! I almost forgot! I’m currently holding a giveaway! It ends June 1st, 2016. While you’re here, you might as well check it out 🙂 You could win a $100 Lululemon Gift Card!
Has anyone done this yet? Just kidding. There are Ivy Park fit reviews on the Interwebs. I like this one on Jezebel. Agent Athletica did a fit review for an item similar to something I tried, but the crops I tried had a higher rise and a different waistband.
First off, I want to say that I have found a whole new respect for real “fashion bloggers” who actually take good pictures of themselves that are able to showcase the clothes in a meaningful and helpful way. I don’t know that I’ve necessarily been able to achieve that, but I did want to try! I’m spending a few days in Nashville, which has a Nordstrom, which sells TopShop which is carrying Beyonce’s fitness brand, “Ivy Park.”
I’m a super amazing blogger, so I totally even remembered to take pics of fully half of the items I tried on.
This is the first outfit I tried on.
This is the V-Back Mesh Insert Vest, $40, and the Ivy Park Logo Running Shorts, $26Here you can see the mesh back of this tank. For some reason it reminds me of the Push Your Limits tank- I think it’s the thickness of the straps and the way it fits on me- but it’s not actually all that similar.Tank inside out, built-in bra.
Overall, I like, but do not love, this tank. This fits well and is comfortable, but, it’s mostly Polyester, as you can see on the website: 92% Poly, 8% Elastane. The shorts, I actually did like. They are 50% cotton, and quite comfortable. I also liked the longer length. These are the stats, from the website, about a size medium: 10 1/2″ front rise; 16″ back rise. This is great for “hippy” girls like myself. I need a little extra room at the back. These are actually high rise, as well. However, I’m not a very big fan of high rise items, so I sized up, and will wear these looser, but on my hips, rather than at my natural waistline. This is the only item in the collection I purchased. PS: These are the “Logo” shorts, but my hand is covering the logo.
NEXT!
Next, I tried on these pants. Comparing them to Lulu, as I do, they’re basically as compressive as Luxtreme, but they did not feel right on. The waistline was good, but the hips were tight. (I followed the size chart for these, and I sized up below for a different pair.) These are the “Y” High Rise Three-Quarter Leggings, $58
NEXT:
The next thing I tried on were these blue pants. I really do like this color! The hips fit fine, but the waistband was loose on these- probably my own fault for sizing up, but the size down’s hips were too tight. Indeed I am a curvy lady. The main thing that I actually didn’t like about these was the shorts underneath. I know they’re going to provide extra coverage, which is fabulous, but I could see the lines from the shorts showing through the main fabric of the pants. You could see it in the pictures, if you knew what you were looking for- but it is rather faint. The lines may or may not bother you, given that they are indeed hard to spot. They did bother me though, since my one mantra in clothing is “smooth lines.”
These ones were really loose on my waistline, but fit better in the hips. I even had the dreaded “gap” between my back and the back of the pants, which I photographed, but decided it would be in poor taste to share. This issue was likely caused by my sizing up, but the smaller size just felt too tight on my hips, so I thought this would be a good solution.These are the High Rise leggings in Cobalt. As I recall, they were $62 USD.
Finally:
The last thing I tried on were these called “Seamless Capri Leggings, $52″ They reminded me very much of the Lululemon “Flow & Go” tights, due to the type of seamless fabric. However, these are 72% Polyester, and a pair of Flow & Go tights, as shown in a pic of a Lulu tag below, are 90% Nylon.
Fabric compositionPic of below-the-knee details.Fabric composition of Lululemon Flow & Go tights.
Opinion:
My overall impression of the designs are that they’ve been done. The tank is pretty nicely designed, having a slightly unique mesh placement and the straps are not entirely predictable, but everything else is very typical athleisure wear. They’re nice designs, but there’s nothing inherently unique about them. The blue color is quite striking in person though, and the details on the Seamless capris are dandy.
