Thank you to Alala for sponsoring this photoshoot + post. As always, all opinions are my own.
One of the fun things about having a blog is that it gives you excuses to go out and do things you might not normally do.
This spot is a long drive from my house, but for reasons that are probably obvious, it’s one of my favorites. I wanted to snap some pictures at a cool place, so this post was the perfect excuse to haul myself out to this remote location in the middle of national forest land. It was a challenge shoot with difficult lighting, high wind, and a surprisingly high number of campers for a weeknight (including about a zillion at my preferred photo spot), but I managed to come up with a few pics I really love.
If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you already know that Alala is one of my favorite active fashion brands. The other day, a couple of us had a brief conversation in the comment thread about why we like to support smaller or lesser-known fashion brands. I really liked the insight that reader and frequent commenter WA shared, which was basically that it’s more exciting and satisfying to support brands where you feel connected to the people behind the brand. To rephrase her point more broadly, we like to find brands that connect with us on a personal level.
Of course, that personal connection looks different for everyone, since every person is different. Perhaps their customer service or store associates always make you feel appreciated and taken care of. Perhaps you like that you know all the members of their team by name. Perhaps you like that they have a transparent supply chain or that they handmake their goods. Or, maybe you just feel their marketing and aesthetic really resonates with you. And of course, it maybe a little bit of everything.
There are a few brands that really strike that chord for me, and Alala is definitely one of them. Since I first discovered them, I’ve always felt like Alala’s brand really resonates with me, and it’s been awesome to see how they’ve grown and evolved over the seasons. So, naturally, with every new collection, I love to see what they have up their sleeve. Based on all the lovelies I’m seeing in the fall/winter lookbook, you can bet I’ll be sharing lots of Alala this season.
Here’s a whole heap of fresh finds to kick off the fall season.
Fall collection reviews
One new change this season that I love: Alala updated the way they attach their signature gold label. I have a couple dozen Alala styles in my closet from previous seasons, but sadly the thread on some of the labels had come loose and fallen off. Starting this season, the label is not sewn on. Instead, the plate is very firmly attached via two round gold plates on the inside. Problem solved!
The storm poncho was definitely the style that came out of left field for me this season. I’ve never owned a poncho before this one, but I actually love it. It’s thick cotton with a fleecy inside. It’s like wearing a blanket. Fits loose, so you could easily size down if you want a slightly closer (but not form-fitting) fit.
The seamless material is a relatively new addition to Alala’s lineup. The material is a tight, thick knit that feels sturdy on. The mesh is also thick and doesn’t feel like it would easily tear. The seamless long sleeve runs small: I usually wear an XS in Alala and the S in this one is still fitted on me. I recommend going up a size, and even after that, expect it to be form-fitting.
I’ve talked about the captain tights many times on the blog before; they’re always a rock-solid standby. The new liquid fabric makes them better than ever. The liquid finish is actually part of the fabric itself, rather than a coating. This means the shine finish does not have a rubbery feel, nor will it crack or peel. It’s also more flexible and comfortable. The liquid fabric feels just a hair tighter than my usual captain tights, but not so much that I would recommend going up a size. The fabric is fully opaque. These are definitely one of my favorite new styles from fall so far.
The bolt stripe are another new addition to this season’s captain lineup. Just like last season’s printed fabric, it feels soft and slick to the touch, plus is fully opaque. And, I never say no to the magical leg-lengthening effect the captain tights always seems to have for me.
The bond vest is made of thick, supple neoprene. It fits a little bit on the looser side, particularly through the waist. You may be able to pull off a size down if you want it tighter. The vest has army green accents (including an army lining), which goes perfectly with the army green accents in the bolt stripe print. Perhaps this will sound like a “no duh” to some of you, but I only recently discovered how nice vests are for bringing extra warmth without limiting your arms at all, which is especially important if you’re outside doing something active. So, I foresee this little number getting tons of wear as the weather has already cooled off considerably here.
