lululemon sizing update + my body image journey
On fit reviews, Lululemon’s inclusivity journey, and being a brand ambassador
When I started lemonLOVES, I had a vision of sharing what I love most about lululemon (the people, the growth work, and of course, the clothes!) with the world. I planned to do a lot of FIT reviews because I know there are a lot of barriers to finding the perfect fit, style, and material to fuel your sweaty endeavors.
I know how intimidating it can be to walk in to the store, see all the fit, smiley, luon-clad employees, and suddenly be listening to a different language that doesn’t have a dictionary (maybe I’ll work on one).
lululemon, in the past, has had a reputation for being judgmental, elitist, and exclusionary. They are on a path to change for the better, and I hope that as an ambassador I can help YOU to feel accepted, included, and valued just as you are.
We strive to be about the people—not the pants.
This week, lululemon launched their additional sizing online
In light of this update, I decided to go off-book from my regular FIT review and have a heart-to-heart chat with you about my journey with lululemon, body image, and body neutrality.
I am by no means an expert (I highly recommend Dr Morgan Francis for these topics); I am simply sharing my experiences in hopes that you find support, empathy, and understanding for your self and others in our often complicated relationships with our bodies.
A message from Audrey Milligan Reilly, the Svp Of women’s design at lululemon
I linked a short video interview with Audrey Milligan Reilly, the SVP of women’s design at lululemon. I think Ms. Reilly brilliantly captured the commitment and vision for the future of the women’s line. Please give it a watch.
in my relationship with lululemon, I’ve worn every size from a 2 through 14.
I’ve had a complicated relationship with my body for my whole life. I grew up in a home with disordered eating as the norm. At 11, already in the midst of puberty, I realized that one day my breasts were larger than any adult woman I knew. Growing up in a conservative home, I felt shame about my size 32D bra. No one I knew looked like me.
I judged my body every time I passed a mirror. I exercised to punish my body, and starved it to keep it tiny. I ended up working in the fitness industry at 19, and continued unhealthy habits with my body image.
When I found lululemon, my body was a size 2 or 4. I rewarded myself for meeting goals with a pair of yoga pants to make me look skinny yet curvy.
I met a guy who encouraged me to eat more balanced meals to nurture my body. I struggled with accepting my changing body, especially as I started to size up to a 6 in my favorite leggings.
At the time of my brain injury two years ago, I was a size 6 or 8. Due to my medical issues, my body started to change quickly. I had my ambassador photo shoot, feeling shame over how my body felt in its larger frame. How could I have my photo up on the wall at my lululemon store when my body was so big? As an ambassador, shouldn’t I be a size 4 rather than a 10? After all, every ambassador photo I had ever seen, every model lululemon hired, was a size 2, 4, or maybe a 6.
I thought back to when I first found lululemon. Back in 2008, size 10 was the largest size available. By the end of 2018, size 12 was available in store. I thought of the women I had trained over the years who would ask where I got my leggings, and then their faces would fall. I remember one woman whispered to me, red-faced, that lululemon didn’t make clothes for people like her. I remember thinking, at age 24, well just MAKE your body fit into their clothes.
Years later, I felt panic over potentially not being able to shop at my favorite store. Feeling triggered by these changes outside of my control, I started working with Dr Morgan Francis on body image.
Through my work with Dr Francis, I learned something that changed my life.
The problem was never my body.
Diet culture is the problem. The fitness industry is the problem. The brands that rely on exclusivity and an “ideal body” are the problem.
lululemon was part of the problem.
I made a promise to myself that I would do whatever I needed to do in order to help my body and brain heal from my injuries.
I wrote myself a permission slip. On it, I included giving myself permission to purchase clothes that felt good on my body. I gave myself permission to buy whatever size felt the best, and to tear off the tags so that the size didn’t taunt me. I made the commitment to myself to move my body in ways that felt good rather than forcing my body to exercise relentlessly to make it smaller again. I gave myself permission to not shop at lululemon if the clothes didn’t feel good on my body—and if the clothes didn’t fit my body. I gave myself permission to step away conversations, relationships, and media that triggered my body shame and blame.
You might be reading this and not understand why this was a big deal to me. If you don’t understand, that’s okay. Thank you for reading. However, my guess is that 99% of women will read this and recognize some small part of herself in what I’ve written.
How about 2020
While I continue to work daily on my body image, I put my focus into people who are doing this work, too. I started lemonLOVES blog because I wanted to give women an unfiltered, unedited take on what wearing lululemon in a size 10-14 body is like.
I was thrilled to hear earlier this summer that lululemon has been in this work with me. For the past two years, lululemon has been developing their key styles for size 0-20. lululemon released six styles in this size range yesterday. I’m linking these styles below.
Disclaimer: If you choose to purchase through these links, you are supporting the upkeep of this blog, as I make a small commission as part of the lululemon collective. Thank you for your support!
Define Jacket (a staple in my wardrobe! It’s great for layering pre or post workout, travel, and everything in between). Read my review HERE.
Align Tight (I’ve reviewed the Align tight in a previous blog post HERE)
Run Fast and Free Tight (catch up on this review HERE; it’s a soft run tight WITH LOTS OF POCKETS)
Long Distance Short Sleeve Tee (this is a new style for me. I will have to try it and get back to you!)
Wunder Train Tight (I’ve reviewed the Wunder Train tight in a previous blog post HERE)
Ready to Rulu Pant (softest sweat pants I own. Even better? They don’t look like sweatpants!)
This is just the beginning
What’s most important to me to share about this update is simple:
lululemon acknowledges that they are slow to make these changes. They acknowledge that they are late to the game with these offerings, and that it will take time to offer all styles in inclusive sizing. They are committed to inclusivity, diversity, equity and action.
As Dr Maya Angelou said, “When you know better, you do better.” I am grateful that lululemon is committed to doing better to make this brand I love a safe and welcoming partner to all.
Me, at the unveiling of my lululemon ambassador photo in December 2019.
I’d love to hear how we can make your experience at lululemon better.
Drop me a comment, a DM, or let me know your thoughts. Thanks for being here.