The prices on these, in my opinion, especially for the A-list celebrity they’re attached to, are very reasonable. The prices vary widely, so it’s possible for anyone to buy a piece of the brand if they’re just huge Beyonce fans, (how about a $14 headband?) and there are also high-Nylon content leggings available for $165 for anyone willing to pay the price for a high-quality, celebrity-endorsed item.
Quality wise, there’s a lot of hit & miss. I always pay attention to fabric content. When I buy Lululemon items, I always check. A lot of items by the same name vary in what type of fabric is in them. For example, I recently made a post about the Real Quick Crops, and how much I like them. However, some of them have a high percentage of Nylon in them (like the Deep Zinfandel) and some of them have a high amount of Polyester in them (the printed ones). Guess which ones I bought? I’m happy with the shorts I bought from this Ivy Park collection. They’re comfy, soft and 50% cotton, which is good enough for me- especially since they were only $26, which is half what Lulu shorts cost.
The fit was not the greatest for me. To be honest, this is an issue I have with a lot of items “off the rack.” Too much space (a gap) in the back, and not enough give around the hips and thighs. It’s because I have a rather low waist to hip ratio- which just means that my hips are a lot bigger than my waist, making it hard to find clothes that fit. This is why I love Lululemon leggings: They (almost) always fit in both the hips and the waist. I’m sure a lot of other people will find that Ivy Park fits them just fine.
This is just my opinion though, what do you think of Beyonce’s new line? Let me know in the comments! And hey, while you’re here, don’t forget to enter the draw I’m having for a $100 Lululemon gift card!
I’ve been blogging for over three years now, and I just want to say how thankful I am for all of you who read my blog, and for the ALWAYS positive or useful and constructive feedback I receive. I love it when you point something out that you like, and I love when you correct me when I’ve made a mistake. In the interest of building on that feedback, and hopefully getting even more of it, I’ve decided to hold a giveaway.
The rules are simple, I’m holding it through Rafflecopter, which is pretty much the gold standard for online giveaways. I have a few rules for the giveaway. The first is that you MUST be subscribed to my blog via email. If you win I will email you at the email that you use to enter the contest and I will check that email against the list of subscribers I have. That is the one “required” method of entry. There are a bunch more ways for you to earn EVEN MORE entries! The second rule is that if you’re a friend of mine or a family member you can’t win, sorry mom! And that’s it! Those are the only rules! Rafflecopter takes care of the rest and they will choose the winner randomly. I will contact the winner from MY EMAIL address, which is , and not from any other email. However, the winner will also be displayed BY Rafflecopter through their widget both on my Facebook page and on the original contest entry page. If the winner is not eligible (ie: somehow a friend or family member of mine), or does not respond to the email I send, I will select a new winner the following week.
So that’s it! It starts today and ends at the end of this month, in about two weeks! Thanks for being awesome!
PS:
Don’t forget: Sharing is caring!
UPDATE:
Day 1 Update: Hello everyone! So happy to see that people are entering! Rafflecopter tells me I have 20 entries so far. This includes multiple entries by the same people, since you can enter a few different ways! A few people have entered 3 ways! That’s awesome! I’m so happy to see that people are engaging with me on my blog & Facebook & Twitter. I have always wanted to try Facebook ads, and since I’m trying to get the word out about my giveaway, I thought it would be a lot of fun to see how these Facebook ads really work. I am considering writing a piece about them and how/ if they work for small-time bloggers like myself. Anyways, I just wanted to write an update, and let y’all know how this is shaping up! This is super exciting for me! I can’t wait to see who wins!
Just a couple days before this ends, update: Hello again everyone! This giveaway ends soon! It’s been a lot of fun so far, and I certainly appreciate all the “likes” and Facebook shares. I also really appreciate the comments on here! It makes it a lot more fun for me 🙂 I know you’re excited to see who will win! I just want y’all to know that I will be picking the winner after 5pm EST sometime on June 1st. The winner will be announced here, on this blog, and I will email the winner using the email they provided, from the email I listed above. Then I will email the prize to the winner in the form of a virtual Lululemon gift card. I wish you all the best of luck!
