Workout Wednesday: Under Armour Tank

These photos were taken after I ran the practice 5K with my 5th grade Girls On The Run team after school. It was kind of a big deal for them because that is the farthest they have ever run in a single practice. Also that is the day they "earn" their team shirts. The field was adorned with Pink balloons and tween music blasted to celebrate! 

Let's talk about this tank though. I recently got it from the West Loop FFC with my $25 referal reward dollars! Thanks Jeff and Olivia!! It totally reminds me of the super thin drapey ones that Lulu is putting out right now, but theirs only come in pastels. I love this Under Armour one because it comes in an array of bright colors, is super light and best of all is half the price of the Lululemon one! Holler!

Saucony Sneakers // Zella Leggings // Lululemon Sports Bra // Under Armour Tank

Shop my Under Armour picks below!

Workout Wednesday: Bright and Patterned

So as it turns out, Spring break made for lots of time to work out. And some time to make some new workout buddies. I'm happy to say that my blogger buddy Jalpa of Samosa Pop tried out Bar Method and liked it enough to sign up! Yay! She was even kind enough to take pictures of this outfit for me!

Even though it was Spring break, the beginning of the week was still really chilly so I layered up in this bright Ellie top and patterned Gap pants combo.

Forever 21 hat // Ellie top //  Gap Leggings (similar) // Sunglasses //  Nike sneakers (from this post)

Workout Wednesday: Casual Sneakers

This is the very first time ever that all the shots for today's post were taken with my IPhone! You see I'm on spring break so although that leaves me with no photographer to take outfit shots, it also leaves me with a very good reason to NOT get dressed in anything more than workout clothes! 

Since this week is so casual I needed shoes to match. I don't like wearing my running shoes just to walk around so I needed some "walking-around" shoes! While making a return to the newly opened Nordstrom Rack on North Avenue (free parking!) I discovered it's pristine shoe selection with an abundance of pink Nike options! All under $60 too! My heart skipped a beat! 

I finally decided on these black canvas ones with a faint blush trim to replace my beloved yet salt-stained Nike Victoria's, and the hot pink and raspberry pair below! If you are in the market for some new casual shoes stop over there before the place looses it new-store-smell and turns into a disaster! Selection is great right now! Happy shopping! 

So much PINK! How do I decide? 

Shop these bold sneakers below!

Workout Wednesday: Galaxy Pants

I would just like to say how very sorry I am to everyone who had to see my dirty hair this weekend. Lucky for you I put a hat on to hide it from you for these pictures. Don't forget that this is post workout hair too! Consider yourself lucky!

I found these leggings in the Nordstrom active wear sale section online and all they had left were my size so that worked out really well! If you have not checked out the sale workout section on the Nordstrom site, I highly recommend it. See some of my faves below, all on sale of course!

Tank: Ellie // Jacket: Lululemon // Pants: UnitY // Hat: J. Crew (on sale) // Shoes: Saucony (cute options)

Workout Wednesday: Minty Fresh

A few weeks ago I was having a conversation with a friend of the blog and she told me that one of the things she liked most about Hot Pink Style is how real it is. I really appreciated her saying this, because it's something that is very important to me when posting these outfits. All the outfits you see are worn to work and photographed after working all day. Even If I change shoes for pictures I let you know. 

This was also a huge compliment to me, considering that the purpose of my side job from teaching - my company Jill of All Trades - is to help people live their real life easier and more fashionably! 

I love being a role model of accessable style. I don't claim to be a fashion model or a perfect size or a perfect anything; I'm simply glad that my readers appreciate my candid approach to this blog as well as life.

With that, the one promise I will make to you my lovely readers is that every time I post a workout look, you better believe there was some working out being done! For everyone's sake I try to take pictures before the workout, but I assure you that it's all real. Usually I get dressed running out the door with dirty hair and toss on sunglasses hide my un-made-up eyes.

Shoes: Avia

Leggings: Ellie

Tank and jacket: Lululemon

Hair tie: Nordstrom

Workout Wednesday: Cobalt

Crazy pants can be hard to match sometimes. These ones are especially challenging with the white base color. Even though the design is blue I find it safe to wear black with them. I even wore my tie dye sports bra to bring the pattern together.

A helpful hit to all of you out there who love Lululemon but hate their prices, as a member of Core Power Yoga Studio you can do more than just yoga, you can shop. They always carry a great selection of cute Lululemon products. But my favorite part is that they have great sales! And if your at the studio as much as I have, you will be able to keep track of when things go on sale.

Both the jacket and Pants you see here were bought at the South Loop Core Power with 25% off! Pretty sweet huh? Go check them out and do some hot yoga while your at it!

Lululemon: Jacket, pants & tank

Shoes: Nike Victoria

Sunglasses: Target

Since all of what I'm wearing is old here are some cute Target finds for you to shop! 

