lululemon as fashion - did I miss a memo?

[BunnyMacDougal]

I live in a smaller midwest city and have been noticing that I'm no longer "in fashion" around here. All the other moms of toddler and younger kids tool around town looking like they're at the gym.

Is this the trend now?
How many of you do this?

I have a few nice pieces of athletic wear, but don't prefer to wear them to ballet practice, club meetings, lunch out, preschool pick-up (which is kind of an event around here). I feel underdressed and exposed.....

Specifically, some type of wicking top (of which I have a lily pulitzer for playing tennis, but its white....not for going out!!) paired with soccer shorts or yoga cropped pants. And brightass day-glo athletic shoes.

I don't have the shoes. TOTALLY not my style. My little nephew has several pairs and I can admit they're interesting looking for his demographic. On women in their thirties I think they look silly.


Do I need a slap into the 20-tens? Or do any of you agree with me?

[ajm796]

I'll admit to having a lot of lululemon clothing that I wear on the regular but you wouldn't really know unless you saw the label. I wear their racerback tanks underneath a cardigan, I really do like their Groove yoga pants and I do wear those out of the house to the grocery store or running errands. I have one of their hoodies and a jacket but I don't really buy any of their stuff that is, um, out there. I like the stuff that is pretty normal looking...those harem pants are foul!

eta: I don't know if it's a trend and I'm not super stylish so take my word with a grain of lululemon fiber :-)

[BunnyMacDougal]

Sept 8, 2012 7:44:04 GMT -5 ajm796 said:

I'll admit to having a lot of lululemon clothing that I wear on the regular but you wouldn't really know unless you saw the label. I wear their racerback tanks underneath a cardigan, I really do like their Groove yoga pants and I do wear those out of the house to the grocery store or running errands. I have one of their hoodies and a jacket but I don't really buy any of their stuff that is, um, out there. I like the stuff that is pretty normal looking...those harem pants are foul!

eta: I don't know if it's a trend and I'm not super stylish so take my word with a grain of lululemon fiber :-)

I love the groove yoga pants too. For yoga! But I feel "on display" if I wear them to a grocery store or errand running. lol.

[ajm796]

yeah...I probably shouldn't wear them because I know, universally, yoga pants are for yoga but I really don't like jeans...I find them uncomfortable a lot of times

[Deleted]

I work in a grocery store in an affulent area. I would say about 70% of the women who come in are in workout gear (mostly Lululemon). Of those women about 10% look like the actually came from a workout. The other ones look made up with makeup/hair done to the 9s. I don't wear workout clothes unless I am working out.

[house]

Do you see them with their make up on too? I see my friend doing this all the time (minus the dayglo shoes and makeup) and always thought she was going to the gym regularly. Um, no. She explained it was a comfort thing for her. As PP said, for running errands and going out of the house because she didn't want to get dressed or put together an outfit which might take more time than just throwing the gym clothes on!

[shopmore]

Random question for those who wear yoga pants for yoga or just running errands and such, but how do you wear them without having VPL? I don't own any, but was thinking about getting a pair.

[jchokie79]

I wear my LLL stuff a lot to run errands in but I would say 8 out of 10 times, I'm coming off the trail and on my way home. That said, when I wear the WU crops or the groove biker shorts (essentially anything fitting) I always wear a longer top and make sure my ass is covered. I'm too self conscious to have my ass hanging out.

[bethaboo]

I wear work out gear to run errands when I don't feel like putting together an outfit.

[futurepivko]

I don't get spending that much on workout gear....so I'm out.

[misshark122]

One of my pilates instructors is probably in her late 40s .... she has an amazing bod, she has both arms completely tattooed, and she's gorgeous - just super cool - she wears the bright work out shoes and I don't think it looks at all silly on her.

Anyway I wear work out gear often around town because I do pilates and I will be on the way to or from and will run my errands. I'm training to be an instructor and when that happens I'll definitely be wearing a lot of Lulu!

Shopmore, I wear hanky panky and don't have vpl.

