Fabletics Review

For well over a year I’ve had to sit by while my American friends had all the fun. First with Stitch Fix, and the with Fabletics. I’ve been horribly envious of their subscription clothing services so how excited was I when I discovered that Fabletics was in Canada? I have no idea how long it’s been available here, maybe the entire time it’s been in the US, or maybe they opened their doors here recently, either way I was pumped to check them out!

I went to the site, completed my style questionnaire and picked out my first outfit from the styles provided, and then I sat and waited like an impatient child for my goodies to arrive.

When the package arrived (less than a week from the time I submitted my order), I was anxious to try them on. You never know what the fit is going to be like in a brand you’ve never tried before, but I was happy to see that my standard sizes fit perfectly. (For reference, I got the capris in a medium, the bra in a medium and the top in a small).

My outfit consisted of the Switch Back Tee, Lima Capri and Vaasa Sports Bra. I chose the outfit knowing that I would be wearing it for yoga, so I was expecting the bra to be light support (which is what it is labelled as on the site).

When I first tried the bra on I was really happy with how it fit, and how comfortable it is. It doesn’t dig in at all and is soft. The one thing I do wish it had was cups (removable or permanent) so that is my only negative for that item.

The tee is made from a light pima cotton and is really thin and soft as well. While I feel the top is true to size, it’s a very flowy top so if you don’t like loose tops it might not be the top for you. I also would have loved to see this top come with a long option as it is pretty short. However, I wore it with another tank underneath (as it is a bit cool around here for backless shirts!) and together they paired really nicely.

As for the capris – I have nothing negative to say at all! They colour is awesome, the fit is awesome, the fabric is soft and thick (but not too thick) and they fit like a dream. I’ve heard others say they found that the capris so to fall down as you wear them but I didn’t have that experience at all. They stayed in place and were super comfy. If you remember the old Lululemon lion (from 4 or more years ago) that is what this fabric reminded me of. #obsessed.

I’m looking forward to trying out more of their pieces in the coming months, and will be sure to let you know what I think on social media (and will update this post if I decide I hate them later on 😉 ).

I’ve seen a lot of people complain on Facebook about the fact that this is a subscription service, that each month you have to either choose an outfit, or choose to “pass this month” or else you will still be billed. That’s true, but if you are billed that means you have credit on your account to use towards a future purchase. This is exactly the same way the Just Fab works (I’ve been a member there for over a year), and if you don’t want to order on a specific month you just click today so by the 5th of each month, no big deal. I haven’t ordered anything from them in over a year and the 30 seconds it takes me to click “pass this month” each month really isn’t a hassle. 😉

Of course you can also order from Fabletics without signing up for the VIP program, but the items do cost a bit more. Personally I don’t think the subscription is a big deal, plus the cost of the items is so much lower than Lululemon (and I haven’t bought anything from them since last year!) that you can easily get a whole outfit for the same cost as one cool racer back!

So far I’m a Fabletics believer! The pieces are super cute, affordable and from what I’ve seen great quality.

Update (January 2015):

Since writing this post back in November I’ve added a number of other Fabletics pieces to my fitness wardrobe and have been pleased with everything I’ve purchased.

Between the 3 pairs of capris, 1 pair of leggings, 3 tops and 1 sports bra, I’m a happy camper. So far I have only tried their Vassi sports bra, and typically wear it to bed, and not to exercise, but I find it okay coupled with a fitted tank for yoga. I’d never attempt any type of cardio in it though!

I continue to be happy with the quality of their bottoms. The fabric is thick and soft and I still think it more comparable to the old Lululemon luon the current luon they use. And cheaper too!

I really like that they offer a new collection each month, and if you see something you want you need to snag it before it is gone. That too reminds me of Lululemon’s supply and demand theory, except this is done in a manner which we all know and understand. The new collection come out on the 1st of each month, not at random times in the middle of the night, maybe on the upload night you are use to, maybe not (Lululemon shoppers will relate to that description…).

One thing I don’t like is that as of January 2015 they are no longer selling the items on the Canada side in Canadian dollars. Everything is US dollars now (due to the exchange rate) which makes it more expensive to shop if you are Canadian like me. Having said that, you can still easily get a full outfit for less than one pair of Wunder Under Crops (and the capris from Fabletics are most certainly NOT sheer). If you haven’t already guessed I’m a total convert. I still wear a lot of lulu pieces I bought in the past, but it’s been over a year since I purchased anything from them, and now that I’ve been introduced to Fabletics, I’m doubtful that Lululemon will get much (if any) of my money in the near future.

Update: September 2017

Fabletics is still my go-to for fitness gear. And most recently I am in LOVE with their high-waisted Lysette leggings. They are so comfy and not see through at all (which has become a major issue with many brands). I want them in all the colours. All of them.

Disclosure: All of the clothing mentioned in this post was purchased by me with my own money. However, the links provided in this post are affiliate links so if you sign up for a VIP membership through my link and make a purchase I will get credit on my account. If you do sign up, you too can get a custom link to share with your friends to get the same deal! It’s a win-win for sure 🙂