Lululemon Satya Tank & Ivivva Rhythmic Crop!

I bought the Lululemon Satya Tank when it was marked down earlier this week online.  I actually really liked the look of this tank when it first came out.  But I wanted to try it on in store so I didn't buy online.  Then of course I never made it to the store to try it on.  So when the heathered medium grey/soot color went on mark down, I thought I'd take a shot at it based on pretty good reviews, even though I would have preferred the cadet ombre version.

This is the cadet ombre version - maybe I like it better because it is on my favorite Lulu model lol:

Most of the not-so-positive part of the online reviews of this tank say that it shows a lot of cleavage.  Well, I don't really have that problem to worry about since I'm like a B cup lol.  So I bought it in my regular size 4.  When I took it out of the packaging and was trying to put it on though, the chest opening felt tight/not very stretchy and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to put it on at all!  But I wrestled with the tank and prevailed!  Once it is on, the bra band feels the same as other tanks in the same size.  So I think it's because cotton tanks (Practice Cotton, same as the Live Natural crop) are just not as stretchy as luon, making it harder to get your arms through.  I always found the old Lululemon organic cotton tanks to be troublesome putting on as well.  The chest does show some cleavage, but I don't think there's any danger of falling out.  The strap could be a tiny bit shorter though.  I can see how this tank wouldn't work on bigger chested ladies.

Once I got it on, I loved it!  I actually like the look of this tank a lot better in person than online.  I think it's because the online pictures show a more stark contrast between the fading of the colors, and the darker outside portion looks wider than the tank I received.  I just love mine, whereas I was kind of unsure about it from looking at the photos online.  The material is so nice too.  It is almost a little velvety.  It is thicker though, so definitely not a cardio tank - I would wear it to do weights and yoga/pilates.  I am now glad that I got this vertical ombre version - the darker outside is super slimming visually!  Although I still think the horizontal cadet ombre version would be cute as well!

Super slimming from the side too!

I think it takes away at least an inch of your circumference?  Lol.

I like the back design of this tank.  The logo is the dark charcoal one:

The inner bra band is super bright!  Antidote?  I don't know.  But I thought it was cute that they made the bra band an ombre as well:

I'm glad that tank worked out!  I was worried that I'd be out $40 bucks and couldn't return it.

I also received the latest Ivivva Rhythmic crop today too!  The color is called sunset stripe flash light/toothpaste/flash light.  I thought it was an interesting look when I first saw it on Wednesday, but wasn't 100% sure I'd like it.  I was afraid maybe it looked too young??

 

I ordered it anyway, obviously.  Same size as the other space dye Rhythmic Crops I have - size 12.  It looks SO much brighter in person than the photos online!  I kind of love them even though they look like a bright popsicle.  The horizontal stripes for some reason looks rather flattering.  I actually really like the fit of Ivivva Rhythmic crops as well - they are super comfy and the length is good for me since they are a couple inches shorter than Lululemon crops.  The waistband is not as thick as Lulu crops, but it still works.  As I've said before, the price just cannot be beat!  $48 is such a good deal!

So this is how bright they are in person!  I'm wearing the aquamarine Waterbound singlet with them, which is very close to the toothpaste color that's in the stripes!

The only thing I'm kind of struggling with is what colored tops to wear with them.  I think white might be the best, but that definitely limits how many tops I can wear with them.  What do you guys think??

Lululemon Run A Marathon Crop II

I bought the new Lululemon Run A Marathon Crop II Pretty Palm Black Angel Wing/Black during the upload on Monday and they arrived today.  I have the original version of Run A Marathon crop and actually like them a lot even though I don't think they got very good reviews and eventually were marked down to $49 - most people complained about the waistband and leg opening being too tight.  While I do find the waist to lack stretch, the hardest part is actually pulling it over the bum lol.  Once it's over though, it stays put!  A while ago though, I noticed a hole in them which I have no idea how it occurred.  That's why I can't wear them anymore.  So when I saw the newer version in the pretty palm print, I thought how perfect!

I ordered size 4, which is what I always get in Lulu bottoms, and what I have in the original Run A Marathon crops.  When I first felt this new version though, I thought the material felt very different!  It does not feel like regular luxtreme.  I read the description which says these are made of regular luxtreme in the front and full-on luxtreme in the back.  But the whole thing just feels weird!  I don't even know how to describe it.  It feels thicker with a more slippery surface and less stretch.  They feel tighter on as a result.  Good compression though.

