This is an interesting way to buy new workout clothes but it's a market that has emerged in the past couple years, along with the monthly surprise boxes offered by many companies now. Similar to JustFab, members complete a survey to determine their taste and style. There are two different types of memberships offered by Fabletics- the Retail membership and the VIP membership. The Retail option works the same as any other shopping website- pick out what you like, purchase and done. There is no obligation for more and when you're ready to purchase again, sign in and pick out your clothing. The VIP membership is what most people like and go for, since there is often a discount on the clothing. Your first outfit is usually 50% off (starting at $25) and includes at least both a top and a bottom. There are many combinations of shirts, jackets, bras, shorts, capris and more that Fabletics puts together on the website. VIP memberships also always get discounts on all clothing options (Retail option does not). Even if you don't select an outfit that month you can choose to "skip this month" to not get charged but if you forget to skip, your credit card on file will be charged $49.99 for the month. The $49.99 credit will stay on your account until you decide to use it. I've heard and read many complaints about this feature but in most cases it seems people didn't read the fine print. It is one of those things you need to stay on top of but could benefit you if you need new clothing or go through a ton of it like I do!
The pros:
- Quick shipping
- Cheap price: everything was reasonably priced, even at full price. I could see some other discount work out clothing companies being at comparable price points, but for the quality I would go with Fabletics
- Cute patterns
- Quality: the quality of the pants are outstanding. They remind me of older Lululemon pants for the thickness and almost-compression feel of them.
- New outfits the 1st of every month
The cons:
- NOT made in North America If you're a stickler for things being made here at home- this is not the brand for you
- Availability of outfits- because people know when things are coming out- they can go quick!
- If you sign up for the VIP membership and forget to "skip this month", you will get charged.
-You must CALL to cancel your account, you cannot do this online unfortunately
- Pants and shirts made from different materials
- Missed out on some funky print the US has gotten, not sure if Canada will always get the same prints and designs as the US
I've worn the pants three or four times now. The material made me feel like I was tucked in and not showing anything, but still felt pretty cute and stylish too. I used them for a variety of workouts including running, yoga and some weightlifting and it held up through every activity! I found the pants might be a touch too thick for something like hot yoga but truth be told, I like my leggings to be a bit thick since I feel like I'm getting a better quality product. I've washed everything several times, according to the directions and no piling yet! I like that the pants also include a hidden pocket in the waistband where I can stick a key or a small music player if I'm running.
My biggest disappointment was with the shirt. It was a completely different fabric from the leggings and the colours were a close enough match but up close, you could tell they were different material. The shirt was made out of a much more light weight material than the pants but it also felt cheaper. It still held up great during my workouts and I wouldn't want to return any of it, just disappointing. I wasn't thrilled with the headband either because it's a touch too big for my head but I did appreciate that it is designed to have the Fabletics logo off to one side vs having it stuck on the middle of your forehead. The pricing can also be deceiving, not all outfits are $49.99 and many that have sweaters (instead of just a tank or shirt) can be upwards of $79.99 for the outfit. These are still usually better deals than what you might find in store but can be irritating if you only want the pants or shirt. All items can also be bought separately with price points anywhere from $20-35 for tops and $30-40 for pants.
Living in Canada, the biggest issue can often be shipping (which many times has ended up being almost as much as the product!) but Fabletics offers a flat shipping rate in Canada for $4.95. I'll take it.
Since I signed up using my work email (oops) and it's not possible to change just the email, I called to cancel my account. I had also read many complaints saying they had a difficult time cancelling the account, but I found it to not be a big deal. The gentleman I spoke with was polite and asked why I wanted to cancel, if I wanted to just switch from being VIP to Retail instead of cancelling the account. I stuck to my guns and asked for it to be cancelled and he was polite and cancelled it right away (he finished the call by telling me to "stay fab" which kind of made my day). Almost immediately, I noticed my online account read "cancelled" so I'm hoping for no mystery charge from Fabletics next month.
Overall, I give this company a thumbs up. If you're looking to build up your fitness clothing closet, this would be a great way to do it, without breaking the bank. I'll probably purchase again in the near future- lots of cute things just came out for November.
P.S. I realize this says "Tuesday" but due to technical difficulties I couldn't post until today. Cheers!
- xo N.
