It all started off innocently enough: I first spotted a pair of brightly-flowered capris on fellow Coeur teammate Heather Scott‘s Instagram and politely demanded to know where she found such a fun pair of pants. Then my friend Jamie Walker wore the cutest strappy neon  sports bra during one of our runs, and I asked her the same thing…

When both responses were, “Lorna Jane,” it was the tipping point for what has become my full-blown obsession with Australia’s leading activewear and sportswear label.

Tantalizing tights and spunky sports bras aside, the brand is now taking fit fashion to the next level with a new line called Uniquely Lorna Jane. This collection aims to push the boundaries of everyday gym gear with clothes that meet the needs of a modern, active life.

Inspiration behind Lorna Jane’s debut Uniquely collection

“Activewear is no longer confined to formal exercise, but has become a fashion staple for modern women who want their wardrobe to connect with their lifestyle,” label founder Lorna Jane Clarkson has said. “Uniquely’s fashion-forward pieces are ideal for today’s modern woman, as she no longer has to compromise style for comfort and wearability.”

As much as yoga pants and zippered hoodies are an acceptable — and, arguably, essential — part of my wardrobe, I’ve always had trouble closing the gap that existed between my workout wear and clothing that truly transitioned seamlessly from studio to street, gym to groceries, or yoga to happy hour. So I was pumped to get a sneak peek at a few of the pieces, which just launched online and in stores.

Enter awkward photo shoot in the park! But seriously, the minute I stepped out in this outfit I had people asking about it. Up top is the Reflect Active Jacket ($129.99) from the Uniquely collection, which I paired with the Amy 3/4 Tight ($74.00) from the Essentials line. I thought the jacket, in particular, would be a great piece for our variable San Francisco weather, as it’s good for outdoor exercise and it looks polished enough to wear around town.

It’s got a fun, relaxed design, but the shimmery, water-repellent fabric is all business. And best of all, the breathable mesh lining kept me from overheating while running the streets and running errands, plus it’s got ample pockets for stashing my keys, phone and other small items while I’m out and about.

I mean, how cute is all that ruching, plus the back vent?! Lorna Jane’s treading into new territory here, having overhauled classic sportswear shapes with chic metallics and pretty embellishments. It’s the epitome of fashion-meets-function, and I’m thrilled to have found comfy clothing that allows me to run around town without worrying about looking like a slob when I bump into people.

Thanks to cues from its classic LJ Excel range mixed with high fashion inspiration, Lorna Jane has created a line that fuses luxe fabrics with modern technology for a look and feel that they call Uniquely Lorna Jane…but that I call undeniably amazing.

And now I guess I’ll just have to get used to people asking me what I’m wearing!

For more information on the new Uniquely Lorna Jane collection and to check out the different styles available, visit LornaJane.com.

Disclosure: As a member of the SweatPink community, I was given Uniquely Lorna Jane items to review. All opinions are my own. 

Source: Cory Vines

I may be dating myself here, but does anyone else remember the good ol’ days when putting on your “workout clothes” meant digging through those well-worn items relegated to the castoff pile, such as old t-shirts, ratty shorts, and even the occasional spandex piece?

Case in point: That time I was on the Nordic Track in my sister’s hand-me-down purple gymnastics unitard, and my dad invited the cute neighbor boy over. Fathers: As it turns out, that’s also a very effective way to ensure your daughter stays single throughout high school, FYI. But I digress…

Well, eventually technical fabric replaced 100-percent cotton, silhouettes went from baggy to form-fitting, and “yoga pants” became an acceptable — if not preferred (according to my male friends) — form of attire for the health-conscious crowd. But that evolution came at a cost to consumers and even stirred up some major controversy in the process (don’t get me started on the “thigh gap”).

Fortunately for us, however, there’s a new kid on the block with a solution to the high-quality-activewear-that-won’t-break-the-bank conundrum: Cory Vines.

Source: Cory Vines

Founder Daniel Lieberman started the Canada-based label after realizing that existing brands weren’t meeting the specific needs — namely, price, quality and style — of the growing group of consumers living an active lifestyle. As a fourth-generation clothing entrepreneur, Lieberman felt the industry was missing “affordable, minimalist workout clothes” and made it his company’s mission to fill the void.

