Wednesday, August 17, 2011

What to Wear Running: Lululemon

I didn't think I would, but I loved running in my new Lululemon "Let It Loose" tank with built in sports bra.

I bought the tank because I thought it was cute and sporty and would "sexy up" my normal hiking outfit. The hikes proved that the sports bra was tough and I thought, why not, let's take this puppy for a run.

If you follow me on Twitter (@whattoweartorun), you may remember that I recently made fun of a woman who was out for a run wearing a strapless tube top. It was cute, but it wasn't, if you know what I mean. She was bouncing all over the place and, as she ran toward me, she kept having to pull the thing up.

That's kind of how I felt as I headed out the door. The skinny shoulder straps and loose fabric (the folks in the naming department were spot on with this one) left me feeling uncovered and unsupported. But, that was just a feeling. The reality was that I was locked down where it mattered and enjoying breathable fabric and the wind on my skin where it didn't. The only thing that I didn't love was the fact that, as you can see in the photo, it shows when you use it as a hanky. Most wick-away tops hide the sweat/runny nose better. Other than that, excellent!

Overall letter grade: A-
External tank scoops under sports bra, creating venting
Who Is It Good For: Women with an A or B cup size who hike, bike, and run; and women who are apple shaped (the loose cut would be flattering)
Who Isn't It Good For: Women with a cup size C or above - I don't think the skinny straps would cut it; and women who are looking for a casual-wear tank - the tight straps make it uncomfortable to wear for more than a couple of hours.
Needs Clarification: The tag says this top is good for yoga but I'm not sure where all that looseness would go while upside down. Will the slightly fitted waist prevent it from sliding all the way down and smothering me while I'm in headstand? I'm also not sure if the tank is going to be for sale much longer. I wanted to include a link to lulu's website for interested buyers, but it wasn't there.