Winner has been announced! Hello everyone! I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who entered, commented here, Tweeted about the giveaway, followed my blog, followed me on Twitter and visited my Facebook page. THANK YOU> Your engagement has made this SO MUCH FUN for me. 🙂 The winner has been drawn by Rafflecopter and announced. I have emailed her, and sent her the prize! Congrats to Michelle P! The Rafflecopter app announces the winner on my Facebook page as well, since I have that app installed on my page. Here is the link to it, and it can be found on my page by clicking “Giveaway.” You should also be able to see the winner if you click the original contest link.
THANK YOU AGAIN to everyone who entered! Don’t worry if you didn’t win this time! I’m sure I will have another giveaway in the future! 🙂
I don’t often cover uploads, but I really wanted to share some of my favorites from this week with you, and since I’m officially off school, I actually have some time to write! This week, I have a question of vital importance!
WHAT BRA IS THIS:
Did I miss this somewhere? What bra is this? What pattern is this!? I must have missed it or something, but if you know, please tell me in the comments. This was in the photos for the hat also pictured, the “Baller Hat.”
Next, I also have thoughts to share!
First of all, Lululemon has really done a great job on upload this week. I see a bunch of things I want!
Let’s begin with these shorts:
The Wunder Shorts. They come in a 2″ inseam model and a 5″ inseam model. I am very excited about the 5″ inseam model, and I do feel like Lululemon customers have been asking for quite some time for a longer short. I have a feeling that these will sell out. I may pick up the Full-On Luxtreme model.
Then, there are the High Times Pant (Wing Mesh), which I think are so cute, but buyer beware, they do have negative reviews from last year, and one new review from this year that’s less than enthusiastic. I just happen to think they’re cute- that mesh placement is so fun!
Then, of course, this gorgeous thing: The Coast Wrap II. I’m very tempted by the Heathered Alberta Lake one.
All the details really attract me to this piece. There are pockets, you can wear it all the way done up, or with the buttons undone and it looks just as good, as in bottom left photo. There is an interior phone pocket and a hole for your headphone cord- although, I use wireless headphones, I still appreciate the thought and extra detail. What do you think about the Coast Wrap?
Next, these beautiful High Rise Wunder Unders in Space Dye Camo Alberta Lake Fresh Teal. I put the Vinyasa Scarf in the same color next to them, even though it was uploaded last week, because I think I’d rather get it than the Wunder Unders. So pretty over that Coastal Wrap.
Speaking of Wunder Unders: Here are the Foli Manifesto Bali Breeze Tofino Teal Wunder Unders. They are absolutely gorgeous! I got the CRB last week, and I hope they come out with Speeds in this print!
What did you like from this week’s upload? I just wanted to share some favorites. Share your favorites with me on Twitter or in the comments below!
Coming off the veritable high of announcing the changes at Lululemon.com, it brings me no joy to tell you the HeyLululemon.com is shutting down. If you’re a big fan of Lulu, like myself, then you know that this is (was 🙁 ) a great place to share feedback and new ideas. It was here that they held the contest that brought back the Savasana Wrap. In addition to linking the post above, I’m going to post a screenshot, since, once the site closes down, none of the links will work! Here it is:
In addition, we are losing our weekly new product information fixes through the “What We Love” posts by Katelin every week. (Only good news: Katelin has been promoted! I’d like to congratulate Katelin and wish her luck in her new role as Program Manager: Product Education!) Here is a screenshot of the post:
Great question, Eric! Eric is very active in the community and runs his own Lulu fan site for the men’s line!
Since the HeyLululemon.com website is fixin’ to close down soon, here is a link to Lulu&TheBox’s tagged “What We Love” posts, if you want to see what exactly “What We Love” is all about. Basically, every week Katelin would update the Lululemon community on HeyLululemon.com with a post about what new product releases we could expect in upload the following week. I will really, REALLY miss these.
