It needed to occur someday, I suppose. And honestly, it could have been me — perhaps I’m slightly off my sport. However my newest try-on from Athleta, the one the place I ordered AllTheThings! In a number of colours! was…underwhelming.

It was a type of occasions the place every thing simply appeared off. The matches felt barely outdated, the materials weren’t drapey/cozy/flattering sufficient, and the colours, whereas cute sufficient, had been extra miss than hit with my pores and skin tone.

This try-on wasn’t horrible — it simply wasn’t…nice. The phrase I’m on the lookout for right here is meh. It was meh.

That stated, there are two items which can be so freaking good, I nearly ignored them out of ennui. And these items are actually ones I can not cease carrying. One is bananas cozy and I hold getting compliments, and the opposite?

Turns my bum right into a murals. With a body.

The query now: Do I begin with these two standout items or…do I make y’all undergo via my complete boring try-on?

Screw it. I decide undergo.

Lower To The Chase: The two Greatest Athleta Items Are Chilly-Climate Necessities

Gah, I couldn’t do it. Nobody has time for my nonsense, so let’s get proper to the good things. The 2 standout items are two pairs of pants that, in the event you stay someplace the place winter = chilly, are game-changers.

Additionally, I’m nonetheless attempting to determine my selfie scenario up right here in Vermont, so these images are ROUGH. (And, sure, I want to scrub my mirror.) I’d usually re-shoot the entire darn factor, however many of those items are on sale, so let’s simply file this one below a 2023 objective of letting go of perfection, mmmkay?

1. Athleta Aprés Ski Joggers (White or Black)

prime (S) | pants (2P) | boots | hat

Athleta’s aprés-ski joggers are bananas good. They’re cozy, heat and significantly cute. And whereas I really like the entire monochromatic vibe right here, there’s sufficient texture to combine with black as nicely.

prime (S) | jacket (S) | pants (2P) | boots | hat

They’re out there in common, petite and tall lengths, and the again is common (albeit thick) jogger materials.

prime (S) | pants (2P)

Backside line? They’re nice. Purposeful and enjoyable — one thing completely different from traditional joggers, with a decidedly aprés vibe (seems, they’re aptly named). I actually ought to comply with up with a number of methods to put on these pants (even ski sweaters look cute with them).

2. Athleta Rainier Bootcut Pants

fleece (S) | pants (S petite) | boots | hat

The opposite standout piece from my try-on? Athleta’s Rainier Bootcut Pants. And whereas Athleta describes them as pants, they’re principally bootcut leggings. These leggings are, nevertheless, lined in fleece and have some form of compression that feels supportive reasonably than squeezy. They’re so supportive, in actual fact, that they’re nearly a reduction to put on. The bum is epic (lifts and sculpts), and I discovered that my common measurement matches the perfect.

I additionally recognize that these bootcut leggings are designed to suit slightly shorter for strolling in snow (once more with the aprés-ski vibe), they usually match properly over my snow boots. They’re additionally out there in common, petite and tall lengths, and go as much as 3X.

That is the outift I’m nearly at all times carrying to high school pickup.

fleece (S) | jacket (S) | pants (S petite) | boots | hat

Now…The Remainder of The Athleta Attempt-On

In no specific order…a number of items with potential and some fails.

If You’re Tall: Athleta Cozy Karma Funnel-Neck Sweatshirt

sweatshirt (S) | pants (S petite) | sneakers

I had excessive hopes for this sweatshirt: It’s lined in fleece and splendidly cozy and heat. It even has good traces within the sleeves and a delightfully swingy form. It’s simply…wayyyyyy too lengthy on me (I”m 5’3″).

sweatshirt (S) | pants (S petite) | sneakers

Virtually: Athleta Get Set Sweatshirt

sweatshirt (S) | pants (2P) | sneakers

I’m nonetheless ready for Athleta to come back out with a recent sweatshirt form. One thing brief and boxy and trendy, and the Get Set Sweatshirt was allllllmost it. On the mannequin, it positively appears to be like like what I’m describing, however in actuality it’s slightly too in between — not fairly brief sufficient (though shorter than most of Athleta’s stuff), not fairly boxy sufficient (though nonetheless pretty boxy).

That stated, the material is nice — very technical and funky, with swishy-fabric panels on the shoulders.

Nonetheless didn’t like it.

sweatshirt (S) | pants (2P) | sneakers

P.S. Can we discuss these sneakers??? They’re Nobull’s new merino wool trainers, they usually come within the coolest, chicest colours. These sneakers are principally what I at all times wished Allbirds to appear like. Love ’em.

Eh, Not Me: Athleta Aprés Ski Assortment (In Blue)

prime (S) | pants (2P) | sneakers

There may be nothing technically fallacious with Athleta’s aprés-ski assortment. And the blue (Heron Blue) is a reasonably shade. It simply dawned on me, as I regarded within the mirror, that every thing about this felt too…exhausting. Emotionally, I’m not able to face the morning dressing round sky blue something.

It’s not you, it’s me.

P.S. The mock-neck shirt is okay. Not nice — extra shirt than sweatshirt — however positive.

Nope: Athleta Altitude Polartec Jacket

jacket (S) | pants (2P) | sneakers

I feel…I feel Athleta was going for its model of Lululemon’s Scuba Zip-Entrance Jacket, which is fan-freaking-tastic. Extra on that piece one other time, however I give it a stable 5 stars. It’s wildly wonderful — run out and get it. Love, love, LOVE.

This Athleta jacket? Oof.

It’s just like the Athleta designers couldn’t resolve in the event that they wished it lengthy or brief, fitted or boxy…after which they went midway on the collar. That stated, this jacket is constructed from a super-soft, super-cozy Polartec fleece, and has 115 five-star opinions.

jacket (S) | pants (2P) | sneakers

Even so, I’m nonetheless not a fan.

It’s Nice: Athleta Retroplush Sweatsuits

sweatshirt (S) | pants (S petite) | sneakers

The Retroplush sweatshirt and velvety sweatpants mix into a superbly useful sweatsuit. It’s cozy, it’s cute. It’s…black? It’s wide-legged? Now I’m simply describing the photograph — I actually can not consider the rest to say. If you happen to want a basic black sweatsuit, this one is nice. There’s even a stripe down the aspect:

sweatshirt (S) | pants (S petite) | sneakers

Meh: Rustic Beige

sweatshirt (S) | pants (S petite) | sneakers

Identical precise sweatpants as above however in Rustic Beige. And are they higher in Rustic Beige?

Hmm. Not on me.

sweatshirt (S) | pants (S petite) | sneakers

Nope: Athleta Sweater Pants (Nonetheless Making an attempt With The Rustic Beige)

sweatshirt (S) | pants (S petite) | sneakers

Whereas many of the items on this try-on simply had some small, imprecise factor that was off, these sweater-like pants had every thing fallacious: shade, match & cloth.

Admittedly, this beige shade is fairly and would look nice on another person. However the cloth of those pants really feel humorous (faux, in a bizarre form of manner), and there’s a bizarre crotch scenario, which, now that I carry it up, I do know everybody goes to scroll again up and stare at my crotch.

Eh, it’s the job.

That’s it! And I swear I’ll have some images in actual garments, quickly, Gang. However it’s so snowy and fairly exterior proper now, and people joggers are lined in fleeeeece…..

xo,

S