The Lululemon Manifesto: The Controversies(!) and also my favorite Manifesto-printed items

Hello friends!

I was fondly recalling my favorites out of all my Lululemon clothes and much of the Manifesto print came to mind. That’s when I thought it would be fun to talk about my favorite pieces and also discuss the controversial and evolving document that is: The Lululemon Manifesto.

The manifesto is not just a document, it’s a living embodiment of values that Lululemon is expressing as a part of their brand. I think they’ve become more mainstream recently, and while Lululemon used to espouse “irreverence,” they now are more conformist to please the average consumer and their stockholders. We can see the evolution from irreverence to increased conformity by looking at the advice on the documents over time. Lululemon’s core audience “got” the inside jokes, while the general public & mainstream media has ridiculed or berated their choice of words. Even when the phrases on the manifesto seemed odd, most Lululemon fans quickly forgave the slip-ups. A good example of how fans got the inside jokes was when Lululemon was hiring a new CEO after Christine Day stepped down. They put up a cheeky ad on their site, and the media criticized whether they should be doing that when the company was having difficulties at the time. Most people I spoke to at the time thought it was funny and we laughed about it, but we can hold two thoughts in our minds at the same time and also were complaining about the ongoing issues that Lululemon was having.

That’s not the only time something Lululemon wrote caused controversy! In 2008, after learning that some phrases printed on their bags were disturbing to some guests, rather than destroying the bags, they chose to cover the phrases. Unfortunately, some people were still able to view the phrases, and Lululemon eventually decided to destroy the bags. Phrases such as “Some brief or quick-fix incidences when our minds are clear to be creative are….when drunk or stoned…just after an orgasm,” “The athlete’s high is the most long-lasting as it can last up to six hours,” “There is little difference between addicts and fanatic athletes. Both are continually searching for a way to remain in a creative state,” and “You only have 30,000 days to live and then you are dead,” were present on the bags.

Back in 2008, Lululemon also removed the phrase “Coke, Pepsi and all other pops will be known as the cigarettes of the future. Colas are not a substitute for water. They are just another cheap drug made to look great by advertising.” It was explained, at the time, by Chief Executive Bob Meers as simply a regular update to the manifesto “in order to stay fresh in message,” and was not a response to any cola company.

Yet another controversial phrase that once graced the bags was “Sunscreen absorbed into the skin might be worse for you than sunshine. Get the right amount of sunshine.” Some people thought that the messaging could be dangerous as it encouraged people to go without sunscreen. This, at a time when skin cancer rates were on the rise, according to a CTV news article on the subject. Lululemon issued a response saying that the advice was “not research-based,” and, I love this, that the Manifesto is a “collection of statements that are ever-evolving and intended to spark conversation.” Well, they’ve definitely sparked conversation over the years! That’s for sure!!!

Without further adieu, here is a short discussion on two versions of the manifesto.

As it stands, the newest version, updated in celebration of their 20th Anniversary can be found, for download on either mobile or desktop, here. So, if you need a new background for either your phone or computer, here’s something for you! However, there is a history of this document that I’m also interested in exploring.

Let’s take a look at the new Anniversary Edition Manifesto first. I was able to find all of the following advice and sayings on the newest iteration:

  • Breathe deeply
  • Namaste
  • Ignore the haters, including yourself
  • Creativity is maximized when you are living in the moment
  • Your biggest opportunity for growth is when it all hits the fan
  • Reconnect with nature. The better you know it the less you take it for granted. (Love you, Vancouver.)
  • Gratitude is contagious
  • That which matters most should never give way to that which matters least
  • Posi+ive +hough+s, words, and actions create posi+ive +hough+s, words, and ac+ions
  • Open your ears, eyes and heart & Open your mind
  • Jealousy works the opposite way you want it to
  • Replace the word try with will and watch the magic happen
  • The most important answers will never be found in a search bar
  • The pursuit of happiness is the source of unhappiness
  • Before speaking, ask yourself: Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it true?
  • You attract love when you love yourself
  • Treat goals like coconuts. Hit them hard, crack them open, celebrate
  • Do one thing a day that scares you
  • Put away your phone. The real world is not on hold.
  • Life is full of setbacks; success is determined by how you handle setbacks
  • This is not your practice life. This is all there is
  • Stress is related to 99% of all illness
  • Friends are more important than money
  • Listen, listen, listen and then as intentional questions
  • Vulnerability makes a good leader great
  • Hope is not a strategy
  • Do Yoga Be Yoga

Those are the ones I could read from the downloads, I think there are a couple of other ones I couldn’t quite make out.

