The activewear boom means more boutique companies are popping up to bring you high-quality options. One of my personal favorite small brands is Alala. You’ll probably fall in love with the brand just by looking at the website’s pieces. The company crafts elegant, understated-yet-daring clothes. And I can confirm that this brand looks even more beautiful in real life than it does on the screen. The little details also make this company really stand out. Each order comes wrapped in tissue paper and includes a handwritten note. All the clothing also includes a tiny gold plate—another swoon-inducing feature. It’s like wearing Chanel to the gym; If Chanel made items you’d love to sweat in. Alala loaned me a pair of pants and a top to try, and I instantly fell in love.
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Captain Crop Tight
This bold blue color is oh-so striking and beautiful—almost like a peacock strutting its feathers. The material here is thick (I’m happy to report that these passed the band test with flying colors), smooth, and feels luxurious. My favorite part of this design was the sheer mesh panels running across the back of the legs. These add a hint of sass without being overly revealing. The mesh also felt very durable—no need to worry about it snagging too soon. The high-waist here really smoothes out the lower abs area—a relief for anyone with a “pooch.” They breathe exceptionally well and have stood up well during D.C.’s hot and cold fall-fading-into-summer temps. The zip pocket in the back is perfect for storing keys or an iPod—but you wouldn’t really be able to wear these during yoga, Pilates or any class that involves a lot of floor work. There’s also a tiny pocket sewn into the waistband so you can store a key or iPod if you prefer. These would work best for running, cardio classes or walking. I loved the mid-calf length of these—making them perfect for any season. All in all, these were easily one of the best pairs of crops I’ve ever worn. If blue is not your thing, they also come in black. These are $105, but believe me, they’re worth every penny.
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Toughie Tank
I had my doubts about this top. On me, it came up a little higher on my waist than I would have liked. Since I have a really compact torso, I prefer my tanks to be on the long side. But this one was just so damn beautiful. The material feels smooth like silk but doesn’t feel too hot. The high-low hem is somewhat of a rarity in the fitness fashion world, and I can see why someone would adore this top. I also loved the way it draped over me—it’s a really flattering cut that’s seemingly modeled to a woman’s body. It moves with you too. Since this top is very open, you probably wouldn’t want to wear it to yoga or any class that involves a lot of bending or inversions, unless you don’t mind the rest of the class seeing your toned abs, of course! Would I buy this for myself? No. But I could see this working well on women who have different builds and bustier gals too. The mesh detailing on the hem and up top around the shoulders also gave it that hint of sexy without being too over the top.
If you’re searching for a luxurious and fashion-forward brand, I’d suggest you check out Alala.
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I am a sucker and will forever be a sucker for Lululemon!