The fit of this new version is off on me.  While they did loosen the waist from the original version, the rise is lower, especially in the front.  It's probably the lowest rise of all my Lulu crops.  I don't even mind lower rise, but these just cut me off in a weird spot - kind of like right in the middle of the "love handle" area.  So even though the waistband is looser, it also sits at a wider spot of the body which doesn't help.   If I get a little bloaty, I just know these will not look good.  

They did also make the knee opening wider than the original version though.  But they are still shorter than most 3/4 length crops so they may be too short for someone who has longer legs than me (I'm 5'5).

I do love these big side pockets:

So these have 2 big side pockets, one zipper pocket on the back of the waist, and 2 hidden waistband pockets on both sides of the front - 5 pockets total.

Most of my Lulu crops go up to pretty close to my belly button.  It may look dorky, but they stay put.  In this photo below, this was as high as I could pull them up without creating a major camel toe, and as you can see they are still like 2 inches lower than my bully button!  I think they would also slide down.

Big mesh portion on the back of the legs:

I like this pattern, it camouflages the logo:

Another thing that bothers me about these crops and this material is that when stretched, the print looks faded and thin.  It almost looks like they are sheer and your skin color is showing through the print.  But they are actually not sheer at all, they just have a white base underneath which causes the print to look faded and sheer.

For example, this is how the print looks when I'm wearing them and just standing:

And... this is how it looks when I move my legs into a simple butterfly stretch position (this is the inner thigh area):

The area closest to the seam is stretched out the worst and shows the most fading:

Waaaaa... these crops have too many misconstructions for me to keep.  Maybe Lululemon will come out with another pair of crops in this print!  These are disappointing, but it's not like I need more crops anyway!

H&M Lace Skirts & Top, Hue Tights!

I went to H&M yesterday to return the romper and long white lace skirt I got a couple weeks ago.  The romper just didn't work on me, sadly.  The skirt was ok but I thought the length was a little awkward and sizing didn't work great on me either (S was too tight, M too loose).  I actually bought 2 shorter lace skirts in white and mint on their website last week (couldn't find them in the store I went to) which I like much better anyway!

Mint

So when I went to the store yesterday to make my returns, I picked up a new patterned tank top at the same time.  It's only $12 and I had a 20% off coupon, so I still got most of my money back!  Hehe.  I like that this tank could look good under a jacket for work, or it could be worn as a casual tank top with shorts or skirts in the summer!

I got the skirts in size 6, and the tank in size S.  Here is the white skirt and tank on me (with Modern Vintage wedge sandals):

I like the back of the tank - it kind of reminds me of my Splits59 Devon tanks!

I like this print - it's the one that Giselle wears on her current H&M ads.

The white lace skirt in size 6 fits perfectly.  I like that it's not too tight, and not too short either.

I didn't read the description when I ordered online, but I guess it has a zipper on the back!  I just figured it had an elastic wasitband like the other lace skirt I returned.  

I got the same skirt in mint in size 6 as well, but for some reason this color fits tighter.  It still fits and isn't super tight.  But I wish it fit more like the white one!  Oh well.  I love the color!

 

I literally don't wear flat shoes unless I'm going to the gym.  Seriously, I'm always in heels and I like them as high as possible lol.  But I thought these skirts would also work with flats for a really casual look.

Here's the white one with my Burberry patent flats that I bought when I was taking the train to work everyday and walking a bunch to/from train stations.  They don't get any love anymore!  Too bad, they are actually very cute!

I'm wearing the mint one here with my Seychelles Gala nude flats:

I will wear these skirts a lot this summer!!  The tank too.  =)

I also got my order from the Nordstrom semi-annual sale, which is just a pair of tights!  I thought they were kind of funky and different!  Kind of sexy too!  They are the Hue Ornate Backseam Print tights:

 

They are only $10, and Nordstrom provides free shipping so I thought why not!  I got size S/M.  They are actually kind of small.  I have to mess with them for a while to make sure they get pulled up all the way.  I'm wearing my Express minus the leather quilted mini skirt here, and BCBG Peacock pumps:

From the front, they look like good old nude tights:

Then voila!

Here's some close ups of the print on the tight:

How fun!!!  Although admittedly, I probably won't wear them much.  But they would definitely be a conversation starter - I wonder if people would mistake them for an actual tattoo!  They could also work well for sexy time of course... lol!  Anyway, only 10 bucks!