When Lululemon decided to team up with a collaborator for its first-ever capsule collection, the activewear giant opted to go buzzy instead of big. It tapped boutique-fitness sensation Taryn Toomey to create a 13-piece, limited-edition line of workout clothing and accessories that launches later today online and in select stores.
While she might not be a household name—yet—The Class creator turned out to be exactly what the major retailer was looking for in a partner, according to its creative director, Lee Holman. “Taryn has a unique viewpoint about our products, especially our seamless pieces," he says. “She wanted something very fluid, soft to the touch."
The result? Airy, unabashedly pretty pieces like leggings, tanks, and a bodysuit, priced from $48–$108. Items come in chic neutrals (white and beige), plus pale greens and grays, which were inspired by crystals—just like Toomey's studio in New York City.
"Taryn has a unique viewpoint about our products, especially our seamless pieces. She wanted something very fluid, soft to the touch."
To Toomey, the partnership felt like a no-brainer. "It just made sense because I wore Lululemon—it’s literally the only pant I wear. The way they think and speak about mindfulness, movement, consciousness, and community is all in line with what I do."
And she knew exactly what sort of dreamy activewear she wanted to design for them. "[I] had a very clear vision [for clothes with] an ethereal, non-constricted feeling, so you feel held but free, which is really what The Class is about." (Her signature workout's known for being equal parts sweaty HIIT and cathartic therapy session.)
Toomey had a hand in the design process from start to finish, ensuring each item didn't just fit well—it functioned, too. "You don’t want feedback from your clothing, like leggings digging into your sides; they should feel like a second skin,” Toomey says. Her collection's bottoms can be high-waisted or rolled down—and her gauzy tops had to pass similar fitness tests. "I hate wearing bras or feeling bound up by straps, so everything on top feels loose, kind on the body," she explains.
To achieve this balance, Lululemon's design team sourced materials, like fine-gauge Italian knit, which wound up being so dreamy the brand plans to introduce them to its main line, too. (“The knit is quick-drying, and feels like a performance cashmere,” Holman says.)
Aside from crystals, most of the inspo for the collection was culled straight from Toomey’s closet. There's a redux of her absolute favorite—and discontinued—In The Flow leggings. Plus, a meditation cape she can't get enough of. “I always wear a cape or wrap around my upper body before or after The Class," she says. "Placing something on your body every time you meditate gives you a reminder that it’s time; that you’re about to step into stillness." Or in Toomey's case, the spotlight.
Scroll down to see the chicest looks from the Lululemon x The Class by Taryn Toomey capsule collection.
Now that you've heard her fashion tips, check out Toomey's brilliant beauty hack for perfecting the no-makeup, makeup look. Plus, see the super-chic, Jennifer Aniston-approved crystal necklace she designed.
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