What It Is: A line of stylish women’s and men’s fitness clothes, appropriate for exercise or errands. Includes tanks, bra-tops, pants, capris, leggings, pullovers and jackets.
What You Might Not Know: Vimmia is brought to you by the same Los Angeles-based folks who created the Bordeaux label sold at Anthropologie (one of my favorite shopping haunts).
Feelin’ the Love: When the package of Vimmia goodies arrived in the mail for me to test drive, it was like Christmas morning. Everything I pulled out of the box was love at first sight. And style is the operative word when it comes to Vimmia. Yes, they offer the same functional pieces that any women’s activewear brand produces—bra-tops, tanks, leggings—but each item rocks a style detail that makes these fitness clothes stand out.
For example, lace on fitness clothes? Yes. And it works. Like the Zip Pullover with its front and side lace panels. When I wore my black Bliss Capris with lace detail at the knee to teach a fitness class, one woman at the gym jokingly referred to them as having a hint of “naughty instructor.” Oh my.
The lace isn’t the flimsy, scratchy kind that you’d never want to sweat in (or wear, for that matter). It’s soft, durable and slightly stretchy “sport lace” (sport lace, who knew?). Vimmia activewear has lots of these unexpected feminine details. Another: mini-ruffles on their incredibly soft tanks and tops. Pretty, fashion-forward features aside, I can verify that this gear holds up to whatever workout you put it through from Hatha to HIIT.
Vimmia pants/capris come in solids and also bold, eye-pleasing patterns. When I first laid eyes on my Blue Crush pants, I worried that the pattern might be too 1980’s-abstract. Meaning: As a Gen Xer, I did that decade already. But they feel so good on—super comfortable to work out in or just walk around in—and they’re a welcome contrast to all the solid dark bottoms in my workout wardrobe.
Vimmia sent me three pairs of bottoms to try and all three passed what I think is perhaps the most important test in women’s fitness capris and leggings: They are not see-through in the back when you bend over or squat.
If I’m going to pay 100 bucks or more for fitness pants (yes, like many fitness fashion brands, Vimmia prices are steep), they better not be sheer. At all.
If I Could Change One Thing: Some of the items I tried would easily fit a woman who is quite a bit taller than me (5’5″). I have to tuck under 4-5 inches of cuff at my ankles with the leggings. Good option if you’re tall!
For future designs, I’d love to see those teeny-tiny hidden pockets in tops and bottoms for stashing a key, 20 dollar bill or bobby pin.
Should You Buy It? Yes, if you like to work out in something stylish and a little different from the usual. Just be prepared to drop some cash. (For example, $90+ USD for tanks; upwards of $100 USD for capris/leggings.)
About sizing, they sent me items in both XS and Small. I’m almost always an XS at Anthropologie (see above), but size Small fit me slightly better in most Vimmia tops and bottoms; available at Vimmia.com and Carbon38 (but, surprisingly, not at Anthro).