I would also avail myself of the services of HeyLululemon.com, less as a contributor of ideas, and more as an observer. HeyLululemon.com’s forums were a very good source of information regarding consumer preferences. Is it a coincidence that after SO MANY POSTS requesting that the Run:Stuff Your Bra be returned to stores that we now have it back? I got this one over the weekend! I absolutely love these bras, and my collection is about half these and half Flow Ys.
I would also recommend HeyLululemon.com to my readers and Tweeters! For example:
Not having this avenue for feedback is likely going to mean that Lululemon’s other social media platforms are going to get a lot more traffic. Maybe in a good way, maybe not. That remains to be seen. However, my personal opinion is that this was an excellent platform for feedback and connection between fans and each other and between fans and Lululemon itself. Lululemon will have to work to keep me interested, personally, since I absolutely loved the “What We Love” posts. I really hope they continue to post previews similar to “What We Love,” and hopefully not across platforms.
In any case, I’d love to hear what you think about the closure of HeyLululemon.com. I have to admit that I am disappointed, but hopefully they soon replace it with something even better!
Wow! You guys! I am so excited! I went to Lululemon.com to go check out WMTM this evening and they are rolling out a NEW site! It is gorgeous!
What I LOVE:
THE NEW CLOSET TAB
If you go to your account, you will see a “Closet” tab. If you click that, it will take you to a screen with all your previous purchases, including pictures.
Here’s mine:
As you can see, you can also click the “Items You’ve Returned” tab.
I actually have returned items. For example, after scrolling down quite a bit, I found this item:
I absolutely LOVED the look of this jacket, Pique Black Deep Coal. Such a nice fabric, plus since it’s pique you know it’ll be thick. So, I ordered it online, but if you’re familiar with my blog, you’ll know that I don’t really like the Forme jackets at all. And I am SO HAPPY about the Return of the Define Jacket. So, I returned it. Now, this was an in-store return of an online purchase, so it’s possible that Lululemon’s system does not view it as a “return” since I did not return it to the platform on which I purchased it, but it is a slight glitch in my opinion.
If you click on the “Details” button below each item, you’ll see the payment details of your transaction and what was delivered to you, which includes all items ordered in that transaction.
If you scroll down, you’ll see a lot of things, (probably) that you’ve purchased over the years. However, Lululemon appears to not have the photos for many of the older items uploaded. If they’re missing a photo, you’ll see this:
As you can see, they have a RSYB pic, and the Speed Shorts are pictured, but the Retreat Dress is not pictured. If they don’t have a photo, you will see the above image.
You also have options to describe to their e-newsletter by country, and they’ll let you choose what your interests are.
Below this you also have the option of signing up for individual store emails.
This new, user friendly, interface is what I’m MOST excited about. Very personal/ personalized. However, Lululemon also has the most adorable new way of displaying their items in general. They’re really invested a lot in this new look and I think it’s very very classy.
Here are a few pics from the website:
“All Women” HomepageSculpt Tank page“You may also like” Suggestions from Lululemon
How do you feel about the new site? I am really digging the new design. And the new user features. Let me know what you think in the comments!
I just want to take a moment to talk about a new favorite of mine. I am really really digging the Real Quick Crops right now! So, first off, I will say that the Luxtreme is, on average not as compressive as we’re used to, but I still feel somewhat held in. Although, officially, these are meant to make you feel “hugged.”
Here are the official specs, for the interestested:
fabric + features
Luxtreme® fabric with added Lycra® fibre is cool to the touch and fits like a second skin
Mesh fabric panelling for added ventilation
chafe-resistant flat seams mean more dash and less rash
flip up the cuff to expose reflective details
signature three-pocket waistband to stash all your essentials
Hugged Sensation
imported
fit + function
designed for: run
fabric(s): Luxtreme, Mesh
fit: tight
rise: high
inseam: 17”
leg opening: 11”
So, first off, I do want to address something that’s been mentioned a lot in the reviews online, which is that these crops bunch at the knee. While I, personally, have not experienced this, I can see how it might happen. So, if this is something that would really bother you, or make these unwearable, I will urge you to try these on in-store first, or (if you’re not near a store and have to order online) at least run around in them for a few minutes before tearing off those tags!