The result: A purposefully-small, logo-free product line of basic tanks, tees and long-sleeve tops for both men and women, along with leggings and shorts for women only. And because the brand utilizes an online-only business model, they’re able to keep prices at a reasonable $25 for tanks and $45 for leggings, compared to Lululemon’s price points of $42 and $72, respectively.

Too good to be true? I wanted to see for myself, so I decided to put the Essential Long Sleeve ($35) through its paces on several runs and group workouts.

Source: Cory Vines

To be honest, because the shirt was less than 50 bucks, I was expecting the material to be stiff, spongey or scratchy, like some of the less expensive activewear out there. But it’s actually a nice mix of smooth and stretchy — almost compression-like — with a silkier feel than cotton, which makes sense because it’s a nylon/polyester/spandex blend.

I wore it both as a layering piece (under a technical t-shirt) for my morning workouts as well as on its own for afternoon runs, and it worked well both ways. My pet peeve is when shirts get over-saturated with sweat and start dripping as you slog through a tough workout, but the Essential Long Sleeve wicked like a champ and felt more like a second skin than anything.

In terms of fit, I tend to run narrow up top, so I found the extra small pretty true to size — although if you’re particularly broad-shouldered and between sizes, you may want to size up due to the form fit of the piece.

The only bummer? No thumbholes in the sleeves — but skipping that extra step probably keeps production costs down, so it’s a trade-off I’m willing to make, especially since the sleeves (and body) are a generous length.

But the true test was that I found myself reaching for the Essential Long Sleeve both for working up a sweat and for wearing around town, which makes it worth its weight in gold…even though it doesn’t cost a pretty penny.

But if all else fails, I guess there’s always the unitard, right?

Thanks to the folks at Cory Vines for providing a sample for review; all opinions are my own. 

If you’ve ever lived in (or visited) San Francisco, you know that the hills here can wreak havoc on feet.

Combine that with the fact that it’s nearly impossible to find a comfortable pair of walking shoes that doesn’t look orthopedic, and it’s no wonder we’re known here for our yoga-pants-wearing ways (i.e. an attempt to dress up while clinging to sneakers for dear life).

Well, the folks at Tieks have proposed a solution: Their Italian leather flats offer the comfort of a slipper and the support of an athletic shoe, all wrapped up in a fashionable, ballet-flat package.

They’re good enough for Oprah, but I wanted to see how they’d hold up during my massive walks around the city – running errands, between workouts, shopping with friends, etc. – so I ordered a pair to put to the test.

Now these puppies aren’t cheap; they range from $165-$295 a pop, but from their buttery Italian leather and hand-stitched craftsmanship to the attention to detail in their packaging and accessories, you do really get what you pay for.

I bought a pair of the Fuchsia flats, and they arrived in a sturdy blue box with a flower on top. Inside were the shoes, folded up in their little carrying pouch. There was also a larger reusable tote (for your purse when you want to swap out heels – how smart!), plus a hand-written thank-you note, which was a nice touch.

The purpose of the foldable, split-sole design is to keep Tieks compact and lightweight. I was concerned it might make for a flimsy shoe, but it’s quite the opposite, in fact.

Between the foam cushioning in the sole and the non-skid rubber soles (in the signature Tiek blue, of course), they feel more substantial than any other ballet flat I’ve worn.

But the real test was wearing them out and about on my usual city escapades – topped off with a date I made for happy hour that was a two-mile walk away.

Aside from a little rubbing on the balls of my feet (I got a nine, but next time I think I’ll order a size down), I was really pleased with the results.

Not only did my feet benefit (didn’t feel as tired as they get in other flats), but my ego did, as well (received a few compliments)! One girl even stopped to ask me how I liked my Tieks, so I was all too happy to take one off and give her the rundown.

But the real verdict? Well, despite the price tag, I’m saving up for another pair down the road. My only dilemma is which color to go with next…

If you’re a city-dweller or just a walk-everywhere fiend like me, definitely check ’em out. After all, ladies, it’s about time we save our poor soles!

For more information, take a peek at the Tieks website at Tieks.com.