Those of us trying to be more active who don’t fit society’s image of what “health and wellness” looks like can often feel excluded. While the fitness industry has made strides in recent years, shopping for activewear can still prove challenging at times. I mean really, how can any of us be expected to start hitting the gym when it’s a challenge to even find workout gear that fits us? The double standard has been weighing on a lot of us for a really long time. But Athleta’s latest push for inclusivity is moving the needle forward.
Athleta now offers a more inclusive size range (from XXS to 3X, to be exact) in over 500 different styles. These pieces include everything from the IG-worthy Ultra High Rise Elation ⅞ Tights and matching crop top, as well as bras and basic tanks. (And by the way, those crop tops and supportive sports bras are available in extended cup size options.)
My Fave Tops And Bras From Athleta
What’s nice? The clothing can be found online, as well as in all of their brick-and-mortar stores. So you can load up your virtual shopping cart or find your perfect fit in person. This last point is particularly important. I get that walking into a store knowing nothing offered will fit you isn’t necessarily a lived experience for everyone. But for those of us who have gone through this—and realistically, more than just a few times—this is big.
Another plus: Athleta is one of the very few brands that doesn’t separate size ranges. Everyone—no matter if they wear XXS or 3X—can shop from the same rack. As someone whose sizes have often been relegated to a dark corner at the back of a store, I can’t overstate how much of a game-changer this is.
This also means that more of us can enjoy a shopping experience that’s free—or at least, freer—of shame and embarrassment. By simply putting together all sizes—and placing them on the same rack—Athleta is helping create positive feelings so many of us have never experienced when shopping in the past. No more separating from friends just to find clothes that fit at the other end of a shop, and no more being forced to wait and order pieces online later.
To top things off, every article of clothing was designed by active women of all shapes and sizes—who, Athleta will remind you, never believed one size actually fits all. So there’s even more to love about this inclusive launch.
Often, as sizes go up, manufacturers and designers merely add extra fabric. Unfortunately, this tends to create clothes that feel uncomfortable or unsupportive. (I can’t count how many pairs of leggings have failed on me or how many sports bras didn’t fit the way they should. Yet, I wore them because they were the only options I had.) With Athleta activewear, though, this isn’t the case. The brand has tested (and re-tested) its pieces on many different body types to ensure the perfect fit.
My Fave Bottoms From Athleta
Look, I get it—my at-home dance fitness workouts, walks around the neighborhood, and occasional green smoothie might not qualify me as a fitness guru, but that shouldn’t matter. I cherish my comfiest leggings and stretchiest sports bras as much as the next gal. And everyone deserves activewear in their size that actually fits.
The health and wellness space still has a long way to go when it comes to feeling really, genuinely inclusive. But for now, I’m raising my water bottle to Athleta.
