Athleta comes to Southern CA!

Athleta which is linked with GAP, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Piperlime just opened a store in Fashion Island which is located in Newport Beach, CA!  They had their store grand opening event last night (8/30/11) from 6pm until 8pm.  For those who wanted a yoga lesson they had a RSVP yoga session from 6pm – 6:45pm, and for the rest of us we could shop from 6pm - 8pm. 

I was greeted at the door with hellos and invited to browse the store.  It’s a beautiful space dedicated to women’s athletic wear.  I browsed the store and just enjoyed seeing the bright colors, and like how the athletic wear can also be worn as casual or everyday wear.  All the associates were helpful, friendly, and wearing Athleta clothing.  I ended up buying two tanks that the store associates were wearing, talk about inspiring purchases!  When they didn’t have my pant size in the color I wanted they told me that I could order the pants online and get free shipping.  Well they waived next day air shipping even though I didn’t need it that fast.  Woo hoo, go customer service!

The event was packed, and I waited for a dressing room twice for quite awhile.  No worries though since this allowed me to chat with other friendly and athletic women.  The event was catered so wine, champagne, and hors d'oeuvres were served throughout the evening. 

I already have some Athleta wear in the way of bathing suits and cycling jerseys that I bought online.  I love their quality, how their clothes have UPF, and I know I’ll continue going to their store now that it’s close by.  The only bummer was that they aren’t quite ready to use a Banana, GAP, Old Navy card unless it’s attached to a Master Card.  So you can’t get points that way, and you can’t redeem your reward points there yet.  They said they’re working on it and I know these things can take a little bit so I understand.  You can still use your reward points online and you can also use your credit card online to rack up points.  Some of the items can get pricey but you can feel the quality of fabrics they use, and they do have a sale section online.  One added plus for us tall women is that they have a lot of clothing in tall sizes!  Yes!  Thank you Athleta for putting a store in Southern CA. 

Here are my fabulous buys: 

Space dye stripe tinker tank in garnet
Energy tank in popsicle

Kickbooty pants in black - tall!

Why Fashlete?

Fashlete is just how it reads, the merging of fashionista with athlete.  Tired of being put in a box, I wanted to write a blog from the point of view of being a woman who is both and everything in between.  Just a few months ago a co-worker found out that I had taken a furniture making class about a year ago.  He said, “Why did you take it? I can’t really see why, you’re a girly girl.”  Wow, and then I told him how I had taken woodshop classes in junior high and loved it then.  That’s always made me want to get back into the shop and work on something else.  By the way, I made an awesome bench out of the most beautiful piece of African Mahogany wood.  To prove my point even further that I wasn't solely this girly girl that he had pictured in his mind based on how I carried myself and how I dressed, I told him that last summer I had taken some surfing lessons to try to master the art of trying to keep upright on a moving and crashing wave.  I didn’t do so well, but I learned a lot and I did manage to stand up in the rough Huntington Beach surf. 

On the flip side six years ago I remember wearing exercise gear and I was asked if I worked out a lot and that I must be in the gym everyday.  At that time I hardly ever worked out and I laughed at the thought of working out at the gym everyday.  Fast forward to about two and a half years after that question was posed to me, and I don’t think I can picture my life without exercise. 

Clothing definitely does define how we are perceived, and the snap judgments people make about us.  You can forget the thought that people don’t judge you by the way you dress because they do.  So this blog is about defying the perceived and showing that the whole of a person encompasses a lot more than what we look like on the outside. Welcome to Fashlete!