I caught a glimpse of this new Allegro line, Allegro Hand Warmers, Neck Warmers and Leg Warmers as I was leaving the store today and they were just starting to unpack them. I got to check out the leg warmers which are a very soft and thin cashmere bamboo blend and priced at around $58. The hand warmers are very cute but not very practical for outdoor weather. They also had a new Sigg Tea Cozy mug in two colors and I really liked them but would probably only think about getting one in a great color…except that I’m pretty married to my Vessel Double walled glass tea steeper so even in a great color I should pass. 

Allegro Hand Warmers, Neck Warmer and Leg Warmers

Tea Cozy

 A new cashmere knit sweater at Ms. S’s store today, priced at $98

 The Off The Mat Jacket. My store had 4 of these left today. I think they got a small shipment of them since the price point is quite high. I tried mine on again today over a Cabin LS and the fit is really comfortable still so I’ll be keeping mine. I’ve decided that the only ok way of wearing this jacket left unzipped is if you button a few of the neck snaps to keep the asymetrical panels from flapping about. According to the GEC the fleece is the exact same fleece used in the Don’t Hurry Be Happy Pullover and the price increase is due to the extra design features that went into it. I sort of wish Lulu would give more fabric details with the fleece like some of the other high end fleece retailers do. Like, I want to know if the fleece has ‘lofted hollow core fibres’ to provide extra warmth, and I want to know if it’s a Polartec fleece they are using which is the highest quality fleece that Patagonia and The North Face both use or if they are using something different but of equal quality. At this price point, it’s an investment piece for it’s functionality and not just for it’s design features. None the less, it’s a gorgeous jacket and I can see myself wearing it a lot on dry days as an easy comfortable overlayer. Probably wont layer nicely under a shell jacket with this neckline but it will probably take me right to spring. 

 Run: For It Pullover

Saw this in store today and it’s super pretty. I really wanted to try on the Currant one which felt really soft but it was busy in store and I didn’t want to take up a fitting room. The tech fleece is thinner than my spirit pullover and slightly stretchier because of it. Also, there are ribbed side panels which will also provide stretch. I loved my Spirit Pullover but my main reason for parting ways with it besides it being too warm for running in Vancouver winters was that the tech fleece had very little stretch to it and was slightly restrictive. This one is going to be much more movement friendly for sure!

 Run: Turn Around Short Sleeve and Long Sleeves

These are so pretty, I just know I’m going to regret passing on them. 

 Rehearsal Tank in Dusty Rose with the Allegro Hand Warmers

 New Define Jacket in Persian Purple

 Heathered Black Swan Cool Racerback Tank. 

I really wanted this one but in person it just looks too close to grey. I would have loved a solid Black Swan. 

I’m really loving this jacket. Haven’t taken the tags off yet thanks to the sticker shock but it’s pretty nice. There are actually 3 kinds of fleece on this jacket. The outer fleece which is like the Don’t Hurry Be Happy Pullover, an inner silken fleece which is a high pile, and the sherpa fleece at the collar. 

As I mentioned earlier today, I’m quite surprised that the new Run: Turn Around LS’s are being called ‘Rulu’ (running luon) when to me they feel more like pique, just like the newest Pique/Mini Check Define Jackets and Vinyasa scarves. Reader ‘A’ was able to take a close up shot and give us a fabric comparison for reference.  The material is of course super cozy still and quite wonderful. It has a texture like a finely knitted sweater which is really nice for a technical top. I’m just wondering why they are choosing to market this as running luon and not pique/mini check.

Comparison of fabrics:

Boogie shorts made of pique fabric (tag says luon) – 75% nylon, 18% rayon, 7% spandex
Run Resolution LS (tag says running luon) – 91% nylon, 9% lycra spandex
New Turn Around LS (tag says rulu) – 72% nylon, 22% polyester, 6& lycra spandex.

Reverse side of the Plum 

This is a great photo showing both the color as well as how the neckline lays unzipped. They’ve added a snap button on the shoulder where you can tack down the flap of fabric when you keep it unzipped. 

