Today is a small victory, for I have found the best fitness apparel store in DC (no joke). Nestled in the Chevy Chase area,
Core 72 is a women's activewear boutique that hand selects the best athletic brands on the market. Hard Tail, Lija, MPG, Nux, Oiselle, and Splits59 are a few
examples of their extensive list of activewear brands.
It was whimsical. It was beachy. It was bliss....and I wanted to stay there all day. Whether a cyclist, yogi, runner, beachgoer, or golfer.....Core 72 had something for every active female. In a sea of Lulu-omegas and Athleta circles, any fit fashionista could find something special and unique that couldn't be found in your local mall.
With a the help of a pleasant employee, I started sampling all the brands I have been dying to try....and also ones I have never heard of:
I tried on a pullover and some crops by Splits. I have been looking forward to trying this brand. I really liked the crops, but they didn't have any size smalls....and the extra small was too small for me. I liked the details on the crops and the material felt nice. The pullover also had a unique back. I will be keeping an eye out on this brand.
Solow is a brand I haven't heard of, but I liked their bright color and unique back on this pullover.
(I'm going to have to add all of these new brands to my "athletic brands" list on my blog!)
Sundry was another brand that was new to me, but their materials were by far my favorite. It's technically a sweatshirt, but has the feel of a super-soft sweater. It's the kind of sweatshirt you want to wear everywhere! The sizing was a little different and unique. Instead of small thorough large, the sizes were 1-3 with 1 being a small.
Om Girl had some really cute hand dyed "hippie" style clothing. I wish I had a better photo of this top, but it was very flowy and would look great with yoga crops or with denim cutoffs.
Hard Tail was another brand on my list I've been wanting to try. I didn't end up buying this pullover, but it was a really close call. I loved the back and how the material draped. The material itself was really soft and flowy. In the end I couldn't justify it since I don't wear a lot of black....but I really wanted it. Maybe in grey next time? :)
I have heard great things about the running brand, Oiselle. I really liked this white tank for its versatility. It had a pretty back, and it would look great with yoga crops or with a pretty spring skirt. This was one of my favorite pieces.
I also tried a skirt by Oiselle. The skirt itself was really short, but the shorts were slightly longer....ensuring there was enough coverage in the rear. It was a really cute skirt.
I tried a jacket by Lija and thought it fit as well as Lululemon's Forme jacket. Even though it was form-fitting, it had a layer of fuziness underneath. It was good looking athletic jacket.
Nux had a zip-up jacket that was made of thick, dry fit material (like Lululemon's Swiftly material). I like the thickness of the material and the color reminded me of Lululemon's Angel Blue, but I think I would need to size up to a medium. The small was just a little too tight.
One of my favorite pieces was actually a swim cover-up by a brand called Letarte. I really like the handmade details and blue really popped with the white threading.
The last items I tried on were a polo and skort by Lija. I have been really interested in Lija lately, but I hadn't pulled the trigger on their skorts in fear of the fit. Most golf skorts look really matronly/old lady-ish, which is why I usually wear Lululemon's Pacesetter skorts in tall. The skort was made of a fitted spandex-like material and had built-in boy shorts. The length was conservative enough for a golf course, but did not look frumpy. I would like to note that this skort is more flattering for the younger golf who is not figure conscious, due to the spandex material and tight fit. Finally a golf brand that targets the younger demographic! I really liked the fit of the skort and plan on getting one of Lija's golf skorts soon.
It was hard to pick, but here's my loot from today. I probably would have been a little more out of control if I didn't go shopping yesterday. I bought the Sundry pullover, Oiselle tank, and a Pistil headbeand. I tried to pick the most versatile pieces I could wear over and over.
I really liked this Pistil headband. It was like Lululemon's Bangbuster, but it was made of softer material. I also liked the blue tie-dye. I got this headband for $16 and itt will go well with all of the blue in my closet!
Sundry's material ultimately won me over. I really loved how this pullover felt, and I knew I would be wearing it for workouts and casual wear. The blue color was also gorgeous. I ended up getting a size 1 for $90.
The flowy cut of the material gave the pullover versatility. It looks great with skinny jeans, cutoffs, and yoga pants. I'm really looking forward to longing in this!
I also couldn't resist the Oiselle tank. It was pretty and didn't scream "workout" apparel. I also liked how the back was adjustable. The tank was $40 and I got it in a size small.
I think this tank showcases really pretty bras and can easily transition to casual wear. I'm already predicting a summer favorite!
Thank you Core 72. This is now my favorite fitness apparel store in DC. I will still love Gap and Lululemon, but its hard to beat all of these great brands under one roof! If you are in the DC area for Cherry Blossoms, the Nike Half Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, or any other reason....you MUST visit this store. It is a hidden gem in Washington, DC!
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