My Experience as a Fabletics VIP Member: A Candid Review
As an avid runner and yoga enthusiast, I live in activewear. After hearing rave reviews, I joined Fabletics over a year ago to see if their affordable-yet-stylish athletic apparel could stand up to my 5 workouts a week.
Spoiler alert: I‘ve since purchased two dozen items as a happy VIP member. But it wasn‘t all sunshine and rainbows…
Below I‘ll share an honest review detailing my experiences with sizing, quality, brand perks and more. Because athletic wear needs to perform when you perform.
Fabletics Review: Key Takeaways
The Good
- Activewear comparable with Lulu/Athleta at 50-75% off
- Leggings pass both the squat & sweat test for me
- Tops cute enough to motivate getting active
- VIP discounts take prices from "reasonable" to "steal"
- Perks like reward points & free shipping
The Not-So-Good
- Sneaky VIP enrollment catches some by surprise
- Rigid return timeframe at just 30 days
- Stock seems to run low on popular sizes
- Inflated retail pricing exaggerates discounts
The Bottom Line
With reasonable expectations on membership terms, Fabletics delivers outstanding affordability and style with smart athletic apparel. Just know it‘s designed for an active lifestyle vs lounging.
Now onto my experience across multiple orders this past year…
Trying Fabletics For the First Time
After my third baby in 4 years, I needed to refresh my fitness wardrobe. But with more hate than love for mid-workout wedgies, I only buy leggings proven squat-proof.
Enter Fabletics. I‘d heard rave reviews from real customers on the fit, quality and performance at almost unbelievable prices. With their new member promotion taking already well-priced leggings down to $25, I had to give them a try.
What I First Ordered:
Oasis Capri
With baby #3 also came 35 extra pounds. Knowing I‘d be big on yoga to strengthen my core again, I loved that these capris uniquely slimmed via tummy control. I‘m all about ab sculpting illusion! The fast-drying, ultra lightweight fabric felt like a breath of fresh air.
They arrived as a thicker performance material than expected. But the comfortable mid-rise fit proved perfect for eagle poses to down dogs in 80° heat. Thesmoothing waistband stayed firmly in place when others would slip down. And not one inch of sheerness when bending which earns major points!
2 High Waisted Powerhold Legging
I grabbed black, and then couldn‘t resist the wine-colored Burgundy Bliss, too. With compression leggings a workout staple for me, all signs pointed to these holding up.
Made from a nylon-infused Powerhold material, these Fabletics leggings felt sturdy yet flexible right out of the package. I loved convenience of the hidden waistband pocket, securing my gym key fob and ID.
During interval training, not an inch budged out of place as I bounded between stair stepper sets to the weight rack. The fabric wicked sweat impressively fast instead of soaking through. And the gentle tummy compression kept me confident when getting low for lunges.
Most importantly, during overhead squats, my underwear line stayed completely invisible beneath the opaque fabric. I even had my training partner check the back view – completely squat-proof!
Final Cost as New VIP Member:
- Oasis Capri: $24.95
- Powerhold Leggings: $49.90 ($24.95 each)
- Shipping: FREE
- Total Spent: $74.85
Becoming a Fabletics VIP Member
As a bargain hunter at heart, I was thrilled at scoring $125 worth of stellar workout gear for under $75 even without the new member deal.
After confirming the complete opacity during squats and comfort lasting through hot yoga and a tempo run, I checked back a week later. More items caught my eye like sports bras and tanks.
But the prices now appeared higher on my favorites. I then realized that my new member status had expired. Well played, Fabletics…well played.
Because as a comparison, here were the same exact items now costing roughly 30-60% more:
||VIP Member Price|Non-Member Price|
|-|:-|:-|
|Oasis High Waist Capri|$24.95 |$49.95|
|Powerhold High Waisted Legging |$49.90 |$84 ea|
And more items I saw only available for VIP members.
After a mental coin flip, I decided activewear already stealing my heart for functionality and style was worth $50 a month. And knowing I could skip any month made me feel in control.
Perks I‘ve Used
Earn Reward Points
Fabletics rewards VIP loyalty. You earn points with purchases redeemable for free gear. I‘ve scored a few strappy sports bras via rewards already.
VIP Product Access
New arrivals available early for members, plus member-exclusive styles. Makes me feel kinda VIP just seeing that little crown icon.
Free Returns
Usually I‘m meticulous with sizing. But owning over 20 Fabletics pieces now, I‘ve returned a couple tops sent in the wrong color or that weren‘t flattering once on. No hassle sending back via free shipping.
Skip Any Month
When I simply can‘t rationalize another pair of leggings (but oh how I try sometimes), skipping the month only takes seconds online. And no case of shopper‘s remorse or surprise charges.