The crusade bra is made of the same seamless fabric and mesh. It has a wide band and a clasp back for support. That said, I have a very small band size, so the support is still low for me. I recommend sticking with your usual size. There are no slots for cups, but the fabric is thick enough that it provides good coverage. Also, it’s an incredibly comfortable style that will be ideal for my upcoming (very long!) travel days.
The woven jacket is a loose-fitting, lightweight little number with a high-low hem. I love the way it looks with tights like these. It’s a unique silhouette that exudes cool vibes. Despite the loose fit, the fabric does not have stretch. If you have broad shoulders, you may need to size up.
The all day tights are an all-new style with a no-nonsense construction. The side shine panel is curved in a way that really accentuates the feminine figure. The main fabric of these leggings is incredibly soft and comfortable. It has a smooth, plush feel, a matte finish, and plenty of stretch. They’re cozy without being heavy. The only downside of the fabric is that, for me, coverage was iffy in a bend, so I recommend you check yourself if you’re heading out to yoga or squat day. They fit true to size with a rise just under the belly button.
The tranquility tunic is one of my new favorites. The fine mesh at the back is gorgeous, and the solid fabric is soft and drapey. This style is a relaxed cut and looks great worn loose, so I recommend sticking with your true size. Besides being a pretty layer for casual wear, this would be a great companion for barre class. Being petite, it’s tough for me to find 3/4 sleeve tops that work for me, but the length on these sleeves are perfect. This is another one of my top picks from the season so far.
The alpine tights are a cozier option for colder weather, as the name suggests. The heather grey fabric in front is brushed and fuzzy on the inside for warmth. The back panel is the same as the all day tights above. The alpine tights have a handy pindot mesh side pocket that’s just large enough for my iPhone 6 to fit. The alpine tights don’t have quite as much warmth factor as last year’s chill tights, but are a little warmer than your standard workout tights. Since these have the same rear fabric as the all day tights, the same coverage caveat applies in my experience. Fits true to size, high rise just under the belly button.
Shop this post
Outfit 1: tranquility tunic in black | crusade bra in black | alpine tights in charcoal
Outfit 2: bond vest | seamless LS in black | captain tights in bolt stripe
Outfit 3: woven jacket in bolt stripe | all day tights
Outfit 4: storm poncho in black | seamless LS in black | captain tights in liquid black
More of the latest fall arrivals
AA readers get 15% off when you enter AA15 at checkout!
Great pictures- and thank you so much for featuring Alala! Lulu is so boring lately that I finally decided to leave my comfort zone and try some new brands. I ordered the Seamless Mesh Paneled Racer Back (similar style to the Seamless LS you featured). I haven’t received it yet, but I’m happy that I guessed correctly and ordered a size up. I also ordered their Mesh Infinity Scarf- which I just love! The sizing info you give is so helpful; that’s usually the barrier for me when considering trying new brands. Although everyone has a size chart, different fabrics fit differently and it takes time to get to “know” brand.
Thanks Alexis! I hope you love the racerback, and I’m glad you had a premonition about sizing. ;) I agree it can be difficult to learn how each brand’s sizing works–that’s part of what I hope to tackle with this blog. :)
Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to your blog. I started reading about a year or so ago and have discovered so many great workout clothing brands through you! My favorite so far is Alala. I love the quality, fit and unique styles they are making and I really appreciate the discount code you provide through your blog!! Congratulations and looking forward to reading about your continued discoveries of great workout clothing!
Aww thanks for the kind words, Liz! It’s true, it is a *ton* of work, but it’s work I enjoy doing, so that always helps. :) I’m glad you’ve had good luck with Alala too!
gawwwdamn girl. all i could think about while reading this post (other than “holy sh** i need that! over and over again) was… WOW, how must suzanne have felt when that giant box arrived from alala.
i just placed an order on friday… including the bond vest which i am SO excited about despite it’s high price tag. now that i’ve seen your post, i think i might need to frantically email them right now and ask them to add in a couple things when they ship my order. lol.
and yes, agreed about the personal connection. when i write customer service, i start my emails “hi molly, i have a question about….”
i never really thought about the ‘specialness’ of that until right now, but it’s nice to (kind of) know the people on the other end of the email.
i was in lulu yesterday (returning) and admired a couple things and then thought “would i rather have this or another new alala thing from the fall collection?” boy did that make everything at lulu and easy pass.
