I just saw the commercial where the Hershey kisses play “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” like they’re Christmas bells. I also saw the one where Santa slides down a snowy hill on a Gillette razor.
Time for another gift list.
I won’t expound on how devoted I am to the Athleta clothing brand. I won’t tell you how I have been wearing Athleta since before my sons were born, when Athleta was just a catalog. I won’t bore you with details on how much I loved working there, loved my bosses, my co-workers and my clients. I won’t even tell you how there was never a day or a shift where I didn’t walk in that store and feel proud to work for such an amazing brand that does so much for the planet and for women all around the world.
Nope. I won’t do that. What I will do, however, is share with you the top Athleta pieces that I wholeheartedly recommended to my personal clients. This is a special list, one I normally wouldn’t share. But I want to talk about them. And while we have good stuff all year long, winter is Athleta’s greatest season. We kill winter. And the answer is yes, I own every single one of these products. I have been wearing them, testing them, and approving them for 25 years.
So here are my Athleta All-Stars: (Reader note: Athleta ain’t cheap, but guess what? I still have Athleta wear from 1998, and it still looks brand new. Can you say that about anything you own from Target? Kohls? Marshalls? Doubt it. You get what you pay for).
- City Tights: We are finally in black tights, fuzzy sweater and boot weather. Yay!
All-Star: Delancey tights. They’re more like really casual pants. Pull these on to go get the Christmas tree, to walk around and look at neighborhood Christmas lights, or to watch your kid’s soccer game. You’ll also look gorgeous when you’re out to dinner in them, with a loose silk blouse tucked halfway-in and wearing some strappy heels. Yum. They come in Moto (my personal favorite), Herringbone, Street, or Gleam. The Sculptek Light™ fabric will suck you in and make you look polished as hell. Tights just don’t get any better.
Runner-up: Headlands
2. Workout Tights: I’m not a runner, just a hiker, walker and gym-rat. If you want compressive tights, go to Athleta and ask for Contenders. I go for butter to swing my kettlebells.
All-Star: Elations. One word is all it takes. The best tights I have ever worn in my life. Made from buttery-soft Powervita™ fabric, they will make you look a size smaller and hide your flaws, not that you have any. They come in a variety of yummy colors and lengths like crop, 7/8, and full tight. I get mine in Ultra-High Rise to hold in my tummy, but you can get regular rise, too. If you’re short like me, consider getting petite online. It’s best to go in store and try them on, but if you must order online, size down. Athleta is a company that celebrates all body types, and Elations give. And give and give and give….
Runner-up: Salutations
3. Snuggly Tights for Cold Weather: Wear these to make a snowman, to wear on your sled at the Iditarod, or simply to go for a run in the cold weather. Just for snuggles or runs, folks, they’re not to ski in.
All-Star: Altitude Tight in Polartec® Power Stretch®. Fuzzy on the inside, sleek on the outside, super cozy and flattering. I own these in four colors and wear them all winter long for everything. But for God’s sake, hurry. They’re already disappearing online. A super popular product that you will never regret.
Runner-up: Rainiers (no fluff on inside, though).
4. Work Pants: I’m not much of a pants person. Pants tend to make me look either like a snausage or the bottom half of a Lego. However, if pants are required, I have my go-to’s.
All-Star: Stellar trousers. Euroluxe fabric gives great stretch, and they look great with a black blazer. They come in tights too. Looks like they’re going quick online, so don’t procrastinate.
Runner-up: Skyline Pants. Super cute, tapered at the bottom, with a cute tie at the waist.
5. Cozy Top Layer: Just to throw on to walk the dog in the morning or to grab the mail. Before it starts getting really cold, this is a nice mid-weight layer to hang out in.
All-Star: Polartec Funnel Neck. Again with the Polartec® Power Stretch®. This comes in white and black and again, you’ll never regret the purchase. I didn’t. I wear it and wear it and wear it, then wash it, then start all over again. Great zippers too, for all your stuff. Also again, please hurry. These sell out quickly, so shake your tail feather before Santa grabs them all first.