Downside: Easy to Forget
With a couple quick clicks to skip each month, it leaves the door open to forgetting. And I‘ll be honest…after an indulgent week away with wine and sweet treats, coming home to a $50 credit charge surprised me at first.
But warnings do come via email ahead of deadlines. So ultimately the accountability is on me as the member.
Fabletics Quality & Performance
Here‘s the nitty gritty on how Fabletics activewear has held up for me through endless laundry cycles, sweat-drenched interval training to hot yoga stretching:
Consistent Sizing
Once I dialed in my ideal size by reading reviews, the sizing proves consistent across styles. This makes reordering tried-and-true favorites easy.
That said, some tops run small like any brand. I size up in low support bras without much stretch to prevent spillage.
Squat Proof Fabric
I‘ve scored leggings from Gymshark to Lululemon. And I can say Fabletics ranks among the best for utterly opaque, completely squat-proof fabric. They could charge more with this quality.
Soft Yet Durable
No painful scratches from threadbare fabric so far. I expect noticeable pilling or thinning after 30+ wears given the gentle price point. But everything still looks and feels like new a dozen launderings later.
The buttery-soft lining of Fabletics Powerhold leggings feels almost luxurious. While the outside stands tough against typical gym grime like chalk or gear grease.
For context, I train 5 days a week mixing HIIT, boxing and powerlifting. So my clothes endure legit sweat and strain regularly.
Moisture Wicking
In terms of sweat-wicking, Fabletics keeps up with my Under Armour and Nike DriFIT tops. Their bright patterns hide dampness well, too. The lighter Oasis fabric dries fastest when drenched.
I‘ll often hang my Fabletics gear to air dry overnight after washing. But when I need something quickly, the technical fabrics bounce back fast.
True Performance Features
From tummy control waists to thumb holes keeping sleeves perfectly positioned, Fabletics designs for wearing during demanding activity vs just lounging cute.
Take their Powerhold fabric engineered specifically for compression and support. Or bonded seams guaranteeing zero irritation.
Between fabric science and flattering details like contoured waistbands, the performance focus shows.
Trendy Styles
With help from celeb co-founder Kate Hudson, Fabletics churns out Instagram-worthy looks alongside all the technical details. Knowing cute gear helps motivate me to workout, I love their fashion-forward styling just as much as the function.
While the membership model makes scoring stellar activewear deals easy once signed up, some people admittedly feel surprised when learning exactly how it works.
Before joining, know these key points:
You‘re Charged Monthly
- VIP members pay $49.95 per month
- That charge hits the 6th unless you skip the month
- Credited to your account as spending money
You‘re Not Locked In
- Skip months whenever you want without penalty
- Cancel anytime without painful exit terms
The Deals Are Legit
- Retail prices set artificially high to showcase discounts
- But VIP prices compete with quality brands
As long as you know what to expect, the perks prove well worth it for me. Just be sure to skip any month when you realistically won‘t purchase anything. Easy!
While their leggings sold me initially, I‘ve since tried everything from shorts to joggers to tank dresses. Here‘s feedback on some top picks:
Quinn High Impact Sports Bra
Rl nail the color!
The Good
- Cute back strappy detail
- Removable padding
- Sweat-wicking & quick-dry
The Bad
- Runs small, size up
- Thin band digs slightly
Verdict: Super cute for medium sweat sessions but offers lighter support for curvier figures
Karbon Jogger 2.0
My fave lounge pants now!
The Good:
- Soft yet structured
- Flattering fit
- Cute cargo pockets
The Bad:
- Show pet hair/lint
- Loose waistband
Verdict: Crazy comfy alternative to leggings! Perfect for rest days but still cute enough for errands.
Palisades Tank
Adorable athletic top!
The Good:
- Flattering seam details
- Built-in bra ideal for B/C cups
- Luxe-feeling fabric
The Bad:
- Shelf bra lacks adjustability
- Runs very small
Verdict: Super cute for low/medium support needs but size way up from usual
If you love cute activewear at an affordable cost, Fabletics membership offers outstanding value. Just know the details upfront so you make informed choices.
For just $50 monthly as a VIP, I score high quality leggings, bras, tanks and more always 30-50% cheaper than big brands. Even with forgetting to skip once or twice, the cumulative savings make that $50 credit negligible.
Plus I earn free pieces via reward points while having zero commitment thanks to the flexibility of skipping months anytime.
Could customer service resolve issues faster? Sure. Would I love even more dramatic discounts? Obviously 😉 But at these prices, I stay realistic on what corners likely get cut.
Overall my experience as a VIP member stays overwhelmingly positive. Their clothes motivate me to sweat on days I‘d rather snooze. They hold up wash after wash while still feeling buttery soft against my skin.
And they fit my athletic curves perfectly mile after mile. For gear I literally live in between school drop-off to yoga classes, Fabletics fits my lifestyle and budget beautifully.