Here is what is found on the 2012 version of the Lululemon Manifesto:

  • Drink FRESH water and as much water as you can. Water flushes unwanted toxins from your body and keeps your brain sharp.
  • A daily hit of athletic-induced endorphins gives you the power to make better decisions, helps you be at peace with yourself, and offsets stress.
  • Do one thing a day that scares you.
  • Listen, listen, listen, and then ask strategic questions.
  • Write down your short and long-term GOALS four times a year. Two personal, two business and two health goals for the next 1, 5 and 10 years. Goal setting triggers your subconscious computer.
  • Life is full of setbacks. Success is determined by how you handle setbacks.
  • Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself.
  • That which matters the most should never give way to that which matters the least.
  • Stress is related to 99% of all illness.
  • Jealousy works the opposite way you want it to.
  • The world is changing at such a rapid rate that waiting to implement changes will leave you 2 steps behind. DO IT NOW, DO IT NOW, DO IT NOW!
  • Friends are more important than money.
  • Breathe deeply and appreciate the moment. Living in the moment could be the meaning of life.
  • Take various vitamins. You never know what small mineral can eliminate the bottleneck to everlasting health.
  • Don’t trust that an old age pension will be sufficient.
  • Visualize your eventual demise. It can have an amazing effect on how you live for the moment.
  • The conscious brain can only hold one thought at a time. Choose a positive thought.
  • Live near the ocean and inhale the pure salt air that flows over the water, Vancouver will do nicely.
  • Observe a plant before and after watering and relate these benefits to your body and brain.
  • Practice yoga so you can remain active in physical sports as you age.
  • Dance, sing, floss and travel.
  • Children are the orgasm of life. Just like you did not know what an orgasm was before you had one, nature does not let you know how great children are until you have them.
  • Successful people replace the words ‘wish’, ‘should’ and ‘try’, with ‘I will’.
  • Creativity is maximized when you’re living in the moment.
  • Nature wants us to be mediocre because we have a greater chance to survive and reproduce. Mediocre is as close to the bottom as it is to the top, and will give you a lousy life.
  • lululemon athletica creates components for people to live longer, healthier and more fun lives. If we can produce products to keep people active and stress-free, we believe the world will become a much better place.
  • Do not use cleaning chemicals on your kitchen counters. Someone will inevitably make a sandwich on your counter.
  • SWEAT once a day to regenerate your skin.
  • Communication is COMPLICATED. We are all raised in a different family with slightly different definitions of every word. An agreement is an agreement only if each party knows the conditions for satisfaction and a time is set for satisfaction to occur.
  • What we do to the earth we do to ourselves.
  • The pursuit of happiness is the source of all unhappiness.

There are a few in there, that I personally miss as an old school Lululemon client. I love “Dance, Sing, Floss and Travel.” That one is not controversial, and I really wish it would have stayed.

I’m glad they kept “Do one thing a day that scares you.” I think it’s important to encourage people to step out of their comfort zones.

They changed “Listen, listen, listen, then ask strategic questions” to “Listen, listen, listen, then ask intentional questions.” I don’t even have an opinion on this, I just kind of wonder why, since it’s so similar, except “intentional” is more of a mot-du-jour than “strategic.”

The old manifesto reflected Lululemon’s values, according to the brand’s founder, Chip Wilson. As confirmed by Bob Meers in 2008 as a response to the removal of the quote about cola, Bob stated simply that the manifesto “is company founder and chairman Chip Wilson’s vision and point of view.” Back then, Chip mostly emphasized elevating one’s self from mediocrity to greatness. “Our bags are visual reminders for ourselves to live a life we love and conquer the epidemic of mediocrity. We all have a John Galt inside of us, cheering us on. How are we going to live lives we love?” Chip Wilson via HuffPo

The new manifesto reflects values, post Wilson: “The newly designed manifesto showcases Lululemon’s long-standing brand values across nine themes, including: integrity, personal responsibility, social impact, honesty/authenticity, overcoming fear, greatness, purpose, elevating the world (even on hard days), fun + laughter, sweat + the practice of yoga.” -Lululemon via PhillyVoice

I like both versions, but some of the things in the old one strike me as odd, or tone-deaf. Like “Take various vitamins. You never know what small mineral can eliminate the bottleneck to everlasting health.” Yes, I suppose this might be true, there are also studies that show that vitamins result in little more than expensive urine, but we can let the experts duke it out on that one, and, for the record: I do take vitamins. I just think the elimination of the “bottleneck to everlasting health” is not found in a pill.

