Time for a review turbo-round! These reviews aren’t quite as detailed as my usual full reviews, but I thought they’d still be worth sharing.
A small lululemon showroom recently opened up in my little town, so now I can try on a small number of new styles without having to spend 5 hours in the car to get to a lulu store. I tried a couple things on the new rulu last week to see how this year’s styles measured up.
I’ve also got a quick review of a Caraa Sport bag I tried out.
Lululemon rush hour 1/2 zip
I tried on the rush hour 1/2 zip in my usual size. It fit quite loose through the waist. It’s also somewhat short, similar to the length of last year’s runderful 1/2 zip. You can see that this one fits bigger if you compare the fit of this one versus me wearing the kanto catch me 1/2 zip, runderful 1/2 zip or race your pace 1/2 zip in the same size. I recommend sizing down if you prefer a fit more like the previous year’s versions.
Fit aside, the truly disappointing thing about this pullover was the fabric. Rulu has been thinning in recent years, and this year it seems to have gotten even worse. The fabric on this was so thin it felt like a plain luon cool racerback. It was definitely not the plush, cozy feel of rulu that I love. Given how thin it felt, I just couldn’t see this being sufficiently warm for cold weather, especially compared to the rulu I already own. Rulu pullovers used to be some of lululemon’s greatest products (or at least one of my personal favorites), so I was disappointed to find that this year’s iteration of my favorite fabric didn’t meet my expectations.
The rush hour 1/2 zip is online here.
Lululemon ready to rulu hoodie
Like the 1/2 zip above, the hoodie also fit a bit loose, although most rulu hoodies tend to be cut larger so this isn’t surprising. I don’t necessarily mind a loose fit, but the shape of this one looked a bit boxy. The kangaroo pocket exaggerates the boxy effect, since the zippers are wide set and angled almost totally vertically. If the zippers were angled more inward (like the nice seaming on the base runner hoodie), it would help to create a more feminine shape.
The spray jacquard fabric definitely has a different feel to it compared to most lulu, including compared to the solid black above. The fabric is a little bit thicker, but also a stiffer and not really soft. It didn’t do much for me, so I have to say that I prefer the various pique and herringbone textures from previous years, which feel a lot softer and warmer. Overall, this hoodie wasn’t a winner for me either.
The ready to rulu hoodie is online here.
Caraa Sport Liukin bag
AA reader/commenter Florencia brought Caraa Sport to my attention a couple of weeks ago. She mentioned she really liked her Caraa bag, so I was curious to give them a try. They recently launched the Liukin bag, a collaboration between their brand and American gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin. Besides being a gymnastics fan, I liked the idea behind Caraa in and of itself. I loved that the Liukin bag had lots of pockets, a laptop compartment, and an optional crossbody strap. I was hoping it would be perfect for both travel and as a daily work bag, so I ordered one to give it a shot.
It was really difficult to get clear photos of the bag I ordered without deconstructing all the original packaging, so these are Caraa’s own photos, which I think are accurate representations of the actual bag I received.
The bag is nylon with leather accents on the outside. It looks very sleek and sophisticated. It has TONS of pockets inside, all of which are a useful size for wrangling your things. It also came with a small zip-top makeup bag, a drawstring shoe bag, and a protective dust bag for the bag itself. I love the inclusion of accessories since it’s something many brands neglect. The bag has two flaps at the top that close via magnets. The outside has two pockets on the sides of the bag, plus one giant slit pocket on the back side. Like I said: TONS of pockets.
A minor issue I had with the bag is that the short handle makes it difficult to get inside the main pocket of the bag. Because it’s so short, you can’t really shove it out of the way. This is especially difficult to manage if you’re trying to take larger items in and out, like electronics or notebooks. I’m used to being able to just wrench a bag open as far as I like, and instead with this one I have to maneuver my way around the small handle. Of course, if you remove the short handle and use the long strap instead, you don’t have to deal with that.
The bigger issue arose when I brought out my laptop. The Caraa website says this bag has a 13″ laptop sleeve. My laptop is a 13″ MacBook Air, so I expected it to be just right. You can imagine my surprise when I couldn’t get my laptop in the bag at all! It turns out, the Liukin bag can only accommodate a laptop that measures literally 13″ wide. Even though my laptop model is called the 13″ model, the actual frame of the laptop is a bit larger (13″ is the diagonal measurement of the screen). So, in reality, if you have a laptop that’s labeled as a 13″ model, it probably will not fit. I should have measured before buying, so if you’re worried about whether your laptop will fit, learn from my mistake and get out your measuring tape!