Oh my goodness yes! I didn’t know what was in the box, so it was seriously like Christmas. O_O
Also, I hate to tell you this, but…… Saks friend and family is on. They don’t have much Alala, but I ordered the silver city puffer to try. It might be too big, but free shipping and free returns so why not! Also ordering the winter white run crew from Alala. Yassss.
Edit to add: actually, I also found the silver puffer from FarFetch for $250??? …Is that a typo? And 10% off your first order too. Holy cow.
i ordered the white run crew as part of my friday order!!
i will now check out these other websites with your affiliate link :)
Nice! :) I was debating between white and black, but I’m definitely leaning toward white since I don’t really have anything in that color, unlike black…
me too… i felt proud for going out of my comfort zone of black (my entire wardrobe)… AND like a big time risk taking given that i carry around a toddler everyday. i reminded myself of your “get your white expensive clothes” dirty post and went for it.
i also really wanted the alpine tee for running, which only comes in black, so that was further justification. luckily, they had it at saks, so i ordered it to try!! ordered the alpine tights and storm sweatpants too. bad news for my remaining fall clothes budget but good news for your affiliate income :-D
oh and and and… i almost pulled the trigger on the puffer on farfetch but then reminded myself that i live in CA and do not need such things even when they have typos in the price. i am eager to hear your thoughts though! i will hold out for the vest version…
Nice! I also got the alpine tee, so we’ll see how I like it. I’m wondering if I’ll like the pindot mesh on the sleeves or if I’ll prefer something more solid (i.e., not leaking warmth). Lucky for me, it’s way cold here so the puffer is totally practical. :) Not so lucky for my bank account to need them, though, since outerwear is always so pricey. I’d really like a Canada Goose parka for the intense cold weather here, buuut can’t bring myself to throw down $900+… :( Anyway, hopefully Alala’s coat fits!
Suzanne, if you want a winter coat did very cold temps I remcommend Mackage’s down coats. They’re sleeker than Canada Goose and the details like built in dickies to keep the wind out of your neck make al the difference! Mack age is sold at Bloomingdales who’s also doing friends and family! :)
Yes, check out Mackage. They had a few really cute ones at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale over the summer (not that that helps you now…)
Also – check out Fjallraven. I like their vintage look (and darling snow fox logo) and they have the same sustainable, humane down guarantee as Canada Goose, but with slightly more affordable prices. I am from MN and we have 3 Fjallraven stores there within about 10 miles of each other (which cracks me up for some reason – all those cold weather loving nordic folks I guess).
I recently got a Canada Goose freestyle vest (the grey one was randomly half price at nordstrom in my size about a month ago – fluke?!) I really like the warmth and look of it, but the neck is not very comfortable when it’s all the way zipped up (kinda tight and scratchy on the chin). Anyways… yeah, hopefully this Alala one works out.
Thanks for another rec! One thing that I like about Canada Goose is that they offer “fusion fit”, which is specifically designed for small-framed people. So, if it ends up fitting me best AND is warm, that could be the winner. But, probably won’t be doing serious outerwear shopping til next year, alas. (Thanks, wedding.)
Thanks for the tip! I like a lot of Mackage’s styles os that’s good to know. :)
Canadian here and thought I chime in and also recommend Mackage. I’m in Ottawa, Canada and our average winter temp is between -10C to -35C.
Canada Goose IMO is for very frigid temperatures of northern Canada (where it goes down to -60C) and kind of an overkill for everywhere else. Their pieces are also not waterproof and have a boxier shape. Not to forget they are not for active lifestyles.