Another one that strikes me as a little odd is “Do not use cleaning chemicals on your kitchen counters. Someone will inevitably make a sandwich on your counter.” Okay… Full disclosure: I only use Method cleaners on my counters, but I’m not over here, judging someone who uses “chemical” (in quotes because everything, even water, is technically a chemical) cleaners on their counters. … … Slightly judging people who don’t put down a cutting board or plate before making a sandwich though 😉

“Communication is COMPLICATED. We are all raised in a different family with slightly different definitions of every word. An agreement is an agreement only if each party knows the conditions for satisfaction and a time is set for satisfaction to occur.” – I love this one. The first part that emphasizes that we all have different definitions of every word is more important in everyday life than we realize. Sometimes, when you’re having a conversation with someone, you don’t realize that you’re actually either in agreement or in disagreement with them based on their definitions of the words that are being used. I have a degree in Political Science, and I could summarize a good deal of my experience with a chart and this piece of advice: As people (or academics), we are entitled to have our own interpretations of the meaning of words that we use in our arguments and if we can establish the definitions of the words being used in an argument, often, we can win that argument. Just something (one of the only useful things) I learned in my grad-level classes.

There is so much more to this document that I could discuss, and I may return to it in the future either by updating this post or making a new one, but I do actually want to get to my favorite Manifesto printed garments!

This Pace Setter and these Speed Shorts

Speed shorts and Pace Setters are classic Lululemon staple items. ’nuff said, these are fantabulous.

The 20th Anniversary Manifesto Printed Wunder Unders and Energy Bras

I absolutely LOVE the recent (ish) 20th anniversary Manifesto-embossed Wunder Unders and Energy Bras. I bought them all when they came out- I could not resist!

This Long Sleeve Top:

Manifesto LS in Paris Pink – Burnout fabric

Okay, so the Burnout fabric is a little tooooooo delicate, but I freakin love Paris Pink. Truth be told: This is actually on my wish list, not in my closet where it belongs lol

Let me know in the comments what you think about the Manifesto, as it exists now, or in the past and what you think about the controversies. Or, just let me know: Do you like the Manifesto-printed items?

Thanks for reading! See you in the next one!

Lululemon Self Care Product Line Review

Hello Everyone! I hope that everyone had an AMAZING 4th of July holiday!

As soon as I heard that Lululemon had come out with personal care products, I thought: Ooooooh! Something I can actually order right now. I am about 8 months pregnant, so I basically fit into nothing anymore, and therefore have curbed my adorable Lululemon clothing appetite completely. I ordered these products and received them last Thursday, so I’ve had a little over a week to try them out.

Packaging: I really like the simplicity of the packaging. It’s just red & white, very basic. Everything does have a sticker seal on the side of it, but is otherwise not hermetically sealed. The box these products came in was plain, but had a cute quote on the inside: “did you just work out? -asked no one ever again.” They also came with a see-thru plastic cosmetics bag. And all the (travel-sized) products fit inside comfortably.

I want to start with the deodorants. My husband used the Black Pepper Sandalwood and I used the Aloe Lotus. My husband liked the deodorant, and I smelled him at the end of his work days and he smelled pleasant. I like the smell of the Aloe Lotus, but it did not last throughout the days for me, and by 3pm I was a little stinky. And, this is after normal activity- I haven’t been to the gym in two weeks. So, I can’t give the women’s deodorant my seal of approval, but the men’s seems to work just fine- figure that! I would love to say: to be fair, I am pregnant and hormones and what-not, but my other deodorants, even the spray-on types last all day on me, regardless of gestational status. I will probably give this a couple more chances after I deliver, and I will update here to see if it lasts then. Because who knows, maybe it is my current body chemistry. All I know is that I paid for it, so I might as well get some use out of it!

The next item on the list is the No-Show Dry Shampoo. This item is in the Argan Lotus scent. It smells pretty, of course, and doesn’t smell “harsh” or have an overbearing scent like a lot of other Dry Shampoos have. I can totally see myself using this right after the gym to freshen up, and it does remove oil from my hair, while remaining shockingly invisible, as advertised. My current favorite dry shampoo is by Living Proof, but this one might take its place. The full-sized Lululemon one is over 8oz, and $34, while the Living Proof one is $10 cheaper at $24 for the full sized item, but their full size is only 4oz, so ounce for ounce, the Lululemon one is cheaper. – I hope that made sense. TLDR: Lululemon’s is cheaper per ounce than Living Proof.