Unfortunately, because of the laptop issue, I decided to send the bag back. I wanted the bag for daily use and travel, and without space for my laptop, it just doesn’t fit the bill. I considered keeping it anyway, but I don’t like to have more than one daily carry bag if I can help it. Given the price, it was too hard to justify a bag that only meets some of my needs, so I’ll keep looking.
To be clear, I do still think that this bag is a great one. It’s attractive and functional. I’m a pocket junkie when it comes to bags, and this one had it in spades. If you’re not worried about carrying a laptop, or if your necessary electronics are smaller, I think this is a great bag. I just desperately wish it was 2″ larger! The Liukin bag is sold here.
I love your mini reviews! And I’m kind of glad you didn’t like anything because you always make me want EVERYTHING from Lulu :) These are easy passes for me so thanks for sharing your thoughts!
You’re welcome! Glad to save you the trouble. :)
Disappointing to hear about the rulu being thinner! I hardly go to Lulu stores anymore when I used to visit at least 2-3 per week. I still buy it occasionally but definitely much less than I used to.
I had been curious about Caraa bags so thank you for the review! I had been looking at their Studio bag but never pulled the trigger since it looks very boxy and the price is just high enough. I also recently got a black marble Balsa backpack that was on sale at Bandier so a Caraa’s less justifiable now :)
Understandable! I believe they have a physical store in NYC, so you could always check it out there too! And it’s nice that their returns are free. I really like their new Dance 2 (cobalt!!!!!), though it wouldn’t be a daily bag.
Ooh you’re right! It looks like they’ll be at a pop-up store for the next month. I like the mesh and neoprene of the Dance 2 too, but it may be too small for work and everyday. I’ll try to stop by their pop-up though!
I was curious to see what you thought of the Liukin. I agree 100% with your laptop assessment. I don’t think it’s realistic at all to carry a laptop (of any size) in this bag. Even if you had a teeny tiny laptop, as you pointed out, it would be quite difficult to maneuver any object of that shape into the laptop pocket because of the way the bag opens and the satchel handle.
For anyone considering the bag, I have now been using it as my everyday purse for about 2 weeks. I adore it! I do not carry a laptop ever (except when I travel, in which case I am fine with unhooking the satchel handle and wrestling it into the pocket for that one occasion). I actually use the laptop pocket for a couple diapers and a travel pack of wipes – they are there if I need them, but I very rarely do need them, so it’s fine that they are kind of inaccessible. I use all of the other pockets all the time with ease. I know where I keep everything, so it’s easy to reach in through the top magnet closure and get whatever I need without digging around or even looking in the bag. It is SO WELL organized. I really like the two outer side pockets too and use them as recommended (phone and earbuds on one side and keys attached to the clip on the other). I can fit a sippy cup in the side pocket too, which I do occasionally.
Anyways, I can see why it didn’t work for you, AA – it’s not laptop compatible and you definitely can’t yank it all the way open as far as you want. That said, if it does happen to work for a person’s particular needs, it really really works :)
Thanks for the Rulu reviews too – I was very curious since I actually like the boxier cuts, but that is way lame if the material is thin. Bummer. I did buy the Ready to Rulu pants – I was not planning to but they were so lovely when I tried them on and I felt like the 2 issues I have with my base runners would not happen with these (i.e., the pockets didn’t pucker out and there is not a double layer waste band, so I am hoping for less curling).
Okay, that’s all… :)
Yes, if my use for it was a little different, it would be an awesome bag! I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the pockets. I hope they come out with another design that would suit me as a daily carry. Maybe I’ll just have to buy the azure Dance 2 instead as yet another gym bag. ;)
I know this post is so old but I’m hoping you’ll still answer. I remember eyeing this bag when it first came out but I was a broke grad student. Someone I know offered to sell me theirs but I haven’t seen it in person (and probably won’t, unless I buy it). My one hesitation is that the strap looks too short to fit over my shoulder. I know there’s an optional cross body strap, but I love the look of the short handle. Is it too difficult to fit it over your shoulder without the cross body strap? This is the only review I can find of this bag online.