Here are some pretty pictures:
Here they are top to bottom, left to right: Deep Zinfandel, Posey Black/White, Samba Snake Battleship Black, Deep Green, Heathered Black/ Boom Juice.
I really want the Heathered Black/ Boom Juice ones, but alas, I only saw them available online overseas. Maybe they’ll make it here!
I really like these crops, honestly, because they fit great and look good. I’m a curvy girl, so, it’s nice to find crops that flatter me. If you have big hips and thighs, you’ll probably appreciate these. I think I even like them better than my Inspires, but we’ll see which ones get more wear this summer. Also: If you like the Run For Your Life crops, these remind me of them because of the mesh placement.
Hello everyone, I just wanted to say ‘hi!’ I’ve been really busy with class lately, but have found a few minutes to say hello to all of you and have some fun writing, instead of focusing on all the final assignments and papers I have to do. :-p
I took a peek at what Lulu’s got going on on their website this week and I have to be honest, it’s not my favorite. As much of a winner I think the “Make a Move” line is, I have to admit to not loving the “Making Moves” line.
First up, the Making Moves Singlet. So far offered in white, black and Regal Plum. It is UPF 50 fabric and does not have a shelf bra. However, it does seem to fall in that price range, at $68. This is cute, and I do like the side detail, but I don’t love the price.I’d rather get the Make a Move tank (with built-in bra) for the same price.
Next, the “Making Moves Jacket.” The back is OK. Sort of cute, even, if you like that ruched type of look, but the jacket looks a little short in the front. And it looks boxy and stiff on the model. You might want to try this one on in person before committing $128 to it.
The Making Moves line has also brought these Making Moves tights. I really like these and think that the details on the calves look perfect there. I don’t think they work on the tank nearly as well as they do on these tights. Here they are in Regal Plum. Super cute! I would get these on markdown! 🙂 (Retail is $118)
Another item from this line is the “Making Moves” short. I think the reflective details look cute here too, but I don’t love these shorts. I LOVE my Make A Move shorts, and judging by all the positive reviews, so does everyone else!
The Making Moves long sleeve has a triangular pleated detail on the back. In my opinion, the seam going straight down the front center makes this top look like it’s on backward. I would probably like this top if the seams were on the side. However, I think that the uniqueness of this top is potentially attractive to Lulu’s customer base, maybe it will even sell out.
Finally, here we have the Making Moves Bra. I actually really like this, it looks like it provides good support and I like that the reflective detail is on the back.
Sorry I can’t be as enthused as I normally am about Lulu’s new lines. I continue to be a fan of the Make A Move line, but some of these Making Moves offerings are just not my style. I’m curious as to what you think about the Making Moves line! Why don’t you let me know in the comments below? Do you love the Making Moves line? Do you share my love for the Make a Move shorts? I’d love to hear about it!
Hello everyone! I just want to document my experience with SkinMedica’s Vitalize peels. This is my first peel ever, so I don’t have anything to compare it to, but I wanted to share my experience anyways. Don’t forget to shop around- I’ve heard of these costing over $150/ application! I paid less than half that! Of course, it does depend on where you live, but don’t forget to ask about specials!
About a week after my initial consultation in which I expressed my concerns about my skin including clogged pores and age prevention, I got my first ever peel. The first thing the dermatologist did was clean my skin, then she used an alcohol swab on my face. Warning: it’s super stinky. I was nearly choking on it, so I turned on the tiny fan they gave me. It helped a lot.
Then came the “fun” part. The application of two layers of the peel solution plus one layer of sunscreen and one layer of Retinol. The two layers of the peel hurt a little, but honestly I have Salicylic acid solutions that I use that hurt more. Barely a “1” on my pain scale out of “10.”
The sunscreen and the Retinol don’t hurt at all, thus the “pain” part of the procedure is over. I left the office and drove home.
