Oiselle Hits the Mark!

Oiselle is a brand that gets what women want. According to their website, this company is a “By Women, For Women performance-oriented apparel brand rooted in running” and that’s apparent in every thoughtful stitch and design that Oiselle brings to the public. This has long been one of my favorite companies, with fabrics that you never want to take off and colors that make you stand out in the best possible way.

As always, I was thrilled to receive “Bird Mail,” and what I got was the Open Lane Bra, a pair of Pockito 6” Shorts, some Luxe Sweatpants and the Essential Bird Full Zip. I’m in Heaven.

Looks

The Open Lane Bra is a new bra style in the Oiselle family, and it’s so cute. The detailing of the fan-shaped center strap on the back is adorable and further proves that sports bras don’t have to hide in the shadows anymore. This bra is a fashion statement in it’s own right, while also providing function (but more on that later.) I received this bra in a color described as “Alpenglow” which is a bright cheery coral.

The Pockito Shorts match the Open Lane Bra exactly, in a color design called Alpenglow Monarch. The Luxe Sweatpants arrived in a yellow hue called Saffron. I love the cheery yellow shade, as it will brighten up the darkest of days when you’re reaching in the dark for something to wear.

Lastly, the Essential Bird Full Zip came in a classic black color but is also available in Twilight. This is a very basic classic zip up jacket with a covered zipstop at the top so you don’t have any hardwear to deal with even when you pull it up over your chin. The pockets also have zippers, which is a great plus.

Function & Construction

The Open Lane bra has built in compressive technical fabric so you can run in it without worrying about the security of the girls. Despite the fact that it looks like a minimanistic bra, it’s got the chops to go the distance. This bra also has removable bra cups so if you are like me and hate them, you can get rid of them easily. There’s also a Power Mesh Lining which keeps you cool and a Pyla fabric which offers support when you move.

If your biggest complaint about running clothes is lack of pockets, the Pockito Shorts are SO going be your jam. These shorts have a 360-degree waistband of pockets! The design even has a loop that layers all the way through the shorts, a rear waist zip pocket, and two drop-in side pockets which will all fit your phone.

There’s also an internal drawcord so you can pull them as tight as you like them. If you’ve ever owned a pair of Oiselle’s Pocket Joggers (a fan favorite!) you’ve seen this design before, but now this style has been incorporated into a lightweight pair of running shorts made with compressive Plya fabric that will keep you dry and supported and the high waist will suck everything in nicely.

When you’re looking to kick back and relax in seriously the softest most comfortable sweatpants ever, you’ll want to reach for the Lux Sweatpants. The function of these is simple: kick back. There’s not much more to say, as these should fit the bill for all the relaxing you want to do, but in a more put-together way than that pair of sweatpants you got at Target.

You will notice the difference between everyone else’s sweatpants and Oiselle’s Lux Sweatpants immediately. These are high-waisted with a fathered waistband and cuffs and they are seriously adorable. There is also an external drawcord and side pockets.

The Essential Bird line is compressive but luxurious, which means you can wear it for a run, for kicking back, or for both. I love a good multi-tasker. This is a light layer that would go great over a long-sleeved shirt when there’s a chill to the air in the Fall or Spring. It has a tall collar that will protect your neck in the wind and of course the thumbholes and zippered pockets which are great touches to any jacket.

Fit

The Open Lane Bra came to me in a size 10, which turned out to fit fine, though I probably would have preferred a size 8 for more compression.  This is my fault though, as I’ve lost a bit of weight and probably should have been thinking about how much compression I like. If you like to be strapped down, your true-to-size should be perfect. This bra is meant to be compressive but more like a hug and less like a torture device. It’s also very easy to get in and out of due to the open racerback, so it shouldn’t be a workout to slide off when you are sweaty.

The Pockito shorts also came to me in a size 10. The shorts I received have a 6” inseam, which is about the perfect length for me at 5’-4”. They also are available in a 4” inseam and an 8” inseam, so it’s really just about personal preference and how long your legs are!

I don’t like short shorts thanks to my large thighs, but there is a point where they are too long as well. These hit just perfect, as they are still conservative with plenty of coverage. The Size 10 was also a perfect fit on my large hips. Wear tested have found this style to be snug on the waist and hip area, so if you’re between sizes, you might want to size up.

I ordered the Lux Sweatpants in a size Large and this might have been a bit of a mistake. These are meant to be a “relaxed fit” and the style I’ve been seeing around lately is currently pretty baggy. But on me, these felt really large, like falling off my booty big. I think a medium or even a small would have been more my style, as these will need to be cinched up a lot. They are meant to be stretchy and they for sure are.

The Essential Bird Full Zip came to me in a size 8, which was perfect. I can easily fit another layer underneath, but it’s not too loose either. It’s semi-fitted for a women, which gives it a flattering shape. There’s plenty of room through the shoulders and plenty of length on the arms, which is something I’ve always felt Oiselle excels at. I love thumbholes and it’s great when sleeves are long enough to pull down over my hands easily.

Overall

Oiselle never disappoints. Everything in my recent shipment is cute, comfortable, and functional. I picked the wrong sizes for some things, but that’s on me. I feel that Oiselle is generally on the mark with sizing, and though their clothes often cost a bit more than what you’d pay at a box store, you’ll see the quality in the items you receive. This is not fast fashion. Oiselle makes good quality pieces again and again.