Hey Jade,
You responded to my comment, but not totally sure if you’re reaching out to me or AA. Anyways, I can fit the short handle over my shoulder since the bag slouches under the arm a bit. You can also make the crossbody strap really short so it’s more like a long shoulder bag. I can email a pic with it on my shoulder if it would be helpful… My email is carrie.masten at gmail.
I have blue and don’t use mine anymore (I’m a quick rotator of bags)… it’s still in great condition and I would sell it for very cheap if you’re interested at any point (I have the navy one). Good luck, it’s a fab bag!
Thanks so much for responding!! I would actually love to see a picture of it. I can’t find any online of people actually wearing it. I’ll email you! Thanks :)
carrie, totally random, but I came across your post when I was searching for the Liukin bag. Do you still have it and have interest in selling? I’ve been searching for photos and reviews on this bag but there aren’t any for sale anywhere!
Hey! Sure! My direct email is above in the response to Jade.
Re: the crappier rulu. I so regret not buying the herringbone Think Fast pullover – that was two years ago I think? Everyone said it was awesome but I held out because of the price. Then they had a great markdown but I’d arbitrarily shut down frivolous spending and I didn’t buy it then, either. Now rulu is even more expensive and lesser quality to boot!
Oh well, there’s alway Ebay!
Yes, the thick fast PO was very thick as I recall! Likewise, I regret not buying the heathered black grape race your pace PO. :( I’ve definitely been stalking eBay!! At least it’s cheaper than the store anyway, even if it does smell like someone else’s laundry, lol.
Oh I’m sorry the Liukin didn’t work for you! It does definitely look quite different from the studio 2 bag which is the one I have. The main reason I got the studio 2 was because you can carry as backpack or shoulder bag. And it is ridiculously roomy. I never expected it to be so big because it doesn’t look big, but can definitely fit tons. I do think these bags are made with a macbook air in mind. I have the 12” which is thinner than the macbook pros and it fits perfectly. Anyway, hope you’re not too disenchanted with the brand.
Not disenchanted at all! It’s really on me for not measuring, it’s such a lovely and well designed bag. All their bags look so different from one another, but they all seem awesome in their own way. I’d love the new azure Dance 2 for non-daily use, whenever I feel like I have the money to burn. And of course, I’d certainly try other new designs too!
I was in a locally owned running store over the weekend, and I bought a Saucony long sleeve running top that looks and feels EXACTLY like Lulu Herringbone rulu from years ago! It’s got a feminine shape, flat locked seams, it’s awesome. I bought it in dark grey, because that was the color in the store. I just looked up a link to share here, and it comes in some gorgeous colors! Might be multiple purchases in my future. :o
Sizing: I wear a size 4/6 in Lulu tops (I’m super muscular and need extra room for my shoulders/arms), and I fit this in a Small. It fits perfectly through the arms and roomy through the body.
(and no, I don’t work for Saucony, lol)
oh- and I could share the link: http://www.saucony.com/en/brisk-long-sleeve/25037W.html?dwvar_25037W_color=SA81600-BDX#cgid=womens-apparel-shirts&start=1
:p
this top is really cute!
(and “cheap” compared to the tops i normally buy for running, lol).
thanks!
Thanks for the tip! Never would’ve thought to look at Saucony. I wish they had an XXS, but with free shipping and free returns, it might be worth a try! :)
Thank you for your review AA! I am intrigued by the Liukin Bag but worried about its boxy look. Does it look boxy in real life? I have an 11″ Mac Air. Do you think it will be hard to get it in and out? I have pre-ordered the Studio Bag which does not look boxy but does not have all the compartments that Liukin has. I need an everyday bag that fits my laptop and other stuff that I carry around.
I’m sure AA will chime in, but since I have the Liukin bag sitting right here next to me, I thought I would too. Your laptop would fit I believe, but it would be hard to get in and out if you have the satchel handle attached. That being said, you can unclip the satchel handle, stick your computer in and then reclip it (but that would bug me if I was doing it multiple times a day). In general I think putting a laptop into the laptop pocket on a regular basis would be a PITA, as I said above. In addition to the official laptop pocket inside the bag, there is also a full size pocket on the outside of the bag (the size of one entire exterior wall), with no zipper closure. If your laptop has any kind of case, even a thin hardshell one, it would probably be more convenient to just stick it in there vertically for to and from purposes (i.e., if you are just going to and from work, etc., and you aren’t worried about it being snatched or banged around excessively). The exterior pocket is exactly 12″ and the exterior is just over 13″ wide.