I do love Mackage for their shapes and also a big fan of Moose Knukle if you prefer more of a traditional parka shape. OCS Cross and Pajar also have really good cold weather jackets. Sorry all of these are Canadians as I haven’t tried brands from other places :)
If you’re so cold-natured have to wear your lulu puffer to stay warm in your 70-ish degree office… Is Canada Goose really overkill??? ;) I ought to try Mackage though, especially since they have XXS!
Does anyone else find it absurd that there is a company called “Moose Knuckle”??!?!?!! They even have a ridiculous “nut sack” logo. Maybe it started as a joke and then just stuck. I find it so strange…. especially since they appear to be a serious company catering to both men and women (and not some kind of frat boy company that sells gag t-shirts).
P.S. I wear my Canada Goose vest all day long in my 70 degree house while I’m working… :)
BTW: did you see somewhere that returns are free at saks? I was going to order 2 sizes of the alpine tights but it says they deduct return shipping from your refund so I just ordered one… debating whether to order a second one. Did you find them to fit like the captain crops? You said TTS but the captains run big (IMO) so I’m wondering if they are alala-TTS or more generally TTS.
thanks!
Ahhhh you’re totally right. I must’ve been getting my wires crossed from another retailer. The alpines do fit a little smaller than captains for sure, so I would go with the bigger size.
oh good, that’s what i went with. phew. thanks!
and yeah, now that you mention it, i am an XS in fjallraven, so i imagine you would be swimming in it :-/
Beautiful everything! Pictures, you, the clothes…wow
Thank you so much Dori! :)
So beautiful! Gotta thank you for introducing Alala to my life! I’ve got my eye on every stockist in the UK for their pieces now. I have pair of the captain crops and tights and they are both heavenly for petite ladies. I’m looking forward to trying everything bolt blue this season! Crusade bra, captain tights and the muscle tank.
Thanks for another lovely post. Have learnt so much about Alala from you. I’ve decided not to order Alala from their US website as the shipping and duties for me are far to much to do more than once. But would like to support you, do you have non US affiliate links/codes?
I actually just found another UK stockist this morning, FarFetch. Are they already on your radar? They don’t have a lot of styles, but they do offer a 10% off deal for new customers. I found them this morning because they have a ridiculously low price (in USD anyway) for the city puffer: http://rstyle.me/~8Z8qU (that’s an affiliate link)
good call on farfetch
http://thesportsedit.com/collections/womens-alala
^ they’ve got everything bolt that you mentioned (it wasn’t clear if you were looking for those, or had already found them)
Thanks AA:-)
And yes I was thinking of sports edit for all things bolt blue!
Gah I love everything and the pictures came out amazing! While I’d heard of Alala before, it was your blog that really got me interested. I only have one piece from them (the blanket jacket), but can’t wait to get my hands on more in the future.
On another note, I just received my ATEN Yoga order and I have mixed feelings… First of all, my pants arrived a little dirty (I bought white leggings!) because of the not-so-great packaging. It would have been nice if they had wrapped the pants in at least tissue paper before putting into a poly mailer. I get that they are a small company and have to cut costs in that way, but it was still a bummer. On the plus side, they did include a bunch of their logo stickers in the package (I like stickers…).
The pants will be fine after I wash them though and given how soft and comfortable the fabric and fit is, I could overlook the packaging. Seriously, they fit so well and they have a unrestrictive high waist, which I like. I got a small, which is the size I usually like to get (I’m a 4/6 and can fit in mediums too, depending on brand). However, because they are white, they are definitely see-through, especially because it’s the fabric for their summer collection – I could see the tag through the back. That was disappointing, but maybe I should have sized up. I don’t really know if there are any white leggings out there that aren’t see-through though. I still think these are wearable with the right underwear and I’m open to try another pair in black.
Thanks for the feedback on Aten! It’s a shame they didn’t wrap the order. Plastic bags are super-cheap and it sounds like it would’ve been helpful in this case. :\ In my experience, sizing up doesn’t usually make as much of a difference on sheerness as I’d like. It’s too bad the white ones are still less than opaque. Hopefully someone will figure out the magic formula!