[amandasw]

Sept 8, 2012 9:13:13 GMT -5 @futurepivko said:

I don't get spending that much on workout gear....so I'm out.

yeah, me neither. IMO lululemon has done a terrible disservice by convincing people it's ok to wear workout clothes all the time and that it's 'fashionable'. No, workout clothes are for getting sweaty in. I am not cute when I'm sweaty and an $80 tank isn't going to change that!

[xokell2]

I'm home with my boys during the week. If I'm only taking my son to school, cleaning the house, hanging out at the park, running to to the grocery store, etc I'll just wear lounge or workout clothes. I thinks it's today's equivalent of when everyone use to wear pajamas to class in college. It's comfy and I'm not trying to make a fashion statement.

I can also finish a hatha class and not look like a hot mess because I always wear makeup and I don't usually sweat during the low intensity stuff, so I'll run out after class to go shopping since my workouts usually correlate around my kid free time.

If I have a play date, meeting, shopping with friends, a night out, etc, I'll put more effort in and dress in normal clothes.

I don't feel exposed in workout wear as it isn't much different then the jean shorts and tank I'd be wearing putzing around anyways.

I more give a side eye to people who wear workout wear and don't work out. At all. I sneak in activity and workouts whenever I can. I'm not obsessed about labels either, I wear just as much lulu as I do old navy.

[xokell2]

Lol

[kimsy]

Sept 8, 2012 9:32:45 GMT -5 xokell2 said:

I'm home with my boys during the week. If I'm only taking my son to school, cleaning the house, hanging out at the park, running to to the grocery store, etc I'll just wear lounge or workout clothes. I thinks it's today's equivalent of when everyone use to wear pajamas to class in college. It's comfy and I'm not trying to make a fashion statement.

I can also finish a hatha class and not look like a hot mess because I always wear makeup and I don't usually sweat during the low intensity stuff, so I'll run out after class to go shopping since my workouts usually correlate around my kid free time.

If I have a play date, meeting, shopping with friends, a night out, etc, I'll put more effort in and dress in normal clothes.

I don't feel exposed in workout wear as it isn't much different then the jean shorts and tank I'd be wearing putzing around anyways.

I more give a side eye to people who wear workout wear and don't work out. At all. I sneak in activity and workouts whenever I can. I'm not obsessed about labels either, I wear just as much lulu as I do old navy.

I agree with all of this.

I work out 6 days a week and stay at home with a 3 year old and a 6 month old. At this point, I'd rather wear my work out clothes all day than do twice the laundry.

And my running shoes are neon pink, and I love them.

[AHappierHour]

DD just started preschool and about 75% of the moms were wearing workout clothes and I felt like I missed the memo LOL! I don't understand it but I don't own any lululemon yet. Maybe lulu is the new juicy jumpsuits. I rather throw on a maxi dress much more comfy.

And I workout and as soon as I'm done I change my clothes. I think it's gross to wear sweaty clothes all day. I'm a SAHM too

[mrsguz]

Sept 8, 2012 9:13:13 GMT -5 @futurepivko said:

I don't get spending that much on workout gear....so I'm out.

Same.

I only wear workout clothes to the gym or to the grocery store on my way back from the gym. And I'm a SAHM.

And my workout clothes are from target because regardless of where I get them and how much I spend on them, they're going t get sweaty and smelly.

[AHappierHour]

I have never noticed this at my sons school must of those moms dress to impress and totally would side eye another mom. That might also be because they are older like mid 40's.

[futurepivko]

Sept 8, 2012 11:10:41 GMT -5 mrsguz said:

Sept 8, 2012 9:13:13 GMT -5 @futurepivko said:

I don't get spending that much on workout gear....so I'm out.

Same.

I only wear workout clothes to the gym or to the grocery store on my way back from the gym. And I'm a SAHM.

And my workout clothes are from target because regardless of where I get them and how much I spend on them, they're going t get sweaty and smelly.

Exactly. I think most of mine are from target. I've also used those freebie tshirts from college, Or tjmaxx.

[Deleted]

I pretty much always wear my yoga clothes running errands on the weekend, but I run all my errands after going to yoga class.

Most of my yoga clothes are LLL.

[busybodyk]

I can't relate because I'm more likely to be over dressed than under dressed. I only wear workout gear when I'm working out. I might make a quick stop to the grocery store or to pick up food but that is it. Even when I'm lounging around the house I wear dresses that I bought from Target that people wear outside.