Workout Wednesday: Hot Pink & Hair Talk

I have a confession. I'm the worst at putting my hair up. Not only do I think my ponytail making abilities are sub-par to most of my ten-year-old students, but I also almost always forget to bring a hair tie to all my workout classes. Just ask my instructors who always let me borrow one (thanks Jen and Julie!)

There is one style I'm pretty good at, This inverted french braid! Bonus, all I need to secure it is a few bobby pins which I can usually find at the bottom of any of my bags. Most people learn to french braid the regular way but somehow when I taught myself a few years back (when those little Jennifer Aniston inspired crown braids were the thing to do) my fingers could only figure out how to do it upside down. I've never been able to do a French braid any other way. 

It turns out looking how you see below and stays pretty secure and out of my face when I work out! This braid is my favorite hair mistake I've ever made just please don't ask me to teach you how to do it because only my fingers and subconscious mind seem to know how to make it happen!

Jacket: Lululemon (old but similar here)

Leggings: Zella via Nordstrom
Shoes: Avia (fun option here)

Workout Wednesday: Happy Pants

Nothing makes a workout more exiting than new gym clothes. These 15 pairs of loud-and-proud pants will kick you right into workout gear!

And don't forget to check out this post I did for the WERQ Dance Fitness blog. WERQ is a cardio dance fitness class that makes you forget you're working out because you're having so much fun dancing to all your favorite music. Want to try a WERQ class? Go to their website and find a class near you. You won't regret it!

Workout Wednesday

You know I love color, and I really think one of the best and easiest places to play with color is in your workout wear. I live by a no-rules motto when it comes to how I put together my workout attire. In fact sometimes the more colors/patterns I can squeeze into one outfit, the better. 

This is a fine example with this green and gray combo. The tank is striped, the pants are two-tone and then you have these crazy blue socks. They may look a little loud but I don't mind because they actually serve a purpose. They are the newest color of the official Bar Method grippy socks that they sell in the studio. Basically I only ever buy their expensive socks when I have forgotten my own. I'm not gonna lie, they are way more comfy and helpful in preventing my feet from sliding and heels from aching on the bar with their tiny cushion backs. So I'll gladly display them as a little "feet treat".

Tank: Lululemon Power Y tank

Leggings: Ellie

Socks: Bar Method

Zip Pullover: Nike (love this retro one)

Shoes: Nike "Victoria" (would like to upgrade to these)

Sunglasses: Nordstrom

Workout Wednesday!

ATTENTION LADIES! If your workout wardrobe rivals your daytime one like mine, it's officially a good thing. 

My husband shared this interesting little radio piece (listen to it here, it's less than 4 mins) that he heard talking about how activewear is now showing up more prominently on designers' runways. The most interesting takeaway was that activewear sales are up nine percent this year, yet overall apparel sales are only up one percent!

What does that mean for us normal folks, and my fellow fashion junkies? Break out the yoga clothes ladies. because now it's not only good for you to have just come from the gym, but also super fashionable to sport the "wellness" look too! I'm so happy my lifestyle is becoming more fashionable. I really hope this one lasts because this is one look I am totally behind!

This sweatshirt instantly brought me back to grade school when Olympic duds where the coolest! Was this trend at your school too? Get it quick because its selling out like mad! (btw it runs small. Mine is a M for reference)

Pants: Ellie

Red Tank: Lululemon

Shoes: Avia

Sweatshirt: North Face via Nordstrom

Hat: Nordstrom Rack (old, but similar here)

Nordstrom is killing it in the Activewear options! Shop some of my favs here!

Workout Wednesday

Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on last weeks Workout Wednesday post. Since you guys are game, so am I! Here's installment number two!

Here is a workout look I wore to my Bar Method class. Wearing layers to workout in was an adjustment for me from my normal less-clothes-the-better hot yoga outfits. With Bar Method I barely sweat at all. This is one of the things I love about this class because my naturally curly hair doesn't get ruined and I can still go out in public after a workout without looking like a drowned rat!

Since joining Bar Method I've had to invest in alot more long sleeve layers to wear to classes. I tried on this great white half zip hoodie at Lululemon but thought I could probably find something pretty comparable at TJ Maxx or Marshalls since it was just plain white. If you don't know already those two places are great for workout clothes under $30! 

As a rule of thumb at Lululemon, I will only splurge on a great colored piece or some super basic black leggings I'll wear forever . But for just a plain white hoodie, I couldn't justify the $98 price tag. 

Sure enough this micro fleece lined half-zip hoodie was found at TJ Maxx for just $19 and looks pretty darn similar to the Lulu one don't you think?  

Shoes; Nike "Victoria" (love these similar ones)

Leggings: Lululemon (old but same style here and similar here)

Blue tank: Lululemon

Hoodie: TJ Maxx

Hat: J. Crew

Hair tie on wrist: Anthropologie

Shop the look here!