I am loving Alala, thanks so much for introducing us to this brand! I got my first pair of the black/white Captain Tights because of your post and I LOVE them. They fit so nicely, feel good and I can move great in them during a workout. I’ve gotten a ton of compliments on them as well and almost didn’t want to share where I got them because I want them to myself, ha. (I did share of course!) I have 2-3 other pairs that I plan to get in the next couple months.
Hooray!!! I’m so glad I didn’t lead you astray with the captain tights. :) I hope you keep having good luck with the next pairs you get!
Thanks for all the reviews! I bought a few of these myself. I’m really enjoying the bolt stripe print captain tights and also the All Day tights. Comparing these with my first Alala purchases the quality seems to have improved so much. It’s really encouraging to see that they keep paying attention to little details. I also have the seamless tights and LOVE them. I have to say, I don’t usually wear vests, but wow, the bonded vest looks great on you. BTW, Saks 5th Ave and Bloomingdales both carry a few Alala pieces and are having 25% friends and family.
I agree, it’s so great to see that they’re continuing to improve (unlike some brands I could name, cough). I also think Alala’s fit is more consistent than it used to be, which is also great. It makes ordering a lot easier! Thanks for the tip on Saks/Bloomies. I just ordered the silver city puffer from Saks this morning! But then I actually found it even cheaper on another site, so I’m hoping Saks will price match…
I am always a little disappointed captains don’t fit me properly, but never as much as when I saw those liquid ones? (My problem relates to my hip/waist ratio – though that didn’t stop me from trying… twice)
Glad you agree about all that small brand stuff:) For non-activewear, you might be interested to check out The Reformation and Everlane. The former is LA-designed and -manufactured, eco-friendly wear – very cool styles, using a lot of surplus fabrics, etc. The latter is a really interesting concept – the opposite of fast fashion – obsessed with “radical transparency” (they actually tell you the true cost and the markup) and very high quality.
Everlane: “Due to an industry-wide drop in cashmere prices,” a crew-neck cashmere sweater is now just $100 – for men or women
I’ve always wanted to try something from Everlane, but there’s nothing I really need yet. Maybe when I get a big-girl job lol.
I bought a few items from Everlane and am impressed so far. I think some of their “Traditional Retail” values are inflated, but I really like the concept. I have the Silk Point-Collar long-sleeve, Luxe Wool Crew sweater, a Pleated Skirt, and a Cotton Heather V. I probably won’t stock up on their t-shirts, but everything else fits well and has held-up so far.
they don’t fit me either… dang hip to waist ratio. i tried twice too D:
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve browsed both of those sites but have never made a purchase. I really like the concept of both. A lot of my non-active clothes could use replacing, so I might have to look a little more closely. I’m also curious about the new brand Naked Cashmere, which is supposed to be another cut-the-middle-man kind of business model. And goodness knows I love sweaters.
Re: captains and waist to hip ratio, I’m curious, is it because you find the waist is cut too narrow, the hip is cut too large, or both? It does seem to me that the waist of the captains is cut small vs the hip, but I’m interested to compare notes. :)
i own tons of reformation, and love all of it – their bodysuits are so cool and sexy, but in a way that still feels grown up and high quality. reformation is definitely funkier, which tends to attract me. but i plan to make my first everlane purchase soon. i think that for staples, everlane could be a great option.
the alala issue: so i have a very small waist (24 inches) and significantly round hips (37 inches). when your hips/butt are a pronounced as mine, you have to pull pull pants all the way over your hips, to your waist, so that they don’t cut in.
with alala, the rise is such that i can’t comfortably pull them up as much as i’d like, without slight cameltoe (not bad enough to be visible, maybe, but uncomfortable enough to make me tug at them). and, even then, they are uncomfortably loose around my waist (also making me tug at them, in the opposite direction).