[fashionx]

I'm the same as Busy - I'm more likely to be "dressed up" even when being casual. Not always, but most times. But, I gotta say I MUCH prefer seeing people in Lulu or other workout wear as opposed to wearing large over-sized sweats or wearing their PJ's out of the house.

I have a Lulu jacket that I like to wear with jeans sometimes, not just as an after-workout jacket. Again, I see this as better than wearing a huge sweatshirt, it's cute but still super comfy so you look at least a little bit put together even if you don't feel it.

[Deleted]

I have a few Lululemon shorts only because I tried just about every short out there and couldn't find anything that wouldn't ride up my thighs. I wear them only to work out and maybe sometimes to run an errand or two afterwards but looking at my beet red face, I think most people will figure out that I just got done with a workout. I love getting dressed up so I wouldn't want to waste a day in workout gear even if it's a day full of running errands.

[Kore]

I don't think it's a bad look for running errands. I'm too fat for LLL, but I'll run to the store in my old navy yoga crops.

Why should it be so frowned upon? It's still cuter than what 90% of the other people at the store are wearing.

[qtjess1110]

I think if your comfortable wear what you want.

But for me I MUST change after working out. My clothes are soaked. I cant even stop at a store after the gym or kickboxing class.

So I think alot of these LLL queens are 1-not working out or 2-changing outfits after working out.

[niknik]

My kids just started school and I wear workout wear every morning to drop them off for two reasons. I'm a sahm and I have to get up, feed them, get them dressed, and out the foot to school with very little thought or time dedicated to myself. The second reason is that I now have 2.5 hours in the day to go exercise which I do during this time. I don't have a nanny or have my kids in day care so this is the only time of day I can exercise. I'm not sure why this is weird? As far as quality of clothes, I have some nice ones and some inexpensive ones. I usually shower before I pick up my kids but still wear fairly comfortable clothes as I'm on the floor playing with them half the day. Sometimes I'm still in my workout clothes because maybe I fit in grocery shopping in that time span. Again, I don't know why this would be weird.

[Deleted]

Sept 8, 2012 19:09:56 GMT -5 niknik said:

My kids just started school and I wear workout wear every morning to drop them off for two reasons. I'm a sahm and I have to get up, feed them, get them dressed, and out the foot to school with very little thought or time dedicated to myself. The second reason is that I now have 2.5 hours in the day to go exercise which I do during this time. I don't have a nanny or have my kids in day care so this is the only time of day I can exercise. I'm not sure why this is weird? As far as quality of clothes, I have some nice ones and some inexpensive ones. I usually shower before I pick up my kids but still wear fairly comfortable clothes as I'm on the floor playing with them half the day. Sometimes I'm still in my workout clothes because maybe I fit in grocery shopping in that time span. Again, I don't know why this would be weird.

I could totally understand the no having time to get ready in the morning. Wednesday was DS's first day at school and I wen to drop off in workout clothes while DS and DH were dressed up. DH even looked over at me and asked why in the world I was going to the first day of school in workout clothes. Well maybe it's because I was having to get DS ready for school. I'll get this whole dropoff thing figured out one of these days.

[flipflopsandwine]

I'm in the camp of who cares? I work at home and I think it's a waste to get dressed in something else just to run to the store when as soon as I get back home I will be back in yoga pants and a fitted tee.

[rugbywife]

I probably wear lululemon bottoms (crops, be it yoga or their studio crops) every single day of the summer. I don't wear my work out tops unless I am on my way to or from the gym, but I do have a nice cotton racerback tank that I wear out anytime. My winter coat is from there, so I wear it all the time, and I have two hoodies and a lightweight jacket that I wear out all the time. I don't see the big deal, yoga pants are really just black cotton pants with a bit of lycra, some are tighter than others. Is it high fashion? No. But then again people wear crocs and uggs and velvet juicy couture track suits out all the time. I will take my favourite LLL crops (wearing em now!) any day.

[jchokie79]

I totally thought about this post while I was out tonight. I went for a run on the trail then stopped at Target and Giant Eagle (grocery store) before coming home. I had on my LLL marathon crops and a Nike dry fit shirt.