The next thing I will talk about is my FAVORITE product from this collection: The Basic Balm. Fun fact about me: My favorite lip balm is the Dior Lip Glow. It is the best lip balm I’ve ever used and it is $34. I’ve only ever purchased one, and was planning to buy another one for myself for when I go into labor and all that “he,he,hooo’-ing gave me the potential for very chapped lips. I will no longer need to supplement my lip balm collection now that I own this “Basic Balm.” I absolutely love it. It is lightly scented, it applies well, looks nice on, and most importantly, moisturizes my lips in a way that is not gross, waxy or sticky. It actually feels “healthy” for my lips. I love it!

The final product I purchased is the Sweat Reset Face Moisturizer. First impressions: I like the packaging, in that it does have a locking top feature, which will prevent leakage- and at $48 for 1.6oz, you’ll want to ensure that you waste not a single drop! That seems a little pricey to me! This is a very lightweight cream- it is definitely hydrating, without feeling sticky and it absorbs into the skin. However, I am not a huge fan of the scent. It seems innocuous, but I just don’t personally like it. If you own this, let me know in the comments what you think of the smell. I am having difficulty describing it. Finally, I haven’t been using this for long enough to detect any skin benefits. I plan to wait until the fall, when my skin will be dryer to see if this is truly a hydration miracle or a dud.

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Lululemon for Expecting Ladies

Hello Happy People! How are y’all today!?

I have always wanted to write a post about what the best Lululemon for pregnancy is, but, until now, I never really had any personal experience with it! As of now, I am almost 6 months along.

Mostly, you’ll want to have things that can “grow” with you.

Right now, my absolute favorite “cold weather” pants are my Pleasing Pants. I bought them in all three colors (black, polar cream & limitless blue) when they came out, in 2012. They are still in amazing condition. They are SUPER stretchy & the low waistband allows your belly to “protrude” over it completely comfortably.

Limitless Blue Pleasing Pants
lululemon-pleasing-pant

The next pants on my pregnancy must-have list are the Still Pants. Lululemon no longer sells the Still Pants, however, I find that every couple of years they’ll release pants that are very similar to the Still pants, such as the “Be Still” pants.

Still Pant in Dune
Still Pants in Dune

Align pants are fabulous for pregnant ladies because they can really stretch, but the fabric is designed to hold its shape, so they can stretch with you, without losing their ability to fit you once you’re no longer holding baby in your tummy.

Baby-Body-Friendly Tops

The No Limits tank will always be my favorite, but it might not be an option for some due to the size of the bra. The built-in bra that is inside the No Limits tank is basically the Flow Y bra, attached to the light circle mesh structure that is the no Limits tank. This bra is designed for small-busted women and provides good support for A/B cups. If your chest measurement grows by much, I don’t know that this bra will stretch alongside the extent of the growth in your chest measurement, as they no longer fit mine. However, I have known some women to be able to wear their No Limits tanks throughout their pregnancies as the circle mesh portion of the tank is extremely stretchy and will easily cover your pregnant belly. On top of that it looks amazing on pregnant women when I’ve seen it worn.

For those of us whose busts have grown considerably during pregnancy, to the extent that we need new bras, Lululemon tops with built-in bras may not be an option, unless they’re particularly stretchy (perhaps one made of Luxtreme or light Luon would be a viable option for some? All of mine are too small now). For us, the Cool Racerback is my favorite, core-product option. If I was going to be especially picky, I’d suggest the Extra Long versions of this top which were released in 2011.

 The next tops I would recommend are the 105 F Singlets. These are amazing. I love them in general, but they fit nicely over my belly and they’re really stretchy.

I wish there were some shorts or skirts I could recommend, but I don’t want to recommend anything that would be too difficult to find, so, other than Still Shorts (which haven’t been available in years), and a few one-off cotton shorts, I can’t think of anything that would be stretchy enough and recently, currently, part of the core collection or easy enough to find on ebay/poshmark/etc to recommend to you.

