Not a single day goes by that I don’t count myself incredibly lucky to be able to call athletic wear my “business attire”. If I’m not in the gym working with clients or teaching classes, I’m sitting behind my desk at home working on our run-coaching business, or typing away at a blog post. In between, there’s always adventure to be had: from my own training runs, to chauffeuring kids to and from school, to helping with trail maintenance, or even hitting the beach for a quick paddle session.
Believe it or not though, it’s sometimes hard finding workout gear that actually fits all of these categories. For example, some of my gym attire is awesome for teaching a client how to do things such as lat pull downs and hammer curls, but horrible for staying put on the trails. Some of my trail specific gear can take the beating of the great outdoors, but doesn’t look quite “nice” enough for the gym. Some leggings are great for a chest and shoulder workout, but slide right down the second I try to do a box jump. You get the idea.
So when I find something that can DO BOTH…I’m going to share it with you guys.
Vie Active is performance-driven, stylish activewear company born in Bondi Beach, Australia and headquartered in Sun Valley, Idaho. The founder, Noa Ries, literally designed Vie Active for the reasons I mentioned above. Read this quote, taken directly from their website:
Late in the day in early 2012, she (Ries) had an epiphany when she realized she was still in her workout clothes, had not had time for a shower, and felt REALLY unstylish. “I thought to myself – why do I have to make this conscious decision every day between being stylish and being fit? Surely I can be both! But as a modern woman (with two kids) I don’t have time for five outfit changes during the day.”
I get it. Believe me, I get it. Of course, my focus is mainly on performance, but that doesn’t mean I have to wear frumpy, boring clothing either.
REVIEW:
Vie Active was kind enough to send me a pair of Rockell 7/8ths leggings and a Sunny bra, both in the color “Poppy”.
Specs: Vie Activewear is made with quick drying, sweat-wicking, and anti-microbial fabrics including compression and Australian Merino.
Rockell 7/8 legging:
- Metallic silver dot detailing
- Four-way stretch to encourage freedom of movement
- Odor-resistant, anti-microbial, quick-drying fabric
- 24” inseam, mid-rise waist for comfortable coverage
- Available in sizes XS – XL
- MSRP $92.00
Sunny bra:
- Luxe, brushed supplex fabric
- Odor-resistant, quick-dry fabric
- 4 cross-strap style
- Full coverage and medium support
- Available in sizes XS – XL
- MSRP $58.00
First thoughts: Want to hear a random pet peeve of mine? I hate the term “buttery” in reference to clothing. Crescent rolls can be buttery. Popcorn can be buttery. Leggings? They can not be buttery.
Except…these are. I can’t get over how soft the fabric of these leggings are, even after a few washes. Like butter (yeah, I said it.)
I purposefully picked the color “Poppy” because I almost always find myself picking up leggings in shades of black, grey, dark blue, or forest green. Step out of your comfort zone, friends. The color, in person, did not disappoint. I was hoping that it would be more of a “red” than orange, and it definitely is.
Sizing/fit: Like I tried to explain to my husband the other day, I’m either a “larger-small” or a “smaller-medium”. I’m usually a size small, but I’m not itty bitty either. I’ve got ultramarathon legs and a gym-rat wider back (growing by the day, thank you very much). As such, I never know what size to order in a brand I’ve not tried before. I went with size small for my Vie Activewear, and then held my breath as I slid into the leggings that appeared super duper tiny straight out of the package.
They fit. Perfectly, at that. Therefore, I’d say that Vie Active runs true to size…but if you are on the smaller end of a size range, you might want to size down.
As far as length goes: I’m 5’7″ and a lot of legs. These leggings are supposedly 7/8ths length, but honestly, fit more like full length leggings.
Not an activewear model by any stretch, but I can do pullups in trees, so there’s that.
Performance: This Vie Active outfit stayed put, felt comfortable, and performed well for:
- teaching a Tabata group fitness class
- training clients
- completing my own strength training workout
- the elementary school car pickup line
- a trail run
- sitting here typing this post.
Yeah. I need a shower. But that’s beside the point. The tights didn’t slide down when running or jumping, which honestly is the, hands down, most important factor in workout leggings for me. Nothing is more distracting nor obnoxious than having to reach down to hike up your tights every few minutes. The waistband is wide, high rise, and comfortable.
The bra is also incredibly comfortable. No straps digging into my shoulders or back. Now, I’ll be honest: I’m barely a B cup, so I am not necessarily the best reviewer of how supportive a sports bra may be. But personally, I had zero issues with this bra, and felt fully supported.
Both pieces have held up very well despite multiple washings, and I’ll be the first to confess: in a house full of athletes, we just throw EVERYTHING into the wash together. No gentle cycle here folks (though you probably really should follow the washing and drying instructions for your Vie Activewear), “commotion” is more than just a blog title.
Price: I won’t lie to you, my readers – $92 for tights and $58 for a sports bra is a lot for this dirtbag to swallow. BUT…I truly believe that you get what you pay for, when it comes to quality. And so far, these pieces from Vie Active truly have proven to be incredible quality. It truly makes more sense to invest in quality apparel that will last, rather than to buy cheaper items that need to be replaced more frequently. Comparatively, the price is no different than other large name brand gym/yoga apparel
Conclusion: If you’re like me, you may not have heard of Vie Active before today. But if you’re also like me, and looking for something functional and fashionable that can easily transition from the gym, to the grocery store, to the trail, and beyond, then you should definitely give Vie Active a try.
And if you DO want to give Vie Active a try, use THIS LINK —> https://vieactivewear.com/heather20 and enter code HEATHER20 for 20% off full priced items.
Disclaimer: Vie Active provided me with an outfit for review at no cost to me. I received no monetary compensation for sharing my thoughts. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
Geoffrey Hart
It looks real nice on you :).