With the satchel handle it does not look boxy (since the handle kind of pulls the top together). It’s more like a trapezoid shape and stiff enough to stand upright but soft sided enough that you can stuff things in and the sides have a lot of give. It’s definitely less stiff than a lot of those leather bags out there that stand up and open on their own (but not as soft as those super soft drapey leather bags that crinkly into a pile when you set them down).
Hope that helps!
P.S. If you would like pictures of the bag with stuff in it or my 13″ macbook stuck in the side pocket, let me know and I can send some to AA via email (or to you).
Thanks so much, Carrie! Sure, if you don’t mind taking some pictures and sending them along weichen911 at gmail dot com. I think I can handle clipping and unclipping of the Satchel handle to get my laptop in and out. I am more worried about how boxy the bag looks so I will be able to judge from your photos.
I will be in NYC the weekend before Thanksgiving. Hopefully I will get to go to the store to check out different Caraa bags.
well sh**…. the shopbop friends and family event started (MAINEVENT16) and i predictably spent money immediately. the amazon prime log-in with free 2-day shipping and all your info already saved makes it so freakin easy. &@*$@&^%.
many canada goose coats on there, AA…. ya know… just in case…. :-/
and werkshop is about to drop polygon
hmmm…. dreamcatcher or onyx??? i think onyx.
do you know of anywhere i can scope out the next set of polygon (round 2 or whatever its called)?
It’s already on the site. Skull, eagle, hawk, and dream catcher – not for sale yet but visible
but what about the second set that is coming out in two weeks??? is that anywhere?
omg round 2!
(i just walked out of the weight room – my brain is fried)
apparently there was some kind of sneak peek of one of them on her instastory but i’m not really on instagram and don’t know what instastories are so…
sorry :/
i am not either (and have never heard of an instastory either). thanks anyway :)
Thankfully(?!) Canada Goose was an excluded brand, so I saved my money there!
And I’m sure you saw that Werkshop poly chapter 2 is out! :) Debating whether I “need” anything from this collection……
Oh hello “Mrs”!
Welcome home???
Yes I’m fiiiiiiiinally back!! It only took 32 hours of travel, and with a head cold to boot. Ugh. I slept for 13 hours last night and am trying to resist the urge to nap. Should’ve stayed in NZ. :P
I am not surprised by your rulu reviews. I too found these two pullovers disappointing in style and the thin rulu. Honestly if the rulu fabric was as soft and thick as a couple of years ago I still wouldn’t have bought the 1/2 zip pullover as I am not loving the style. Infact there are not many designs coming out of Lulu these days that I am liking.
Yeah, I think a lot of the designs lack the special details they used to have. So, most of the designs I like are just basics, since the seasonal designs lack anything special about them. :( Someone spotted black cherry aligns this week, so if those come in crops, I might break my lulu “fast” for those…
OT- has anyone tried on any of the new J.Crew/New Balance colab pieces? Some of the collection is really interesting to me– and the prices are pretty good too!
Just wondering how the fabrics feel in person, the sizing, etc.
Thank you! :)
I might be getting a package of some of their stuff! If I do I’ll give you the rundown, at least in the comments if they don’t make the cut for a full post. :)
I wasn’t really interested in the rulu PO until I saw a girl wearing it this weekend at a CF competition, it looked so comfy on her! I went into lulu the next day and found it, and personally I found the rulu B/W print that I got to be super soft and comfy – I have this print also in a pair of crops and loved the soft feel of it. I bought one size up and found it was long enough and loose enough to look cozy (like the girl I saw) and I haven’t wanted to take it off! It is a thinner fabric though than the older tops, and I wouldn’t run it, I like it just for throwing on before/after a workout to keep a little warm when I have a CRB on. If you want something to run/workout in, I probably wouldn’t suggest it for that though.
it does look kinda boxy and weird on you though like you said. I would like to note that I have a NEGATIVE chest, and so did the girl I saw the hoodie on too. I have like a Christmas Abbott size chest – so maybe it looks better with the cut on someone with a smaller chest?
I’m glad it suits you! :) It wouldn’t surprise me if some batches were softer/thicker than others, so maybe I just got an unlucky one! Most of the reviews on the website seemed really positive. And like you mentioned, I agree body type could definitely be a factor.