Dark florals had a bit of a moment this winter, and I found myself swooning over these dahlia print tights from Nimble Activewear as soon as I laid eyes on them. The print reminds me a bit of lululemon’s spring has sprung print, which I also love (see comparison below). After getting my hands on a 15% off coupon, I decided to give these tights a shot.
I like that the Amelia tights aren’t just plain leggings, but also aren’t overstyled. The side accents help break up the print, and the seam details are flattering.
The black paneled sides are solid most of the way down, but are accented with mesh from the knee down. The mesh detail curves around the back just above the ankle.
These tights fit true to size in my opinion. The XXS (Aus size 6) is on the fitted side, but definitely still works for me. I can’t pull them straight on, but rather have to work them up my legs a bit. I could probably comfortable wear an XS in these tights as well. Stick with your true size for a tighter, more compressive fit, or up for a slightly more relaxed fit. They have a medium rise and do not have pockets or a drawstring. I have a couple inches of excess fabric, but they aren’t as super-crazy long as some of my other full-length tights.
The fabric is a polyester/spandex blend that’s slick and cool to the touch. It’s lightweight but has good compression. The compression means it has a bit less stretch to it than a lot of my other tights. The overall feel isn’t as luxe as some of my other tights, but they certainly don’t seem cheap either.
The biggest downside with these tights is that the fabric doesn’t have good “print integrity”. In other words, the print fades to white quite a lot in a bend/squat. It makes it look a bit like they’re sheer, but they’re not–even brightly colored underthings did not show through.
Here’s a comparison of Nimble’s dahlia print to lululemon’s spring has sprung. Nimble’s is a bit darker, has less colors, and also has a slightly distressed look when you look closely. You can’t see it well in this pic, but dahlia also has more consistent print coverage, while spring has sprung can be more sparse and irregular.
Overall, these tights have quite a few pluses from a functional perspective. The fabric is opaque and compressive. Plus, they’re a lovely design. At $95, these are a luxury price point but aren’t priced as sky-high as many other brands of late. On the other hand, they lack pockets and have the white out issue with the print. Although they aren’t perfect, I decided to keep mine because I love the print so much, and they’re functional enough for my needs.
Nimble’s dahlia tights are available via Uzima here. If you like this print but would like a smaller dose of it, the Lara tights have dahlia accents just on the sides (and they’re $15 less!). Uzima also carries a matching sports bra.
LOL! Why would you introduce me to Uzima when I am trying to do your February spend freeze with you? I’ve decided to make a ‘wish list’ to help myself out and buy my favourites after I have sat on them for a month.
Sorry about that… :)
Seriously AA, it’s pretty uncool of you to continue reviews during February :-P
Well… I have a massive backlog, gotta get through it somehow. #yikes
Day 4 and I am still going strong! :D #spendingfreeze
Woohoo! :) Glad to hear it.
Beautiful tights. Thanks for introducing another cool brand :)
You’re welcome, Maya. :)
These look great on you! Your pics look so much better than theirs! I don’t think they’re special on their website, but I totally want them seeing them on you!
Aw thanks Sue! :)
Thanks for your posts…very informative! I don’t mind these posts (I like ’em!) during the February spend freeze ..more to put on a wish list that we can ponder & wean in March as new spring items roll in.
I’ve resigned to the fact that my wish list is ever-growing, but to be satisfied with me as me and with what I already have. I keep on reminding myself that simplicity can be darn wonderful. I also keep reminding myself that incredibly wealthy Facebook founder has a closet full of just black shirts & pants and is more than satisfied. Not that I choose to do that, but admire his satisfaction in simplicity. I really need to learn from people like him and minimalists…I seem so opposite.
Thanks for your dedication & sharing!! BTW, how do you organize those Lululemon hangtags (if you keep them)?
Love your blog & inspiration..(you inspire us athletically, personally, and help me selectively choose my outfits to mirror all that positivity )
Yup, you nailed it! Simplicity can be extremely satisfying in its own right, and can help take away some of the stress of life. Always nice to remind ourselves of that!
As for the hangtags, I do compulsively hold onto them for some reason. I just have them in a Ziploc bag in a closet, nothing fancy. I’ve been thinking of throwing them out though. I don’t know why I keep them!
I just got my Nimble Lara tights and I LOVE them! I tend to be print shy, so this was the perfect dose of floral for me. Great, flattering fit too. I also got my Alala chill tights, but am disappointed. I should have listened to you and sized up on the pique! The black pair feel amazing and I would have liked to keep them, but they are poorly stitched and have a ton of loose threads. Time to deal with their return policy. Is it normal for them to take a while to get in touch? Thank you for your recommendations!
Yay, so glad to hear about the Lara tights! :) Really a bummer that the Alala tights didn’t work out though. :( I’d definitely let them know about the thread/stitching issue if you didn’t already.
I’m so in love with these tights and your review has just confirmed my love for them even more. But I’m having some trouble deciding on what size to purchase. What size are you in Lululemon tights? I’m a 4 in Lululemon so I’m not sure if a 6 or 8 in these tights would be best.
I’m a TTS 2 in lululemon and these are Nimble’s Aus size 6 (labeled XXS from American retailers). A size up probably would’ve worked for me as well, so I’d guess you’ll be happier in the Aus size 8 (American XS). :)
Thanks so much for your speedy reply! This is super helpful. I’m so happy I discovered your blog today!
You’re welcome! Fingers crossed the tights work out for you. Come back soon! :)
Really love your tights! Really keen to get the smoke print but I’m a little concerned about the print integrity. Do you have a pic to show it please? Thanks for the informative review!
Hey Bianca, I missed this comment the first time, sorry! I don’t have a pic right now, but I might be too late anyway… Let me know if you’re still looking for one!
what is the gusset like on these? i’m really picky about that and just had to return some awesome monreal leggings for being just a seam straight through. i was thinking about amelias but don’t want to keep eating shipping. (for reference, i love lurv’s and k-deer’s in this department; werkshops are pretty good. actually, purusha people’s are good, too. but my alo’s drive me crazy, as do my alala blocked crops.)
The Nimble gusset is just your standard issue triangle gusset. I don’t find any of the gussets you mentioned to be a bother, but if triangles are usually bad luck for you, you might want to steer clear.