I'm a Former Lululemon Employee, and These Are the 11 Best-selling Items Shoppers Never Return—From $18

Travel + Leisure

5 hours ago

Before I found my calling as a travel writer, I had another career I loved so much that I used to show up to work early and leave late— on purpose . My job title was store educator, and my office was the Lululemon store in East Hampton, N.Y. I had the privilege of teaching shoppers about Lululemon's groundbreaking—and that word isn't a stretch (pun intended)—fabric technology, fueling the athleisure movement. We're talking game-changing fits and features that warranted an unheard-of price point. Back in the early aughts, paying $98 for a pair of leggings, even in the Hamptons, seemed ludicrous.
Still, I don't recall many people leaving the store without buying something. And even fewer people came in to make returns. I've never worked in retail again, and I don't think I could because, in a way, Lululemon ruined me. That said, it still makes up at least 60 percent of my travel wardrobe, and that's without the generous employee discount I used to enjoy. So, which items are worth investing in? Here are 11 best-selling Lululemon items, or updated versions, that were never returned, including leggings, jackets, shorts, and even dresses, starting at just $18.
I remember so many Wunder Under tights flying off the shelves that we joked they had wings. Even Taylor Swift has been photographed wearing them! Since debuting around 2008, Wunder Under tights have come in various iterations, but I love this current style because it has deep drop-in pockets on the sides that are big enough to fit my phone and passport.
Although they're technically designed for training, I wear them as travel pants. Shoppers who work out in them say they love how they don't show sweat. Perhaps that's because it dries super fast thanks to the Everlux fabric's moisture-wicking properties.
When I travel to warmer climates, I reach for the Wunder Train High-rise Short. Like their pant counterparts, they're extremely breathable. In Lululemon's own words, they 'perform in high heat.' These shorts don't have deep side pockets, but I appreciate the stash pocket in the waistband, which is big enough to fit a credit card or hotel room key.
Choose from four-inch and six-inch inseams, and regardless of length, expect them to feel like a second skin. One shopper, who trained for a marathon in them, wrote that they 'loved the hugged-in feeling,' and despite running in them for years, the fabric integrity has held up nicely.
Back in my day, Lululemon's reversible, strapless 'Beat the Heat' dress was all the rage. Until they resurrect it, I recommend the Align Dress, which I currently own in black. Between the built-in shelf bra and shorts with pockets, it's a seriously elevated dress you can wear while working out or wine tasting. Plus, it's made of Nulu, so it's softer and looks sleeker. 'It flatters every curve and moves effortlessly, whether heading out for a casual day or dressing it up for a night out,' reads one five-star review titled 'Perfect for traveling.'
Lululemon's best-selling Define Jacket is made of its first signature fabric, Luon. When it launched in the early 2000s, this game-changing blend of nylon and Lycra was embraced by yogis tired of thin fabrics that were too sheer and ripped after a few months of wear and tear.
Today's Define Jacket looks similar to the O.G., although it no longer comes in Herringbone (RIP). It has over 7,600 five-star ratings, and shoppers love how easy it is to dress up or down. One shopper, who says they've bought it 'on repeat' in many colors for decades, says it's perfect for spring, summer, and fall when all you need is a light jacket.
I won't say what year I was born, but I'm old enough to remember the reversible Groove Flared Pant with a black waistband on one side and a colored waistband on the other. They were a huge hit with shoppers, particularly those who loved getting two looks for the price of one.
Today's Groove Flared Pant may not be reversible, but I don't mind. That's because it's made with the newer and improved Nulu fabric. Lululemon describes Nulu as 'buttery soft,' but I love that one satisfied shopper refers to it as 'barely-there soft.' Plus, it boasts a wider foldover waist that I find to be more flattering, especially if I'm wearing a crop top or shorter tank like my new Glow Up Tank Top.
The Groove shorts were also hard to keep in stock. While it's no longer made, the Align High-rise Short is the ideal substitute. It's basically the Groove, but it's made with Nulu fabric and is available in more inseam options, from two to eight inches. I have them in six-inch and they're so comfortable, I sometimes wear them under dresses even if I can get away with wearing underwear instead.
I appreciate that the wide waistband, despite having a secret stash pocket, doesn't dig into my stomach when I sit down. The Align High-rise Short has more than 1,700 five-star ratings, with one shopper, who has purchased many pairs over the years, calling them their 'go-to' for every activity from gardening to rollerblading.
When I worked at Lululemon, my uniform was a pair of leggings or a skirt paired with the Power Y Tank, which shoppers loved because it was such a versatile layer. Today, its closest cousin is the Ebb to Street Tank Top, another best-seller that dropped a few years later.
Like the Power Y, this tank features a slim fit, narrow racerback, and built-in B/C cup bra with removable pads. Unlike the Power Y, it has a slightly ribbed texture, a longer length, and a touch more Lycra—three enhancements shoppers seem to appreciate. The Ebb to Street Tank Top has more than 2,000 five-star ratings, where many fans beg the brand not to change a thing.
I used to have a love-hate relationship with the Scuba Full-zip Hoodie. I loved telling shoppers about its fun features, including a zipper pull that can be used as a hair tie, thumbholes, Cuffins to keep sleeves in place, and an oversized structured hood. But I hated folding them.
Fortunately, because most shoppers who tried one on wore it out of the store, we didn't do a lot of refolding. Today's hip-length Scuba Full-zip Hoodie is longer than the O.G., but judging by its 4,700 five-star ratings, it's just as beloved. One shopper, who has the latest model, wrote that they love the new fit, although they admit they still wear their old Scuba, which has to be 10 to 15 years old and 'still looks amazing.'
The Speed short was the predecessor to today's Speed Up Short. I finally retired my first pair of faded Speeds (they were 15 years old) last year. I remember them being such a hot item that when we'd get new inventory in, my coworkers and I would set aside a pair or two in our size because we worried they'd sell out by the time our shift was over.
The latest Speed Up High-rise Lined Short, a trending item online, has an upgraded zipper on its back pocket, an updated high-rise fit, and slightly more flattering seams. One shopper, who reckons they've owned every version of this short since 2008, sums them up as a 'staple for summer.'
I used to have cotton sports bras until 2009, when I used my Lululemon employee discount on the Flow Y Bra. Yes, it had a prime position on our bra rack, but that's only because it was so popular. It's been a Lululemon mainstay since the early 2000s, and I remember celebrating like it was Christmas when the Flow Y Bra IV with the partially mesh back came out. It was so breathable!
Today's Flow Y Bra is more like the original in cut, but it's made with a newer (and softer) fabric: Nulu. If I have to wear a bra, I don't want to be reminded. Pro tip: Size up. I'm a size 4, but when it comes to Lululemon bras, a size 6 fits much better.
When I worked at Lululemon, headbands used to sell like hotcakes, and not just because they occupied prime real estate on the floor. In fact, most shoppers knew they'd love their new headbands so much, they didn't even want the receipt—it went straight in the trash, and the headband went straight on their head.
While this License to Train Wide Headband is more performance-oriented than the Slipless Headbands we carried, I love it because it comes in more neutral colors that appeal to men, too. Still relatively new, it only has about 131 five-star ratings total. But from those, it already has an impressive 4.7-star average rating.
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