GOOD NEWS! Thanks to Stella McCartney for adidas and LuLu Lemon, the world has caught on and there are a million new fitness fashion lines.

BAD NEWS 😦 There are now a million fitness fashion lines.

GOOD NEWS! I’ve gathered them all with quick summaries for you right here. With a ballpark cost for a pair of to-the-ankle leggings or yoga pants. You’re welcome.

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START HERE These guys on the list have been around for a while, and were some of the first to offer cute workout clothes. So I guess we can blame the “yoga pants in public” thing on them.

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Nike shopnike.com

They’re the ones who made us think we could be athletes. Their apparel tends to be cut a little slimmer. Because that’s their gig. They’re for athletes. Their “Legend” line of bottoms is more forgiving/ flattering. Pants $Wide range of prices

 

LuLuLemon lululemon.com

Official outfitter of soccer moms, barre class-attenders, and everybody else. Pants $100

 

Lucy lucy.com

A little bit more forgiving than LuLu. Pants up to $100ish

 

Title Nine titlenine.com

T9 usually skews a little too conservative for me, but what they stand for is very very cool. If you don’t know what Title Nine refers to, look it up right now or else turn in your girl card. Their “Bounce” sports bra section is very very good. Pants $80ish

 

Athleta athleta.gap.com

Owned by Gap now, so you can use your gap/banana/old navy card bonus coupons to buy workout gear. Bam! Their 2014 offerings are a major turn in the right direction. Definitely giving LuLu a run for the money. Try the Chaturanga tights.  Pants $80ish

 

 

adidas by Stella McCartney http://www.adidas.com/us/adidas-by-stella-mccartney/_/N-1z13svo

This may have been the first really fashion-y fitness line. I used to write ads for adidas and got a discount on product, so obviously I went totally nuts on the first season of adidas by Stella. Fashion-forward. Vegan shoes. Definitely focused on form over function. Pants $95

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BUDGET-STYLE Please do not think that you have to work out in ratty old t-shirts just because you aren’t rolling in it. All you really need is two pairs of bottoms and a few tank tops.

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Gap Fit and Gap Pure Body   gap.com

Not my favorite. Fabrics are hit or miss. The fit is not great for my body type (pear). BUT, their bras can be pretty great. Gap Pure Body tops are better, softer, more graceful fabrics in loose, flowy cuts. Pants $50

 

 

Old Navy Active  oldnavy.com

Can be great depending on the piece. Their pants fabrics are thin, but if you get a patterned pair, it’s OK. Also, their cotton yoga pants are a no-brainer lazy day go-to for me. (but not for butt-sweat activities) And their ribbed tanks and tamis (tank meets camisole) are great, cheap basics that are totally viable workout tops and come in tons of colors. Pants $30

 

Target target.com

They carry C9 by Champion, which has very, um, “you get what you pay for” fabric. (as in: thin, as in: shows cellulite). But the newer Champion tops are getting more feminine, flowy, and interesting. Pants $25ish

 

Fabletics + Ellie  fabletics.com  ellie.com

These two subscription-optional brands claim to be budget friendly. They’re cheaper than LuLu for sure. Ellie has some super cute leggings with different textured panels for $55ish (although I’ve read that the fabric pills quickly) and Fabletics is a bit more basic/broad in style and tries to prescribe outfits for you based on a little survey you take, which to me is a waste of time. Imma dress mahself, thx.  Ellie pants $55  Fabletics pants $50

 

Soffe  soffe.com

You can get this brand at Sports Authority. It’s super cheap, pretty basic cotton stuff. It’s basically what high-school cheerleaders wear to practice, so if you’re into little sexy little retro gym shorts, go nuts. They cost $7 whole dollars. But they also have a few on-trend tops and sexy little sweats that cost less than a salad. Pants $18

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NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK  (or at least newish to me.)

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Sweaty Betty sweatybetty.com

Newer on the scene. From the UK. Pretty, feminine, on trend, edgier than LuLu, a lot of dance-inspired looks. Pants $90

 

 

Without Walls withoutwalls.com

Urban Outfitters’ fitness branch. They have their own label and pick fun/flashy/ironic stuff from other brands that matches their aesthetic. I dig. Pants $74

 

 

BetaBrand betabrand.com

You’ve seen the ads all over Facebook. Yoga pants for the office. And blazers too. Pants $80

 

 

Nordstrom + Zella Nordstrom.com

 

Has a decent selection, and their own line (Zella) is decent, AND comes in plus sizes so they get 50 points for that. Pants $60ish

 

Lorna Jane lornajane.com

Australian with free US shipping. A wide variety of pretty cute stuff. Pants $100

 

MPG http://us.webstore.mpgsport.com/

Canadian. Somewhat basic, somewhat fashion-y. Their owners and models are muscly, and like to lift. So you gotta respect that. Pants $60

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SEXY TOWN Oh, so you like a little sheer paneling, fishnet action, and lots of cut outs? You’re a Victoria’s Secret model? That’s nice. You’ll like these brands. Also, they’re expensive.

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Michi shopmishiny.com

This is…let’s say… a more…Kim Kardashian flavor of sexy. Yes, that’s a catsuit. But there are some very cool edgy leggings up in thurr too. Pants $180

 

Nesh neshnyc.com

Holy sh*t this stuff is my kinda sexy. Maybe not the pin-up tights but definitely the sheer drapey-ness of the tops. Reminds me of Stella’s first adidas collection. Pants $112

 

Nina B. Roze ninabroze.com

This stuff is very feminine/flirty/approaching sexy. They have a ruffled bathing suit and leggings that have a heart shaped seam on the butt. Heart Butt Leggings $100

 

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SPENDY Oh. You’re rich! That’s nice. Let me know how you like this stuff because I can’t afford it. Also, you’ll be wanting to look at this website: Carbon38.com

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VPL store.vplnyc.com

Lingerie meets sportswear. Yes it stands for Visible Panty Line. Get it? Pants $150 ish average

 

Slog slogstudio.com

Super new. Website’s not up yet. Big potential. These shorts are a snake-print leather-looking fabric. Whoa. $90 at carbon38.com

 

 

Work Out Life workoutlife.com

Did you know there’s such a thing as a hot yoga suit? There is. It’s basically a sexier wrestling singlet. And it costs $164

 

Splits59 splits59.com

This brand is sold in my local Dailey Method studio and is popular with the teachers. I have one pair of capris and the quality is great, but the cut is a little too low for me at the moment. Check out their Sport Couture section. Pants $100

SO there you have it. That’s my list. There are of course more brands. Some I just plain don’t like. Some I didn’t cover some because they just don’t have enough unique stuff. If I didn’t cover one that’s awesome, please let me know and I’ll check ‘em out and add them to the list.

 

all content (c) Aimee Lehto Schewe and Pretty-Sweaty.com 2014 all rights reserved