Review | Sustainable Athleisure by Simulacra

Simulacra cropped joggers (organic cotton/bamboo viscose blend) | medium – gift for review
Simulacra Muscle tee (organic cotton/bamboo viscose blend) | medium -gift for review
Simulacra terry pullover (organic cotton/recycled polyester) | medium -gift for review
Vince blair sneakers | several years old
Kara small dry bag
Emerson Fry Core bra (no longer available) | gift for review

Happy Monday!! I hope you had a great weekend and are ready for your week ahead.  To start it off, how about a new independent designer focused on sustainability, local production and community? A great way to start a Monday, I think!

Christine from Simulacra contacted me a few weeks ago to introduce me to her new brand, and sent me a few things to try.  Her line is meant to work for exercise and then fit seamlessly into your daily life, without sacrificing style, comfort, or values like sustainability, community and local (to the US) production.  If you’d like to try a piece or two yourself, please use code GRECHEN10 for 10% off your order & free shipping on orders over $100!

I chose these three pieces as an outfit I could wear to Pure Barre in the morning and then all day to work, take Dagny out, and/or run errands:

The cropped joggers are fabulous – and as you can tell, not so cropped on me, but this is exactly the length I like for joggers.  They’re slim/slouchy, and high-waisted (on me), coming up to my belly button and don’t stretch out very much with wear, which is good.  Since they’re meant to be worn to exercise or yoga, they don’t have pockets, and fit well to the body. (I have “thick/muscular” legs, so these pants fit much more snuggly on my legs than they would someone who has slimmer legs)

I wore them to Pure Barre immediately after I got them, and while I was comfortable, I didn’t like them for class – I prefer my pants to be very TIGHT and compressive, which these aren’t.  If you don’t like that, and are looking for a pair of pants for yoga/pilates/etc. that are generally slim-fitting, but not restrictive, these are truly wonderful.  Honestly, I’ve worn them every day for the last week, at home, and out, and they’re my new favorite loung-y pants; they don’t stretch too much, and I love the higher waist and cuffed hem.

The tank top is also amazing (I’m wearing it right now, after Pure Barre) – PERFECT for working out if you tend to get hot but want more bra coverage in the front.  The top does stretch a bit during practice and become a little more loose around my hips, but not so much it looks messy.  And I just LOVE the back with a cute bra (or not so cute bra…I’m wearing a basic black sports bra right now) and it’s so comfortable to work out in.  The neckline is nice and again, I love that you get completely full coverage in the front, and just a little peek of skin in the back.  If you get the right size, it should also stay put around the hem when you do any upside down poses, and won’t fly up to show your stomach.

Finally, the terry pullover is such a great piece for to-and-from exercise, or anything, really.  What makes it really nice for after a sweaty workout is that it feels like your favorite soft towel and wicks away moisture immediately. Honestly, I like it best with the cowl neck open, but if it’s cooler or you want more coverage, you can button the front up a bit to close it.  As you can tell on me, the medium is not loose at all, and not long enough to cover my ass, so size up if you prefer that.  I’ve worn this multiple times as a coverup to class and gotten quite a few compliments on it – it’s a beautiful piece, and so easy to wear with anything.

I’ve washed the pants and tank top in cold water, and hung to dry and they turn out beautifully.  I haven’t washed the pullover yet since it doesn’t need it, but I will do the same with it.

I’m so honored to have been able to try Simulacra for you, and I hope you pop over to her shop and see the rest of the pieces she has available.  Of course, I appreciate that everything is sustainably made, hard to find for athletic wear, but it’s also CUTE.  AND, great if you prefer more coverage for workout wear, and something a little different than tight leggings, or the same stuff everyone else wears.  win/win/win!!

What do you think? What do you wear to workout in? Do you prefer tight? or loose?

More about Simulacra:

Simulacra are representations of a thing, or representations of representations, lost from the original idea. Perhaps in this space of artifice lies truth that can either resonate with the original or completely disavow from it to create something new.

We wanted to be honest that everything in the present is shaped by the past and continues to shape the future, paying homage to the influence of time. A proud humility.

Our brand sources environmentally sustainable materials produced in Montreal, using organic cotton, bamboo viscose, and recycled polyester. The cotton is grown and spun in India, GOTS certified. The bamboo is grown and processed in a closed-loop system from China. The polyester is recycled from USA. They are also incredibly luxurious, comfortable, and beautiful materials. Our clothes are manufactured in NYC’s very own Garment Center. We have developed a relationship with a 3-person team of patternmaker, samplemaker, and sewing contractor, who could not be more dedicated and talented.