Later that day I noticed a bit of peeling on my nose and my skin still felt very tight. I had hidden indoors all day and applied plenty of moisturizer. I used this Acure sample I received in my BirchBox. It worked well to keep my skin hydrated. Just FYI, if you get one of these peels you’ll have a yellow hue for the day from the Retinol.
I washed my face in the evening, as per the nice lady’s instructions. It’s worth noting that my skin felt tight and a little sunburned but not too bad.
The following day, I just kept reapplying my sunscreen throughout the day, using Shiseido’s 50 SPF Broad Spectrum Sunscreen. I tried my very best to keep out of the sun and even used a parasol! I felt like a princess 🙂 That day, I noticed a little peeling on my nose.
The next day, I still only had very little peeling on my nose and on my chin. I kept my sunscreen game strong.
Over the next few days I looked pretty bad, with plenty of peeling that even the most vigorous moisturizer application couldn’t hide. So, I hid instead- venturing out only twice the entire weekend.
By Monday, however, the bulk of the peeling was over. I can’t tell if anything has changed yet, but I will keep you posted.
Since it is recommended that you receive multiple (between 3 and 6) sessions before expecting results, I decided to go ahead and get a few more peels done to reap the full benefits.
Peel Number Two:
About 5 weeks after my first peel, I went for my second. This one felt pretty much the same, a little burning but really quite tolerable. My skin also did not feel tight or sunburned this time. The peeling wasn’t as bad this time, and I was able to hide it a lot more easily than the first time. I haven’t seen any drastic changes yet, but I think my pores are getting tighter, as I’ve seen fewer clogged pores lately. In addition, and more importantly, I noticed that my acne scars are gone. They were mild scars, but they’re completely gone. I’m a fan of that. I had two. One was near my jawline and one was on my forehead. Yay!
Peel Number 3:
About 4 weeks after the second, I received my third. It actually hurt more this time, but I suspect that it was due to the batteries in the mini fan they gave me being low. Always ask for the fan. It makes it much more bearable. This one also did not make my skin tight or feel sunburned afterwards at all. But again, I did experience peeling, at about the same rate as the second peel.
Conclusion & Final Results
These peels were pretty effective at eliminating my acne scars, particularly the fresh one on my forehead! BUT I probably wouldn’t recommend them to anyone seeking wrinkle relief. They’ve done nothing for my fine lines. Next time, I will try the more aggressive form of this peel, the Rejuvenize Peel!
Hello everyone! I haven’t done one of these in a while, but I’m LOVING a lot of Lulu’s recent offerings!
First off, I really appreciate the re-release of these “If You’re Lucky” Long Sleeves, since I know more than a few people who were stalking eBay for a reasonably priced one. Now that they’re back in stock, they don’t have to worry about that anymore!
Sculpt tanks! Can’t get enough of these! They’re so comfy & I love that hole in the back! These look especially good with “Free to Be *Wild” bras, but I don’t have many (2?) of those due to the fact that they’re “low” coverage, but they do look great together. Sculpt tanks shown here are in Sea Mist and Regal Plum.
These Make a Move bras are great. Lots of coverage! But be careful, while some reviewers disagreed, other thought that the band was a little tight. I was TTS, but according to some reviews you might want to size up! This one here is in Red Grape.
These Speed Crops are gorgeous. I would love to see them in-store, but have not as of yet. I hope the fabric is as nice as the Speed Tights! This color is called “Pretty Prism Multi.”
My opinion: the whole “Make a Move” line is a winner. Still loving these shorts I Tweeted about a few weeks ago. Here they are in Red Grape.
High Rise Wunder Under Crops in Cyber Jungle Hero Blue. I’m not alone in thinking these are gorgeous.
, and not from any other email. However, the winner will also be displayed BY Rafflecopter through their widget both on my Facebook page and on the original contest entry page. If the winner is not eligible (ie: somehow a friend or family member of mine), or does not respond to the email I send, I will select a new winner the following week.
