1 | Detagging before trying it on
Just because something is your normal size doesn’t mean it’s going to fit. Sizing can vary wildly between brands, between styles, and even between different colors/prints of the same item. That said, fit is key when it comes to fitness clothing: something that’s too tight, too loose, pinches, or slides around isn’t going to work. It’s important to do your due diligence when it comes to fit.
If you bring something home with you from the store without a trip to the fitting room first, just be sure you try it out before the return period expires. The same rule applies for online purchases. Don’t pop those tags til you’re sure it’s the fit you’re looking for.
2 | Skipping the bend test
In a perfect world, all activewear would perfectly cover us all the time. Unfortunately, the reality is that some fabric just doesn’t cover what you want it to. Be sure you check your booty before walking out of the store with a new pair of leggings. Make sure you can’t see your underwear while standing, then bend and move and make sure that’s still true. Personally, since I lift a lot where I’m regularly squatting or bending over a bar, putting it through the coverage paces is important before deciding whether to buy. Depending on how you wear your activewear, you might not need such rock-solid coverage. Still, no matter what you’re doing in it, if you can see through your pants while you’re just standing normally, you might want to leave that pair on the rack.
If you’re trying on at home, be sure you check coverage in a well-lit area, ideally with natural light. Use a mirror, or, if that’s not an option, ask your partner or a trusted friend to give you their honest opinion on whether your new spandex is decent.
3 | Buying only because it’s on sale
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for sales and stretching your dollars as far as possible. That said, sales have a dark side. Finding a good deal can tempt you to spend money on something that’s just not a good purchase. You might end up buying something that’s a little bit ill-fitting or not quite right for your needs just because it’s a good price. I’ve definitely fallen into this trap many times.
The trouble is, if it’s just a little bit wrong, you’re inevitably going to reach for the things that work really well. You might end up wearing your sale impulse buy a few times out of guilt, but it’s probably going to end up relegated to the bottom of your drawer. You might be thrilled you got a deal in the moment, but the reality is that no matter how cheap it is, it’s a waste of money if you never wear it.
4 | Buying without considering how you’ll wear it
All activewear is definitely not created equal. Even if something is labeled as “workout clothes”, that doesn’t mean it will suit your needs. If you’re an avid runner, a cute low-support bra probably isn’t going to cut it. It’s so important to learn the types of fit, fabric, and features that you need for your activity of choice.
For example, fabrics that are cottony to the touch are common in the activewear industry, lululemon’s luon being a primary example. This is the traditional yoga pants fabric. However, that thick, cotton feel can be horribly stifling and hot if you’re into spinning, HIIT, or other high-intensity, high-sweat workouts. Instead, look for slick, lightweight, and cool-feeling fabrics for those types of workouts. Of course, if you do a variety of workouts, your options are a lot more open.
Yes, a lot of this comes through trial and error, so you will inevitably end up with a few styles that aren’t the greatest despite your best efforts. But, working toward learning and remembering what works for you will help you get the most out of your purchases.
5 | Trying it on in a hurry
Sometimes, as soon as you put something on, you know instantly that it won’t work. Maybe it looks bad, or it’s see-through, or it just feels awful. But when it comes to things you might keep, being in a rush can mean missing crucial elements of the fit or feel.
Whenever possible, I like to try on new styles twice (or more!) before deciding whether I want to keep them. If it’s an online purchase, I try on once when I receive it, and then again a couple of days later. Or if it’s a purchase in stores, I aim to try it on one more time before taking the tags off.
By getting some separation between try-ons, it helps me get a more well-rounded idea of what I do and don’t like about that particular piece. For items I really love, a second round confirms that my feelings weren’t just a fluke. And if I’m on the fence, the second try-on almost always helps make my decision clear. Very often, I’ll feel unsure during the first try-on, but the moment I put it on for the second time, it’s an instant yes or no.
Even if you’re only able to do one try-on, slow down. Pause for a moment and tune in to how you feel in the clothes. If you can, try to move around. You’re not going to be standing still when you wear your workout clothes, so check whether it feels good to move in, not just to stand in.
The more you practice, the better you’ll get at evaluating your new wardrobe candidates.
I like this article, I need to practice these pointers. I’m a terrible sucker for a sale. I caved and ordered Teeki and I am so in love with them but I don’t see them as functional for high intensity or running but they’re seriously worth it for lounging comfort alone haha. I’m wondering your opinion of k-deer in the same respect. I love the new neon green ones and also that they support an animal shelter. I’m curious if you’d run/spin in k-deer tights or if they’re best suited for yoga and leisure. I haven’t caved to buy them online yet until I hear better word of mouth on functionality. Thanks in advance for and insight you can share with me <3
i love my k-deers for yoga, pilates, and even gym workouts like trx. i don’t usually wear them for, say, outdoor bootcamps, because the material reminds me of thick tights, so i’m paranoid about snagging (though they’ve never snagged). personally, i don’t like them much for running – something about the bouncing. i would definitely spin in them, though. they breathe really well.
I wear my kdeer capris to run. They don’t have pockets (generally important to me for running clothes) but they stay put for me and I find them to be sweat wicking.
I love my Teekis for high sweat activities. Mostly for hot yoga, but I’ve worn them for spin and other sweaty activities because they dry so fast that I can run errands in them afterwards. Also, I’ve worn them into the pool & ocean! Extra bonus, they are great casually, too.
