You may have seen ads for Kate Hudson’s activewear company Fabletics, founded in July 2013, promoting two pairs of leggings for $24 to new members. Or seen photos of girls on Instagram in their #myfabletics outfits most likely consisting of form-fitting Lycra in bold colors and patterns.

I’ve been a Fabletics subscriber since 2016, so I’ve seen multiple waves of activewear fashion trends pass through its inventory, from crazy-patterned yoga tights to the bike shorts that look weird when you first try them, but then you wear them on your long run and fall in love. (Plus, pockets.)

Even though I’ve been a member for almost three years, I don’t order Fabletics gear all that often. I’ll explain how that’s possible and why I choose to do that below.

My Fabletics review rates the clothes out of five stars in the following categories: quality, price, functionality, and style.

One more aside before I jump into this review: just in case anyone needs a reminder, workout clothes don’t actually matter. Dress cute and stylish if it helps motivate you. I’m not putting this choice down. But, wearing an old t-shirt and cheap leggings will work just as well (sometimes better, depending on the brand).

Honestly, I wear cotton t-shirts and old shorts for my workouts as often (or more) as I wear stylish athletic gear. I cut my brothers’ old t-shirts into tank crops; I wear leggings I’ve owned since 2008. Don’t feel pressured to dress a certain way to exercise. Wear whatever makes you happy and most comfortable.

Okay, now that that’s clear, let’s chat about Fabletics.

How Fabletics Works

You can shop at Fabletics two different ways: as a member or as a non-member. As a member, you will automatically be charged $49.95 a month, which equals one credit. In exchange, you’ll receive access to discounted prices for outfits, individual items, and exclusive member-only items.

For every item you review after purchasing, you’ll receive reward points that you can use towards free items or cash discounts.

Fabletics has several brick-and-mortar locations, but I’ve only ever shopped and purchased items online.

As a member, you have the option to “skip” a month. If you sign into your account and click “Skip This Month” (be sure to click, “Yes, I’m Sure I Want to Skip” on the next page too), you will not be charged the $49.95 that month.

So, if you set a reminder every month to skip (this is usually what I do), you could be a Fabletics member indefinitely without paying for additional credits. You can still use previous months’ credits to shop. But if you have zero credits, you won’t receive the discounted member-only price.

I typically only buy new items when I’m in desperate need of something rather than getting something every month.

Every month, Fabletics releases new outfits with their latest styles, which can save you some money. For example, a shorts and tank outfit might be priced for $49.95, whereas buying each piece individually would be $70.

Fabletics sells leggings, joggers/sweats, sports bras, tanks, tees, hoodies, jackets, socks, underwear, bags, shoes, hair accessories, and other workout gear like water bottles.

My Fabletics Review

Quality

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I think this statement is true for nearly all middle price-point fashion brands: the quality varies depending on the item. However, I will say that I’ve only parted ways with one pair of tights out of the six that I’ve ordered.

Fabletics’ leggings have a compressive fit made from a thick Lycra-spandex blend. Not all types are made of sweat-wicking material, however, so read the material information carefully before you make a purchase. If you intend to wear your leggings for running or hot yoga, read more about Fabletics different fabric types before you buy.

On some leggings, the stitching doesn’t hold up, threads come loose, and the fabric loses its luster after several washings. I’ve owned Alo Yoga and Lululemon leggings that are as old or older than my Fabletics leggings and, quite frankly, have held up better on long-term wear. (My old faithful leggings from 2008 are Adidas.)

I’ve found the PURELUXE fabric to work well for runs and other, sweatier, activities. Other fabrics, like the PowerHold, are thicker and don’t wick away sweat as well.

Price

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Based on the quality, style, and fit, Fabletics’ prices are pretty standard and appealing.

Sports bras cost between $30 to $50 depending on the style and supportiveness. Leggings cost between $35 to $60 and tops price between $25 to $60, depending on whether it’s a jacket or tank.

Compared to the other mainstream fashionable activewear brands like Nike, Lululemon, Athleta, Fabletics’ prices are competitive. They carry trendy styles in a range of sizes and support the “athleisure” vibe many consumers today prefer in their activewear style.

Functionality

Since I do a lot of different workout styles and use my activewear for different things, I’ll rate my Fabletics gear by type of movement.

Running: 3 out of 5 stars

Yoga: 4 out of 5 stars

Pilates: 5 out of 5 stars

HIIT: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Spinning: 4 out of 5 stars

Overall: 3.9 stars

I raced a marathon in a pair of Fabletics leggings and they held up great. However, I’ve found that the Seamless fabric style of Fabletics leggings fit weird and ride downward when running fast or far. With HIIT workouts too, I’d find myself constantly tugging at some leggings when doing plyometric movements. For running or plyo, I recommend the PowerHold, UltraCool and PowerLuxe style of leggings.

During hot yoga sessions, Fabletics leggings sometimes felt too hot and compressive. They just don’t wick away sweat as well as some other leggings I own (I prefer the Lululemon High-Rise Align Pant.)

Overall, Fabletics leggings are a hit or miss for me. Some older versions slide down and don’t fit well for any activity besides walking. Some are weirdly tight or loose in the thigh/waist area. And some I would just never order because they look more fashion-forward than functional.

The style I’ve found to be the most consistent is the High-Waisted PowerHold 7/8 (which, unsurprisingly, is Fabletics a best seller).

Style

Rating: 4.5 stars

If you care about wearing something eye-catching to the gym or on your afternoon run, I say go ahead and order yourself some Fabletics. Because new styles are released every month, you’re nearly guaranteed at least a couple trendy pieces to try out when you crave them.

I’m somewhat of a style minimalist, so some of their prints and cut-outs are a bit too much for me, but in general, I can find leggings and tops that are pretty basic.

If you like to dress conservatively for exercise, you’ll have to look harder through Fabletic’s inventory to find pieces you’re comfortable with. Although you can find basic black leggings and simple tops, many items have cut-outs, fit tightly, or are cropped in a way that might make you feel too exposed.

A Word About Sustainability and Labor Practices

Fabletics, by releasing a new flock of on-trend styles every month, can be classified as “fast fashion.” Although the quality is such that many pieces can withhold years of use, the fashion-forward nature of many pieces means you may get sick of it in a few months.

Because buying new clothes to only wear for a month or two is not environmentally sustainable, think carefully before you buy, especially for items that are less desirable second-hand, like sports bras, tanks, and leggings.

As for labor practices, Fabletics states on their website, “While our products are designed right here in Los Angeles, our materials are sourced from all over the world, and most of our factories are located in Asia.”

They give no information on the working conditions of their Asian manufacturing partners or if they adhere to Fair Labor Association practices. That’s not to say they aren’t employing reasonable wages and humane working conditions. It’s just to say we don’t know.

Food for thought.

Bottom Line

If you’re a hard-core runner or triathlete, I think you’d be wiser to spend your money elsewhere than Fabletics gear. And if you care about using your dollars to support companies promoting sustainable environmental and labor practices, it’s probably not the activewear company for you.

But if you like to dress cute at the gym and enjoy refreshing your athletic gear every couple of months, you might like it. The quality and functionality are solid, and you’ll find a wide array of options to try new styles out.