I will say that some things I own in light luxtreme are still ok, but the fit isn’t great. They just look off. But technically, I can get them over the belly. I want to commit to adding some things to this, if I think of anything else- especially shorts/ skirts. I’ve got three months here left to figure out what in my collection still wants to fit me. If I find anything, I’ll update this post. In the meantime, if you’ve ever been pregnant, let me know in the comments what items from your collection still fit you during most of it! Thanks!

Happy International Women’s Day 2019!

Hello! Just wanted to hop on here quickly & let y’all know that much like previous years, Lululemon has decided to run some special events today, on International Women’s Day! I heard that last year, some stores had 21% off, while others had in-store entertainment.

Update: my local store had 18% off to bring awareness to the wage gap!

Here is 2017’s post: International Women’s Day

St. Louis promises surprises, Denver offers free classes and live painting, while Milwaukee offers an opportunity to learn about the Sojourner Family Peace Center followed by a guided meditation.

Here are some photos advertising those events at the aforementioned stores today:

I will be heading to my local store today and I will update as to whether there is a discount there. Let me know in the comments what is happening at y’all’s local establishments!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Quick Gift Guide for a Lululemon Fangirl

Hello everyone!

With Christmas- and Black Friday, and it’s cousin Cyber Monday coming up so very soon, I decided to finally make this gift guide!

I have always wanted to make a “gift guide” of some sort, and I usually make an attempt at one, but I haven’t made one specifically for ladies who adore Lululemon- that doesn’t recommend a single Lululemon product.

Without further adieu, here are some things I think make great gifts for Lulu-lovers. 

Defuzzer

This defuzzer is great. I first wrote about this in my post about how to repair Lululemon, I included some photos of how I used it to fix an especially fuzz-ridden Cool RacerBack tank top, which I had purchased on a Facebook group. Sometimes, it’s easier to repair something than to go through the process of getting a refund. It’s perfect now, and I love it.

 

 

 

Fitness belt 

Fitness Belt

I only use a fitness belt from time to time while jogging or going on a long walk, I usually use a mini backpack- but I like this one because it doesn’t seem to ride up the way other belts do. It’s pretty affordable and adjustable- which is what I like best compared to other belts. I would definitely recommend something a little more durable if you’re a daily jogger- for example, I’d consider this one: FlipBelt I used to use this one, and it is very durable, but I found that it would ride up on me when I ran. Solid choice for a daily runner though.

flip belt

Shoes

Unconventional shoe recommendation: Vibram toe shoes

Screen Shot 2018-11-22 at 11.25.38 PM

OK, OK, I know, they look silly, and I’m pretty sure that no one even wears these anymore. But I love them- I have like 8 pairs and they’re perfect for me. I wrote a post about them a while back, and while I recommend them for everyone- that does exclude anyone with existing foot issues. The point of these shoes is to mimic natural running, strengthening the tiny muscles in the foot. However, if you have existing issues, it might be a good idea to wear supportive shoes prior to switching to anything minimalistic like these.

If you happen to be interested, you can find them really cheap on 6pm.com, which is Zappos clearance site- or for better size availability you can check at Zappos. You can find them pretty cheap on Amazon too, but I would check 6pm first, because that’s where I’ve gotten them cheaply in the past- but it’s probably a good idea to check both sites.

OK, now that I’m done talking about my favorite shoes, my second favorite shoes are these Nike’s I own. I wear these when it’s too cold for my Vibrams OR if I think the Vibram’s wouldn’t look good with my outfit. I love these Nike Free RN Flyknits, which you can find on the Nike website or other models for less on Amazon

Screen Shot 2018-11-22 at 11.26.54 PM

Of course, you can’t go wrong with a pair of UGGs or Hunters either! I love my Hunters for muddy festival season, and UGGs are perfect for casual wear during chilly winters.

Fitness band

I love my fitbit! I had a Surge for at least 2 years, and prior to that I had a Flex for two years. I now own a FitBit Versa that I adore. Any fitness enthusiast will love the step-counting, heart rate, and fitness-related functions, but I also like that I can see texts and phone calls without looking at my phone. It comes in handy in social and work situations. 

Screen Shot 2018-11-22 at 11.20.24 PM

Honorable Mention: Bath & Body Works Candles

Screen Shot 2018-11-22 at 11.28.40 PM

Ok, so not a fitness-related item, but I did want to mention these for a couple of reasons: They’re personal favorites of mine, & they’re having the best sale of the year on December 1st. They kind of smell amazing and their holiday scents really get me in the spirit. Right now, I’m burning a Gingerbread scented one I got a while back.

