i’m trying to get into a routine of working out now that steve’s back teaching for the semester. all summer long, it was so much easier to find the time (well, yes and no. our schedule was all over the place with trips, but it was much more flexible.). and since i was doing it for most of the summer, i want to keep it up. more than the physical aspect, i feel better mentally when i carve that time out. it’s like my quiet time… minus the quiet and plus a bunch of other women. details, details.
anyway, when i started doing barre about nine years ago now, the only game in town was lululemon. they were the leggings to have. (and what a pretty penny they were/are. i remember wanting a pair so badly and my eyes bugging out of my head when i discovered they were like $100. i think steve surprised me with my first pair and i wore them all the time. luckily they were black so no one really knew. plus reversible so… if i wore one side, and then reversed to the other, it’s like they were clean again, right?) anyway, i have a point. and it is workout gear. more specifically leggings. while the prices haven’t fluctuated that much, the brands, styles, and patterns have and i love it. have you seen some of them lately? i know barre class isn’t supposed to be a fashion show, but i’m like, “i want those. and those. and those.” it’s not just plain all-black-lululemon anymore and i like it.
(i’d like to add, while the price point is high on a lot of these, they are well made. i found that when i bought leggings at marshalls for $20, they’d get stretched out knees, or just stretched out in general much faster than the more expensive ones and i’d end up replacing them sooner. i wish it weren’t the case!)
so here’s some new favorites. forgive me, some are priced pretty similarly to those lulus we (or just me?) so loved:
- moto leggings, pictured above. these are amazing.
- speckled graffiti leggings, because we can, ladies. because we can.
- these ballet ones with the ruching at the bottom. also love. also will point on pointe shoes and toe myself home after class.
- these colorblock gray ones. also love. also sensing a theme: i love them all.
- these with the mesh panel
- these gorgeous colorful ones. are you kidding me with these? after you’re done with them, you can frame them because THEY ARE ART.
- these. i love these too.
- the trusty zellas at a much better price point
- this kyoto pair. i like the color combo.
note to reader: unless they’re all black, one should definitely not wear them every day like i used to because people will notice.
additional note to reader: i know i refer to leggings being worn only in barre class but let’s be real.
Athleta has some awesome leggings that have side pockets to hold your phone while you work out. They have been a total game-changer for me!
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1058485&vid=1&pid=138478002
Old Navy high waited compression leggings are amazing and (especially when on sale) very wallet friendly. I have never splurged on LuLu Lemon but people have told me that they are comparable and even better than LuLu. Try them out!
now that is surprising and has me very interested. i will check them out!
Those graffiti leggings are amazing. I’ve heard good things about Beyond Yoga too. I am totally obsessed with Sweaty Betty leggings. They hold everything in so well, don’t stretch in the knees etc and they have a high waist. They also make the best running tanks I’ve ever worn. (Not paid, just obsessed guys).
I have seen barre exercise videos. We do not have a local barre class (wah!) and I wondered if it is actually feasible to do at home. Do you think so?
I think a lot of the class is feasible! especially with a video that’s tailored for home use. (But, in class, we use a ballet barre and other equipment that you might not have at home! i assume they do workouts that don’t require much extras with the video. and I would say barre is a lot of your own weight that’s used to strengthen!)
The bar class I go to just uses a chair (use the back of the chair as the bar) so I think it would work at home!
Leggings. Omg. I will never having those “appropriate” legs for leggings, but I still love them! Piper & Scoot has some amazing ones right now that I might have indulged a little too much in over Labor Day.
i hadn’t heard of them,b ut now i want them all! (that interval legging is awesome)
These are my latest obsession! http://www.k-deer.com
I got a pair of black Zella live-in leggings at last year’s anniversary sale (because $50 is still a lot for me to plop down on a pair of lounge/workout pants). OH MY. Lived in them for a whole year and they still look brand new. Convinced me enough to buy a second pair at this year’s sale. The quality is outstanding and I am hooked!
agree. zella leggings are AWESOME.