i wear a small. i can’t get a bigger size to solve the rise problem, nor can i get a smaller size to solve the waist problem.
carrie: are the seamless better on this front? i can’t do captains or blocked crops comfortably, but am tempted to get some army green seamless…
interesting – i have a kind of similar but kind of opposite problem. because i have a long torso, it’s almost like my waist and hips are the same as far as most leggings go (i.e., cause where the “waist” of pants hits me is still near my hips and about 6 inches below my actual waist). so i too find that the waist hits me very low and digs into me (and i can’t pull them up higher for the issues you mentioned). the hips on the captain crops size S are loose on me (lots of wrinkles in my hip flexor region) and the waist gives me muffin top. when i tried a M the waist was still too tight and too low and the hips were straight up baggy. honestly, i find the sizing of them to be very strange, but since so many people love them, i figured it was just me.
good news: YES, the issue is completely eliminated for me on the seamless tights. although, we have different issues, WA, i imagine they would work for you because of the seamless material which is so flexible – they fit me perfectly everywhere and have a much higher rise than the captains. given the nature of the material, i would think that they would fit pretty much any hip to waist ratio without being loose or digging in anywhere. i got a size M in the seamless tights (which is the larger of my two sizes across many brands… I’m a 6, sometimes a 4 in lulu).
try them!! I’m considering the green pair too, although they are very warm, so I’m hesitating because i don’t know if i will actually wear them to work out (maybe running??)
they are so comfortable and darling though :-D
oooh okay i think i’m gonna.
though i’m trying to take more time in between new leggings purchases, in order fully to enjoy each new pair (i have too many). right now, i’m still obsessed with my full-length werkshop cranes, which look totally badass with black and totally airy and feminine with white. talk about pants that fit well!
but i think i’m gonna do green seamless for wintery bootcamps…
thanks:)
Ahhh yes I could definitely see how that would be a struggle. Interestingly, my measurements are not too far off from yours (24/35-36), but even within the same measurements, there are of course huge variations in shape. Thanks for sharing your input!
And they look so good on you! Those couple of inches kill it, I guess. Also I’m much taller than you (5’9″). That takes me out of the running for XS:/
Right, being tall and having full hips means you’re pretty much getting hit from both sides as far as rise height is concerned!
What is your favorite alala item for sale right now? I want to take advantage of their 20% off sale. I’m debating between the tranquility tunic or the white run shirt (forget what it’s called), although I’m curious about the alpine tights and all day tights. If you could only get one item what would it be? Thanks!
So sorry, I’m probably too late here! But, just in case I’m not, I think my top pick would be the tranquility tunic if you only pick one. I bought the white run long sleeve too, but I haven’t received it yet so I don’t know what it’s like. Whatever you decided on, I hope it’s perfect! :)
great pictures! i would like to try out Alala myself… do you know of a Canadian stockist?
Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find one! :( If I do, you all will be the first to know!
Sorry for commenting here but this is the largest Alala community that I know about. I know many of you are fans of Alala and own many pieces, as do I, but I find that I haven’t been having much luck with their material and quality. When it first happened I thought maybe it’s a once off, but now it has happened to 4 different pieces I own, I am just wondering whether it is just me, or has anyone else experienced anything like it. I own a lot of activewear from lots of different brands, but Alala is the one I have had the most difficulties with.
It really bums me because I love their designs, and not all their material have these issues, but to have 4 pieces out of 18 fail is a big percentage (yeah I am a nerd and keep a spreadsheet of all my purchases) considering the prices they charge. I am talking about major pilling after one or two wears, holes developing in the stitching, seams and sewing not lined up. So the 4 pieces are the tech fleece jacket, flyweight hoodie in skydiver, neoprene jacket and captain ankle tights in black leopard.
I have contacted their customer services about this and they haven’t been helpful (never returned my mail in the last 2 instances), so I am confused to whether my concerns are justified and whether I should give them another chance, since I have not heard anything negative about Alala at all. Sorry if I have offended anyone but just wanted to share my personal experience.