I will definitely stop in to buy some on the 1st. Right now they’re buy 3, get 3 free- pretty decent deal already if you ask me. One of my favorite couponing channels on YouTube, Running Kimono made a video about these that convinced me to head in on the first of December to fetch some.

I hope you liked this quick gift guide for people like me, who love Lululemon. I would also like to add that classes at local yoga studios or entry fees paid for local races would also likely be appreciated!

Thanks for stopping by & I hope you have a very merry holiday season!

What I’m LOVING Right Now

Hello Everyone!

My has it been a while since I last wrote! I have been working hard, putting in the hours at work, and working on my YT channel. But mostly: It’s festival season and my weekends (when I usually write) have been filled with social activities. This past weekend, I went to Bonnarroo, prior to that, Italian Fest and before that, BBQ Fest, so it has been a little busy! Anywho- I wanted to do a little “What I’m loving right now” post, because I went to Lululemon last weekend, and got/ saw a few things I’d like to share with y’all!

The first thing I’d like to share is this:

Mesh on Mesh Jacket

Mesh on Mesh 1Mesh on Mesh jacket

almost got this, it is better for the shorter-waisted among us, and it fit me just fine. It’s a bit boxy, but I actually enjoyed the way it looked. The only reason I didn’t pick this up, is that I actually think it will go on sale. There are some complaints in reviews about the poor zipper quality, what concerns me more is people talking about the weight of the hood pulling the jacket down. That could get annoying, but I still think it’s a really cute jacket… which is why I will totally get it once it’s on markdown. 🙂

Energy Bra in Eternal Wave Starlight Black

 

I did buy this. I like a good Energy Bra. They offer a lot of support, and, I think the straps are super cute.

Play Off The Pleats Skirt in Eternal Wave Starlight Black

Of course, I needed a matching bottom, right? This skirt is super pretty. After reading the reviews, I’m seeing some sizing issues, I didn’t personally have any issues, but we all know Lululemon has had sizing issues before, so… maybe try before you buy on this one.

Miles Ahead Tank in Ruby Wine

 

This is so pretty too, and what I actually love most about it is the mesh fabric. This top reminds me a little of the Hot Like Agni tanks, because of the high neckline and ability to tie the back. I bought all of the Hot Like Agni tanks, and I got this Miles Ahead tank in this Ruby Wine color and in Sage.

Sun Runner crops in Fuchsia Pink

Sun Runners are BACK! So excited! I absolutely love the Sun Runners. I will definitely be getting these! The length is perfect, and the mesh in the back is so pleasantly cooling 🙂 The cut is pretty flattering too.

Anywho- That’s all I have for now! Thanks for stopping by!

Lululemon Align Pants

It’s time to talk about Aligns.

Aligns were released around September, 2015. They were released with a few other pant types when Lululemon was re-vamping their pant-wall. The released pants were the Align Pant, Zone In Tight, All the Right Places Pant, and Tight Stuff 7/8 Tight.

And honestly, at first, I wasn’t all that interested. I prefered the “hugged” feeling of my Wunder Unders and the fabric seemed a little delicate… even moreso than normal! The other thing is that sometimes when Lululemon comes out with a new item, they phase something else out (Speed Ups replacing Speed Shorts) and then bring back the old favorite, at a higher price. So, I was biding my time, waiting to see what the Aligns were replacing, only to be phased out and to have the beloved classic item return for a higher price. But this has not happened and I am now convinced that the Aligns are here to stay. As an aside, What happened to the Zone-In tights? I’m not able to find them on Lululemon’s site and they were released at the same time.

Anyways, I’ve never talked about Aligns before on my blog, but I think now is a good time to start.

Fabric: Nulu: aka: softest Nylon/ Supplex blend ever.

Fit: Form-fitting, not forgiving. If you have flaws, you’re not getting any assistance from these, unlike the way one might with Luxtreme or even the traditional Wunder Under Luon. That said, they fit pretty much like Wunder Unders, the fabric is just less thick and less tight than the WUs.

Feel: These are the softest things I have ever felt from Lululemon. They really do feel like nothing at all on and I love this fabric!

Issues: The reviews say it all. People LOVE the softness, but HATE the pilling. This is one of the reasons why I have stayed away from these. I can’t bring myself to pay $100 for pants that are destined to pill after only a few wears. In addition, people are complaining about loose threads/snagging.