Personally, I wear K-Deer for anything. They’re comfortable and stretchy enough for CrossFit workouts/lifting. The fabric is lightweight, which means it’s not too hot for sweaty workouts. But, like WA said, you have to be a bit careful since the fabric definitely can snag. Some people have said they’ve gotten abrasions on the fabric from barbells, but I haven’t had that issue (yet). Also, what you can wear them for also depends on how well they fit you. They fit me well and don’t slide down, which I assume is because I have wide enough hips to “hold them up”. Some have said they have issues with theirs sliding. Anyway, your mileage may vary. :)
A nice timely article during the sale season;) Definitely a sucker for sales and my biggest weakness is yoga pants. I love the thick lush fabrics but hardly actually practice yoga. I’m more of a gym bunny or do outdoor running. I’m at the moment reading your earlier posts of closest clean out and have been working through clearing out, minimising and making purposeful purchases! It’s a long process for me but it’s been working out great.
Love that you have these posts along with your reviews!
I’m so glad that this and the other posts have been helpful! :) I don’t mind having too many not-so-practical purchases, but when I start to get too many, then I know something must be done, haha. Good luck with the rest of your closet cleaning. :)
This is good for me. Like the above reviewers I have bought multiple teekis because they are SO dang comfortable (you can wear them to brunch and your tum is still comfy 2 hours and a breakfast burrito later), and I have multiple k-deers which I tend to wear mostly for casual use. I too would love to hear what specifically people wear their k-deers for (other than brunch and casually).
Side note: I bought the bumbums and a croptop in the harvest pattern just yesterday because I am desperately in need of a new swimsuit. I hope they work out! Has anyone tried any of the K-Deer stuff other than the leggings?
Anyways – thank you for this. Sales and cute things that I will not necessarily wear to workout are my biggest weaknesses :-/
Like I just wrote in a comment above, I’ve used my K-Deer for literally anything and haven’t had any issues so far! Knock on wood…
I meant to add: another big mistake that I make is when I buy something and absolutely adore it, I feel this immediate need to buy additional ones in other colors. Then later I realize that the original one I bought is my favorite (which is why I picked it first), and I now have several slightly less awesome copies of the favorite. If the additional colors are on super sale – fine. But sometimes in my excitement I do this with full price stuff. No no no no no.
I am also one of those “if I like it, I need to get it in multiple colors” purchasers. And yes, often regret buying the less-used colors. However, lately more often than not, I regret NOT getting a great item in a different color. And then it’s sold out and gone…
totally agree with all your points! I wish I had read this in 2014 when I started buying activewear. I always worked out in my junk clothes and tried on one pair of leggings and thought they were totally awesome. From that point on, it took me a full year of buying a lot of crap to realize that it’s not all the same. Designer brands can be sheer! Sizes are not always consistent! Colours online don’t always look the same in person! On pair of leggings that work great for yoga doesn’t necessarily hold up to a run! I have sold a lot of the stuff I previously bought, but it was a hard and expensive lesson to learn :(
Yup, trial and error is the most unforgiving–yet useful!–teacher! I *still* end up buying duds sometimes, but at least for the most part I’ve learned my lesson!
Me too!
when i went to a frenzy of athletic/athleisure wear, I get carried away buying things on sale because they are cheap and hoping I can squeeze into them.. bad idea! ended up giving away all of them..
and yes the sizing inconsistency sigh which is a bummer especially when I shop online all the time. though I must say i made that mistake in a brick and mortar store because I assumed the same range would have the same sizing . haha and I was sadly mistaken :( wasted a good 60 dollars there
Ugh that rots! Sounds like you learned that lesson the hard way. :\
Thank you so much for the tips. I am getting better but still make plenty of mistakes so it was good to be reminded :).
I have been wanting to give an update about my closet cleaning project inspired by your blog posts earlier in the year. I sold many items, got some $$$ back, cleaned my closet, and learned a few things along the way. I listed items on Tradesy and eBay. eBay generated much more actions by far. Selling is not as daunting as I thought to be as long as I am honest and not greedy and I plan to continue EDIT my activewear collection using eBay. The biggest lesson is that Lululemon has superior resale values relative to other premium brands, such as Lorna Jane, Splits59, and Alala. I plan to buy mostly Lululemon in the future unless I see pieces that I really love from other brands. I will make exception for Alala since their pieces are just irresistable! Thank you so much for your advice!
Totally agree with your assessment! It’s hard to resell non-lululemon brands. It definitely influences my purchasing decisions as well, or makes me more likely to return non-lulu items. I’ll buy “riskier” lulu items (i.e., stuff I’m not sure I’ll wear forever) since I know I can recoup most of my costs. I’m hoping the resale value picks up for non-lulu brands since a lot of people have been transitioning away from lulu. On the flip side, it also means you can sometimes find GREAT deals on those brands if you buy used. :)
These are all great tips. Thank you for another practical guide.
I am horrible about thinking about what I will wear with what I am purchasing – often buying an item in a “vacuum” of “well, I really like it” so will figure out what to wear with it later. Although keeping within a tight color scheme can be helpful, if boring. Sales can sometimes be too tempting to resist and I get “stuck” with an item (such as LLL, which am moving away from)
And as others have mentioned, I will buy duplicates of an item I love. Sometimes it is cost effective if on sale but sometimes not.
Re K-Deer: sorry I can’t chime in with how to wear them other than yoga/pilates and casually. The waistband can “flip”. But I suspect everyone knows that here ;)
Thank you, AA, and to all who shared their mistakes – makes me feel a little less of a “sucker” when it comes to buying clothing! :)
Oh yeah, you’re definitely not alone here! I’ve sometimes thought about narrowing my color scheme even more, but I think it works pretty well. I naturally gravitate away from the red/orange/yellow/brown family, so on the rare occasion I’m tempted it’s not too hard to resist. Then the colors that remain tend to go pretty well together. It definitely helps!