I Did a Full 180 on Vuori
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Let me start off by saying: I know my way around the activewear world. As someone who spends themajority of her timethinking about wellness, both for business and pleasure, I like to think I’m well versed in the fitness fashion scene (if you could call it that). I watched the rise and fall of Lululemon, the big boom of Alo, and the onslaught ofindie brands. I’ve been following along closely as Vuori has rapidly overtaken coastal exercising crowds over the past few years. And at first, I was pretty skeptical.
When Vuori started, my immediate reaction was disdain: Did we really need anotherleggingsbrand on the market? Something about the brand — maybe the slightly corny clientele; maybe the oceanic backdrop in most of its marketing assets — read as very “Orange County dad.” In my head, the joggers paired well with a pair of Allbirds and a trucker hat, making up a bland yet inoffensive outfit that sat comfortably on the dorkier end of the athleisure spectrum.
It happened slowly, then all at once. One day I looked around my gym and realized the Orange County dads must have conferred with theWest Village girls(and guys) — the room was filled with leggings and sports bras branded with Vuori’s little white squares, from the yoga mats to the weight racks to the treadmills. And in the following months, I noticed a change in Vuori’s public image, too. At the U.S. Open, I clockedJack Draperwearing its muscle tanks andDesirae Krawczykserving in her Vuori visor.Arch Manning, the highly anticipated football nepo baby, was proudly wearing its tees in the brand’s advertisements. But it wasn’t untilKirsty Godso, a cool-girl trainer I’ve followed during her decade of Nike fitness programming, announced her ambassadorship with Vuori that I knew this was serious. Vuori, it seemed, was here to stay.
Through a series of my owneditorial experimentsand brand-sponsored events, I found myself trying various garments by the company. Each time I put a pair of leggings or sports bra or even loungewear to the test, I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed the experience. Its fabrics are somehow both durable and buttery, its performance pieces are supportive, and even the accessories — bags, scrunchies, you name it — are highly functional and made to last. At this point, I’m well over ten products deep in the Vuori catalogue, and all I can say is I’m officially a Vuori convert. Its oeuvre is vast, so I’ve done the hard work of finding the garments that truly set the brand apart from its competition — here, the pieces I wear and rewear for everything from a Pilates class to a bike ride.
The Leggings
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This is the platonic ideal of a legging. Its “supremely soft” BlissBlend™ Fabric is exactly as it promises: moisture-wicking, four-way-stretching, and breathably lightweight. This is Vuori’s take on the classic Lululemon Align, and even as a Lululemon loyalist, I have to say these are giving them a run for their money. I’d choose these for a yoga flow, a barre class, or a warm-weather bike ride. If you don’t mind their lack of pockets, these are also prime for a brisk-weather jog.
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A drawstring on a pair of leggings? Aren’t they already fitted at the waist? Yes and yes — what of it? The beauty of these is that they provide that last bit of snugness that ensures they stay positioned perfectly during whatever sort of reformer-Pilates gymnastics I find myself in. These are more structured and a bit weightier thanAllTheFeels, so I’d recommend them for colder weather and higher-impact activities.
Workout Tops
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I’m partial to full-coverage sports bras for their security and support (see:Downward Dog Test), and this one checks all my boxes. It does the very difficult: It keeps your chest held in without any weird side-boob slippage or complete suffocation. Bonus points for the removable cups.
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This could easily be my favorite long-sleeve shirt I own, athletic in nature or otherwise. It’s not only beyond buttery soft; it’s effective at locking in warmth even while I sweat. I can wear this on its own underneath a puffer even on the snowiest of New York days and feel completely appropriate temperature-wise (a huge feat). What’s more, it cuts off at the exact right length, hitting me at a not-too-cropped and not-too-long waist-point.
[Editor’s note: Stock and sizing are limited on the Halo tee right now.]
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I have to credit Kirsty Godso, tied forNo. 1 grown Kiwi woman in a baby tee, for putting me on to this one. While I wear a solid amount of tight tees with jeans or jorts in the summer, I had never thought to work out in one until she sold me on it. It’s a staple in her training wardrobe, and just as she told me, it’s breathable, it’s soft, and it’s the perfect pick for girls who don’t want to go straight sports bra at the gym.
Loungewear
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The right hoodie is a hard thing to come by. It needs to be cozy without swallowing you whole, the neckline can’t constrict your trachea, and the fabric ideally feels worn in, like you stole it out of your dad’s closet. This one is all of those things.
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Everyone knows men’s sweatpants are better than women’s — that’s just a rule of life. These are a fabulous, non-sloppy-looking pair of sweats with a very convenient back pocket.
[Editor’s note: Sizing is currently somewhat limited on the Aspen Jogger.]
Accessories
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Unfortunately good socks really do make a difference in my quality of life (and fitness endeavors), so while I detest the idea of an $18 sock, I do love these in practice. They’re warm and sweat-wicking, making them ideal for running, wearing under my Chelsea boots, or lounging around in my apartment, which, come to think of it, are my top three activities.
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I’ve never celebrated Christmas, but I love the idea of stumbling upon a physically small yet high-impact product and labeling it as a nondenominational, seasonally agnostic stocking stuffer. Case in point: this scrunchy. I can do most exercises — yoga, walking, weight lifting, Pilates — while wearing this scrunchy and my hair will stay creaseless upon finishing.
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