Serious runners can race for cash prizes - and those out to have some fun can partake in “theme waves”. If you show up wearing a bridesmaid or wedding dress you can win a trip to the Bahamas. Run in your undies and win beer for a year. Participants sprinting in the nude, wearing superhero costumes, or even with their pet iguana on their shoulder can win prizes.

Basically, this is like a really fast moving gay pride parade. I wonder which event will have more lycra?

The Deets

Date: Friday June 20, 2008, 6:00 p.m.
Place: Alma and West 10th Avenue [map]
Entry cost: $25 - but Chip will match what you donate. All proceeds go to the BC Children’s Hospital.
Official Site: www.chipsnotdeadyet.com

What’s the deal? These tags, with their all important information like the garments size and washing instructions are meant to be torn out. Fair enough, I don’t need a scratchy wrinkled tag nagging at me while I’m on the stair master - but that tag holds some damn pertinent information!

luon fabric is easy to care for, you wash it however you like - avoiding towels and fabric softener. I get it. Bamboo? Vitasea? Silverescent? I don’t know! But if the tag was still attached I might!

Maybe you have a favorite pair of lululemon crops you bought a year ago - you’ve started wearing them so much you need another pair. Wouldn’t it be handy to know what size you bought so you could just quickly run into the store and just grab another? No no. The tag is now ripped out, long gone - so you have no idea whether you bought a 4 or a 6, or gasp, do they really fit that tight? An 8?

I’m just saying - lululemon gets most things right - but I wish they would leave tear out tags to the domain of duvets and teddy bears and find an innovative way to display this information without chafing me - now THAT would improve the world.

The Whisper tank is one of lululemon’s sexiest and most flattering tanks. The fabric flares away from the stomach slightly - keeping you cool and allowing for great range of motion - and the overall cut of the tank is well suited for any and all body types.

The bust area is more supportive than most lululemon tanks, and definitely emphasizes your breasts. In fact, there is no other tank that, ahem, augments, quite to the same extent. If you already have a larger chest you may look ridiculous if you are not careful. I bought the tank in a size too small and my breasts were definitely “on display”. The tank has an almost magical push up effect. Smaller busted ladies rejoice!In summary, this tank is great. The straps are nice and thick, offering more support and coverage. The back is also entirely covered and the high collar creates a very slimming silhouette. If properly fitted this tank can really eliminate the dreaded armpit fat. If worn too small you’ll have rolls there that you never knew about.

The newest version of the Whisper Tank, the Whisper Tank II, has some great added features. The back is now made out of mesh - offering the same coverage and support as before - but now in a much more breathable fashion. No one wants to feel covered in heavy fabric when they are working out.Additionally, the tank is now slightly easier to get on and off. Word of the wise - you may need a friend to help you out of it in the change room if you try and squeeze into one that’s a size too small!

Perhaps the greatest thing about the Whisper tank is its versatility. Many people love the fact that the Whisper tank looks chic and dressy enough to wear out for dinner.

Image courtesy of lululemon.co.jp

Like most people who spend far too much money at lululemon, I have a closet full of their reusable shopping bags. I use them for carrying groceries, school books, gym clothes - pretty much anything I need to sherpa around. But hidden underneath the glossy red and white inspirational messages is a far more controversial set of quotes:

“When we are drunk or stoned, we are massively creative but we forget what we were creative about … There is little difference between addicts and fanatic athletes.”

Half of the entire bag is covered with these controversial messages.

The theme here is exciting, “You only have 30,000 days to live and then you are dead” reads the title. And lululemon is encouraging us, yet again, to get out there and live every minute to the fullest. However, considering that many of the company’s biggest spenders are far too young to fully understand the message - it just comes off as inappropriate.

Some brief or quick-fix incidences when our minds are clear to be creative are….when drunk or stoned…just after an orgasm,” it says.

The message concludes to say that regular aerobic activity provides a longer, more sustainable high. “The athlete’s high is the most long-lasting as it can last up to six hours,” the note continues to say. “There is little difference between addicts and fanatic athletes. Both are continually searching for a way to remain in a creative state.”

