I Finally Tested lululemon’s Define Jacket & I Have *Many* Thoughts

As I previously mentioned, I wear athletic clothes a lot (like, a lot a lot) because my work from home schedule affords me ample opportunity to dress casually whenever I want. So when I’m not wearing sweatpants, I’m likely dressed for the gym or my walks. Over the course of three weeks, I’ve worn my brand-new lululemon Define Jacket on a handful of four-to-five-mile morning walks, taken it with me to my Solidcore classes and sported it out on casual errand runs—all while assessing how it holds up against the PureWow100 scale, particularly looking at its fit, quality, aesthetic, value and versatility. I’ve also tossed it in the wash a few times, too, so I can spill the tea on how it washes…but more on that in a second.

One thing I’ve noticed about the majority of lululemon’s clothing is that it tends to fit on the smaller side, and the same goes for the Define jacket. Lucky for me, I live across the street from a lululemon location, so I was able to visit in-store and try on both the size 4 and 6 (the two sizes I fluctuate between often). While I squeezed my way into the smaller size, I didn’t feel the most comfortable, and knowing how much I planned on wearing the jacket—exercising or lounging—I made the executive decision that I’d prefer not to feel like a stuffed sausage.

As soon as I slipped on the size 6, I felt a sense of relief with a comfortable fit that still sculpted and flattered my frame. The jacket’s designed to skim your body and sit just below the waistband of your leggings, giving you the perfect piece to wear 24/7.

Remember that dingy jacket I mentioned? Yeah, well this lululemon gem is nothing like that. In fact, one of the details I love most about it is its substantial material. That’s because it’s made from a blend of nylon and lycra elastane—giving it that sporty feel and sweat-wicking quality and an impressive four-way stretch and shape retention. It actually has a touch more lyra elastane in its blend compared to the brand’s Nulu version—a near identical alternative that’ll feel a touch softer, seem less compressive and come in a few more color options.

Material aside, the details don’t go unnoticed, from zippers at the pockets to keep your keys, IDs, credit cards and gels from bouncing out to thumbholes at the cuffs for warmth while you’re on the go. I’ve also discovered that the cuffs can fold down to create cuffins, lululemon’s form of ingenious makeshift design that transforms into gloves when it’s bitterly cold out. The main zipper down the bodice even features a zipper garage to protect your skin against chafe or discomfort when it’s zipped up to your neck.

What’s more, the pull doubles as an emergency hair tie, which is such a gamechanger if you’re anything like me and tend to forget something important almost every time you step out of the house. If you frequent the gym often, it boasts a little loop hook that’s meant to easily drape inside most lockers. Impressed? Yeah, me too.

Owning a fair share of workout clothes, I’m pretty much a pro when it comes to properly caring for them to make them last their longest: Machine wash cold on delicate cycle and hang to air dry. So, while the label gave me the go-ahead to wash it on a regular, cold-wash cycle and tumble dry low, the anxious voice in my head just wouldn’t go there, especially knowing how powerful some washers and dryers can be. I know lululemon offers a complimentary repair service for all their products within a year of purchase, I simply refuse to get a hole or see a thread unravel in the wash. Lucky for me, the Define jacket has been holding up like a champ in on the delicate cycle, and it doesn’t take long to dry, either.