Confession time: I probably own over 30 pairs of leggings. I exercise every day, and I wear leggings to work more often than I care to admit. I can never say no to a cute matching set, so it’s no wonder my friends always ask me which athleisure brand I recommend they try. I’ve tried everything from lululemon to GOLDSHEEP to Beach Riot, but the two I get asked about the most are Fabletics and Alo. If you're looking for the perfect gifts for the women in your life, you can't go wrong with some stylish athleisure wear. Here's how you can find the best fit for holiday gifts:
If you want fun patterns… Fabletics
I truly think that part of the reason I love working out is the outfits. It’s probably the time I wear the most colors or patterns because my wardrobe is otherwise fairly basic. My friends make fun of me because while I own so many leggings, only one pair is plain black. What can I say–I feel unstoppable when I put on my fun matching set, and it motivates me to work that much harder.
If you're looking for a gift for someone who loves a fun pattern like me, you’ll want to turn to Fabletics. While they do have a lot of solids, they also have a huge assortment of patterns, ranging from animal print to color block to ombre and more. Even their solids have a lot of personality, coming in various finishes (one of my favorites is the foil for a very sleek look).
One issue I’ve always had with Alo is that while they have some great options, the clothes are all a little too boring for me.
If you want to spend less (but not sacrifice style)... Fabletics
Athleisure can be expensive (I’m looking at you, Ultracor), and I can’t always justify the $100+ price tag for a pair of pretty standard leggings. Many pairs of Alo leggings are over $100, and the sports bras are over $70. For one full outfit, this can add up quickly.
One of my favorite things about Fabletics is that I never feel like I’m sacrificing style for price (or quality). They offer an interactive membership, which means you can pay $54.95 a month for a member credit that you can redeem for an item or outfit up to $80 in value, plus you get 20-50% off anything else you want to shop. OR you can easily skip that month and not pay at all! With unlimited skips, this interactive membership really is a great option.
As if that's not good enough, when you become a new member you get a crazy intro offer where you get 2 leggings for just $24 PLUS 70% off the entire rest of your order. This makes Fabletics not only ideal for long-term pricing but the best choice if you want to purchase multiple items for different people on your holiday gift list.
If you want a larger selection of styles… Fabletics
Fabletics has a HUGE range of options to choose from, so you’re bound to find something that suits everyone you're shopping for. Fabletics makes choosing easy by giving you recommended options and various filters on searches. Outside of your standard leggings, sports bras, and tank tops, they also have loungewear (think sweatshirts and pajamas - I’m kind of obsessed with this onesie for winter), dresses, jumpsuits, swim, and more. Fabletics also has a leggings finder and a “Shop by Fabric” page to make sure you end up with the perfect ‘fit!
Alo also has a large selection, but I feel like the only thing that ever changes from season to season is colors, and all the colors are solid, so it doesn’t feel as new and exciting to shop.
If you want to shop in person… Alo
Sometimes you just need to duck into a store to pick up a last-minute gift. If you find yourself in this situation, you’ll probably want to turn to Alo.
Both Alo and Fabletics have freestanding stores, but Alo is also sold in department stores like Bloomingdales and Saks, so it can be a bit easier to find in person. A few Alo stores also have studios in them, so you can get your sweat in before or after you shop.
If you want colder weather athleisure wear… Fabletics
It gets pretty cold in NYC, but I’m not going to stop sporting leggings just because it’s chilly outside. Luckily, Fabletics has my back with their insanely comfortable fleece-lined leggings. They’re super warm but not bulky, so they’re perfect for everyday wear. Normally, cold-weather leggings are super expensive, so Fabletics is the clear winner here. They’re also a part of the 2-for $24 introduction offer–you can’t beat $12 cold weather leggings!
Alo has their own version of cold-weather leggings, but because they’re more expensive and don’t feel as cozy, I’m definitely stocking up on Fabletics’ fleece-lined leggings for the winter and gifting them to friends and family.
The ultimate winner… Fabletics
If you're looking for holiday gifts, I recommend Fabletics. Whether your giftee is like me and loves colors/patterns, or they want a more basic look, you can find what they want at Fabletics for a great price.
What are you waiting for? Start your membership and get 2 for $24 bottoms + 70% off everything!