Norma Columbus said she was shocked to see the yoga-wear retailer’s original message underneath a printed cover. “It’s just a shock to see something like that on there,” she said. “I guess this must be some kind of a joke?”

A company spokesperson said the message isn’t a joke although it wasn’t meant to be viewed by the public.

from ctv.ca

A lot of media outlets have been taking the sensational approach to this secret message. But the fact of the matter is, this message it was never, ever, meant to be seen.

Clearly it was a bad idea for a publicly held company to even print something so contentious, but out of a commitment to sustainability they choose to cover the message up rather than destroy the bags.

This bra offers far more coverage than its predecessor – and is aptly named. The back is now made of mesh, for extra ventilation in high sweat areas. You’ll also find that on the inside of the bra there are many areas made of soft mesh - this really helps keep the sweat away from your skin.

The Not So Deep V has more support than the regular ol’ Deep V – though it still only offers moderate support. It does fit slightly larger than the before and if not sized properly it can ride up under the armpits.

The elastic around the rib cage is brushed, making it far easier to get on and off than before. Cup pockets are built in, and cups are complimentary with this bra - though if you lose them you can now buy new ones at all stores.

Unfortunately this bra doesn’t have a built in iPod pocket - so you’ll have to wrangle up another method of storing your iPod. I like to double this tank up under my Deep V Tank for extra support, and for the use of its iPod pocket.

Sadly, for those who lived in and loved their Deep V Bras, they are gone for a while - being replaced by the Not So Deep V. Deep V Bras are currently still in some stores, so stock up while you can! Then learn to the love the new style.

Image courtesy of lululemon.com

The strange thing about this shrug is that it has a hood that’s not quite a hood. It looks entirely stupid when up. And if you buy the black version, you’ll be a dead ringer for the grim reaper. I’ve tried putting the hood up to protect from the wind and cold, but it just ends up dropping down and covering my whole face. Weird!

The back of the sweater tapers down, just past the bum. The sleeves are nice and long, and the whole garment fits quite loosely. Overall it’s fairly similar to the ever so popular long Aritizia shrugs by Wilfred. Though the lulu version leaves you feeling more like you’re wearing a hooded muumuu.

I really dig the length and the fit - and on days when I just want to roll out of bed and throw on jeans and a cozy sweater, the lulu Shrug is a good option.

Image courtesy of lululemon.co.jp

lululemon has a history of hilarious April Fools Day jokes, and this year was definitely the best in recent memory:

Newspapers and magazines across the country ran a full page ad featuring a svelte David Belcham (labeled the Men’s Naked Yoga Guru) wearing the newest addition to the lululemon line - the Mansy. Some stores even had actors dressed up in the mansy - modeling the garment, and even doing yoga in it. Mannequins in a few stores’ front window even featured the one-piece - thong and all!

An aptly named onesy for men, the red leotard rides high up on the hips and leaves only a thin strip of undercarriage fabric to hammock the banana in. The model is striking a blissfully suggestive Warrior 1 on Vancouver’s Kitsilano Beach, while presumably mooning swimmers in the water behind him in this only mildly more respectable version of Borat’s famous bathing suit.

blogto

Suffice it to say, the image of the red one piece is permanently burned into my retinas! While lululemon has a history of shock and awe grass roots marketing campaigns (free clothes to those who stand in line naked, Chip Wilson dressed in baby clothing to trivialize any child labor claims, etc) - this one left us with our jaws dropped while keeping good taste in tact.

Image courtesy of Ruth666 on flickr.com

Cut long and lean in the torso, high in the neck, and made from extra silky luon, the Om jacket feels great on. There are thumbholes at the wrist to help you stay warm and to help the jacket stay put when you layer something over top of it. lululemon tops are often cut quite long in the arms, and I find the addition of thumbholes help the sleeves not bunch up when under another layer. The Om jacket also has long, flattering lines down the front that are very slimming.

The OM jacket is a jacket that I cannot live without when traveling. It packs up small, and is very multipurpose. It’s a long, warm, layer - with a high enough neck that I don’t need to pack a scarf. It’s also stylish and dressy enough to wear out without feeling like I’m in wearing an adidas track suit.

Note: The price point is high - the OM jacket retails for $109 CDN.

image courtesy of lululemon.com