 You can see the Oatlmealy heathering on this white GW pretty well in this photo. 

Thanks to Shez for this photo of the newest Heathered White Gratitude Wrap. The inside lining is Blurred Grey.

Pacesetter Skirt 

Cassis/Make Davie Run Crazy Print

Rehearsal Tank

Rehersal Tank with Chasse Tights

Dance Roll Legging 

(kinda love these but they are not for my figure)

Made of ‘cashluxe’ a cashmere blended organic cotton/bamboo

Rehearsal Long Sleeve and Crop

Rehearsal Tutu and Bra

I picked up the Off The Mat Jacket this morning and totally love it but I do have some negatives to share with you about this jacket and since it is so pricey it’s best to go in to this purchase fully informed and really decide if the design of this jacket suits how you like to layer. First of all, it’s a fussy on off jacket which means you should plan on keeping it on for your entire outing unless you get good at adjusting the neckline properly without a mirror because there are a lot of snap buttons and two zippers.  This jacket, like a lot of lulu wraps (and some jackets) does not loot good left open so wearing it out is a commitment since it is so warm. I actually find it warmer than the Don’t Hurry Be Happy Pullover.

Negative #2 (and these are really nit picky things, for the sake of pointing out all flaws) is that the side pockets are not the same depth. The left pocket ends right where there is a seam detail on the front of the jacket while the right pocket is much deeper. You can’t see this difference but if you like to put both your hands in your pocket  (in order to look nonchalant) then you will be a bit weirded out by the difference. Unless you’re not OCD and asymmetry doesn’t bother you. 

The neckline, as Sharon pointed out is quite bulky and not low profile. I like it better than the DHBH pullover neckline since you can adjust it to sit quite low on your chest and don’t have to keep it up by your face. I also really like how this jacket looks at the shoulders with Cool Racerback Tank straps showing. This jacket is fitted but there is enough room to layer a swiftly LS or Cabin LS underneath.  Also, the sleeves could have been finished off a bit better. The tags claim there are thumbholes and cuffins but it’s actually just thumbholes and a raw edge of fleece and no cuffins. I’m not sure why they didn’t finish the sleeves off like the Don’t Hurry Be Happy Pullover.  Over all I really like this jacket but it’s coming in at the sacrifice of other wish list items and I will not go over my monthly budget because of it. 

**Another thing to note is there are actually 3 kinds of fleece in this. The outside fleece which is like the DHBH, the sherpa fleece at the neckline and the fleece on the inside is a medium pile fleece that is super silky. 

Off The Mat Jacket TTS (size 10)

Thats my Joe Fresh Pima Cotton Tee underneath. Got that baby for  $10 and it’s lolo purple!

 New Gratitude Wrap in store today , HWHT/BLRG

Passed in favour of the Off The Mat Jacket but I also didn’t care for this color of the GW anyways. It’s an off-white oatmealy grey white with a blurred grey inner liner. I would have loved a GW in Ghost White, unheathered. 

 The new dance items where in store today. The top on the right is a running luon flowey long sleeve tee. Forgot what it’s called but it was nice. Tutu was a bit ridiculous. For $98 it didn’t even feel very substantial or different from the dress up tutu’s I get for my daughters at the toy store. 

 Run Turn Around Long Sleeve and Short Sleeve

These were in store today and super, super cute. Both long sleeves and short sleeves. The interesting thing is that these aren’t really running luon but mini check on one side and pique on the other. When you see them up close they look like a sweater knit which is really cool. They are soft but not the same type of soft as running luon. 

This jacket sure is a beauty. I just wish that it was water resistant like The North Face Polartec Fleece  for the same price range. I didn’t even know water resistant fleece was possible until this jacket came out and I went off in search of price comparisons with other brands. Ah well, I’ll be at my store shortly to stalk them for this jacket and possibly give you my fit review this afternoon. 

Off The Mat Jacket