Runner-up: Cozy Karma Side-Zip Funnel Neck
6. Cold-Weather (Lighter) Jacket: Anyone I have ever worked with knows that I have no willpower when it comes to Athleta jackets. They just do them so good. Here are two lighter-weight choices.
All-Star: Whisper Featherless Jacket. Oh my. I brought this unassuming little puffy coat on a hiking trip, and when it got warm on the trail, and I had to shed layers, it compressed to the size of an iPad, and fit in my day pack. When I took it back out, it popped out looking just as sharp as when it went in. A fantastic product that uses Lightweight 3M™ Recycled Thinsulate™ material. But this is not your boyfriend’s puffy coat- the Whisper has a feminine design and a longer back hem to cover your bum. Git it before it’s gone. To freaking die for.
Runner-up: Flurry Force Insulated PrimaLoft® Jacket. This is a really light jacket, and more form-fitting than the Whisper. It’s very distinctive, look it up on the website. The bodice is like a vest, and the arms are like ribbed material. I use it in early fall and spring to go to the gym and run errands. It looks great with my Delancey tights. I have it in black and blue, and my son already got it for me in red for Christmas.
7. Cold Weather (Heavier) Jacket: RDS FeatherDry down will keep you warm, but there’s no need for you to look like an Oompa Loompa.
All-Star: Rock Ridge or Inlet Jacket. I can’t decide. They are both fabulous, and Sarah and I agreed last year at work when we both bought the Inlet that it made us look skinny.
Runner-up: Downtown parka or jacket
8. Bra: Again, despite my large ta-tas, I don’t need the highest compression, because I’m not a runner. I’m looking for medium compression, comfort and encapsulation.
All-Star: Conscious Crop bra. Using our famous Powervita™ fabric, this longline bra cups and covers you everywhere you need to be cupped and covered, and even covers those chicken cutlets at your armpits. Smooths you everywhere, and makes you feel beautiful. You can get it in A-C or D-DD, and then you can choose XXS-XL. A wildly popular bra in every color from camo to candy apple red to snakeskin.
9. Workout Tank: Athleta fans have their favorites. No runners-up here, just gonna list ‘em.
All-Stars: Get the Speedlight if you like form-fitting tanks, the Foothill if you like to tie your tank to your own fit-preference, the Uptempo or Vapor if you like slightly boxy and cropped tanks, or my personal favorite, the Cloudlight Relaxed Muscle Tank, if you don’t mind your sports bra peeking out from the low-cut sides. Me-likey.
10. Rest of the Best: These would be put in the category of: “Mary, will you circle the store and just bring me your favorite products? Bring me one of everything in my size.” God, I miss my clients. Anyway, these don’t really come in any specific category, but need to be mentioned for their freaking awesomeness.
Mala Hoodie Dress: I don’t get cold until it goes below 50, so I make great use of Athleta hoodie dresses. They’re so fun and comfortable and make you look so pulled together with a pair of Birkenstocks. If you like hoodie dresses, American Giant makes good ones too, and in fun colors.
Foresthill Tank and Turtleneck: You need to try these on to believe them. Seamless merino wool that stretches over all of your gorgeous curves, and with thumbholes in the turtleneck sleeves to boot. The tank looks great with summer skirts, black pants, and shorts. The turtleneck can be tucked into leggings or a leather skirt and will give you instant GLAM. I’m telling you.
The-One-The-Only Renew Racerback Tank: My bosses knew this was coming. If someone told me I could only keep ONE ATHLETA PRODUCT, one piece that I could not live without, my black Renew Racerback would be it. I don’t know why. The Renew is like…tank crack. It’s like an all-purpose tool. It is without a doubt my most adored Athleta piece in my closet. I wear it and wash it, wear it and wash it, wear it and wash it. It looks just as good now as it did the day I bought it. I try to convince every client to buy it, and once they try it on, they usually do. The Renew is like magic. Size up.
Power to the She!