My opinion: Buy if you are not concerned about pilling. Let’s be honest, we all love silky leggings that are super comfortable to wear. Like a good lipstick, legging that feel like nothing at all are amazing. However, we also like our things to last, and based on the 2.5* average review on Lululemon’s website and given the extensive list of comments regarding pilling, I think it’s safe to assume that these do not last, for most people. And, while a depiller can help with this, the question becomes, should this really be necessary when I’ve only worn these a couple of times?

At the end of the day, the answer to “should I buy?” is up to you, but so far, I’ve said ‘No thanks.’

UPDATE! I recently wrote a new post where I address the Aligns again. It’s been 2 years and I have caved and bought a couple of pairs. Read about my experience here: https://lululemonexpert.com/2020/06/08/lululemon-aligns/

New: Scuba Hoodie Glyde

Hello everyone!

Stopped in-store today to try this one on. I found that the dickie was loose, but the shoulders/ arms fit TTS. I did notice some bunching at the waist- there seems to be a lot of extra fabric there. If you look online, in all front-facing photos, the models have their hands in their pockets. I couldn’t get this to look right on me without my hands in the pockets either. I only found one photo where her hands are at her sides, and it is taken from behind, and it still appears that there is bunching at the waist. But that wasn’t what kept me from taking it home. It reminds me exactly of the Uba Hoodies from 2013, which I have since sold. The only one I didn’t sell was designed without the dickie, but still called an Uba Hoodie, and that was the reflective White/ Creamsicle Pop one. So, since I have sold my original Ubas, I see no reason to pick this up. One thing I did like was the thumbholes, pictured below. They are differently constructed compared to traditional thumbholes: the holes are horizontal rather than vertical, creating a more comfortable/ natural hole for the thumb. A small feature, but one I did notice!

TL;DR: Cute thumbholes, fit was off, basically a re-vamped Uba.

 

What do you think of this Scuba Hoodie Glyde? Let me know in the comments below!

BOXING DAY, 2017

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to take a minute to chat with y’all about boxing day! 

I showed up early… and… … crickets.

The markdown racks had the same products and were priced in the same way as the online selection. I wouldn’t take the time to go to your local store unless you know there is something special going on. I have gone in years past, and there are usually better deals in-store and/ or the in-store discounts are deeper than online. Not so this year. 

As we saw, there are some online deals as well. The first one I’d like to point out is something I mentioned in my last post where I said that it was pretty, but over-priced. The “All That Shimmers” scarf is now on sale on Lululemon’s website:

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Another WMTM prediction I had in my last post, was the Floral Flock pullover, which is also on sale:

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I think that this Everywhere Duffel is a good deal, if you need a new Duffel. The print is pretty, and it has all the typical details that make Lululemon bags perfect for yogi on the go.

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Did y’all find any good deals today? 

Let me know in the comments!

Lulu & Life Updates

Hello everyone!

Thanks for stopping by, and for continuing to do so- regardless of the fact that I haven’t been consistent with my writing. I love to write, and have started another few projects, so I’ve been focussing on those. I might even get the chance to share them here, so keep an eye out for that!

I have been working a lot lately, and putting in quite a few hours of overtime while I’m at it. However, the slow season is coming up and I am going on vacation soon!

I have not been following the uploads as much, but there have yet to be any bright colors, with the exception of the Fluorolace Multi print, which I do not care for. Hydrangea Blue is also nice, but it is a muted blue, not a bright or neon color, which is what I would like to see. I do recommend picking up a pair of the Tech Mesh tights if you do not already have them. They remain popular and they transition well from yoga to #YOLO. My local store calls them “Party Pants.” They certainly are. I have them in Submarine and Hero Blue.

I am interested in trying the Swiftly Wool Pullovers. I love Swiftlies, and would appreciate something a little warmer for winter jogs. The Stand Out Sherpa 1/2 Zip will go on sale later. If you don’t have any of the “Stress Less 1/2 zips,” I love the design, but the fabric of this year’s models is less soft than the previous year’s version. I would still say go ahead and get one if you are on the fence and don’t have one already. I also love those Extra Mile LS’s I spoke about in my last post.

Anyways, I did want to give a little “life update,” and say hello, since it has been a while. I hope that Lulu surprises us with a bright pink, like Paris or Raspberry Glo, but I am not optimistic. Thank you to the extra 1,000 people who came and visited my blog today to read my piece on LuLaRoe– that was unexpected! I appreciate all of my readers, thank you all for stopping by!