Victoria's Secret Sport vs. Lululemon: Which brand should you buy?

Victoria's Secret Sport offers trendy, fashion-forward activewear at an accessible price point, making it ideal for casual gym-goers and athleisure enthusiasts. In contrast, Lululemon positions itself as a premium performance brand, prioritizing high-quality technical fabrics, durability, and a minimalist aesthetic for a significantly higher price.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right activewear brand for your fitness goals and budget.

Victoria's Secret Sport: The Stylish & Affordable Alternative

Victoria's Secret Sport is the activewear line from the internationally known lingerie brand, blending its signature feminine and bold aesthetic with functional fitness apparel. The brand appeals to women who want stylish, of-the-moment workout clothes without the premium investment. Its collections are filled with vibrant colors, eye-catching patterns, and flattering cuts designed to make you feel confident during low-to-moderate-impact activities or while running errands.

• Product mix: A wide array of leggings, sports bras, tank tops, and jackets. Styles are often trend-driven, featuring logo branding, unique patterns, and a more fashion-conscious design.
• Price point: Very accessible, with most leggings priced between $40-$60 and sports bras ranging from $25-$50.
• Quality: Uses standard synthetic fabrics that are moisture-wicking and offer good stretch for general comfort. While suitable for everyday wear and casual workouts, the materials may not offer the same longevity or performance as more specialized brands.
• Sizing/Fit: Sizing is generally true to size but can be slightly inconsistent between styles. Some customers report that sports bras can run small.
• Sales: Known for frequent sales and promotions, particularly during semi-annual sales, making it easy to find items at a significant discount.

Victoria's Secret Sport is great for anyone who values style and affordability and needs comfortable activewear for casual fitness routines and lifestyle wear.

Shop Victoria's Secret: victoriassecret.com

Lululemon: The Leader in Performance & Quality

Lululemon is a Canadian athletic apparel brand that has built a global reputation on superior quality, innovative technical fabrics, and a sleek, minimalist design. The brand targets dedicated fitness enthusiasts and those who see their activewear as a long-term investment in performance and comfort. Lululemon is more than just clothing, it fosters a community around wellness, with a loyal following that swears by the durability and feel of its products.

• Product mix: Specializes in high-performance wear for yoga, running, and training, featuring leggings, sports bras, tops, and outerwear. Best known for their iconic Align and Wunder Train leggings.
• Price point: Premium pricing reflects the quality and technology invested in the apparel. Leggings typically cost between $98-$128, and sports bras are around $50-$78.
• Technology/Innovation: Famous for its proprietary fabrics like the buttery-soft Nulu™ used in Align pants, the fast-drying Everlux™ for high-sweat sessions, and the supportive Luon™ fabric.
• Quality: Exceptional durability and construction. Lululemon products are known to withstand years of intense workouts and frequent washing without losing shape, color, or performance features.
• Sizing/Fit: Renowned for its precise and consistent sizing chart. The fit is designed to sculpt and support the body without feeling restrictive, providing a "second-skin" feel.
• Sales: Sales are less common. Shoppers can find discounted items in their "We Made Too Much" section, but brand-wide sales events are rare.

Lululemon offers unparalleled performance and durability for those who are serious about their workouts and prioritize fabric technology and longevity over fast-fashion trends.

Shop Lululemon: shop.lululemon.com

Victoria's Secret Sport vs. Lululemon Comparison

Price Comparison

There is a significant price difference between the two brands. Victoria's Secret Sport is the clear winner for budget-conscious shoppers, with leggings rarely exceeding $60 and frequent sales offering discounts up to 50% or more. This allows you to build a complete workout wardrobe for the price of one or two items from Lululemon.

Lululemon operates in the premium activewear market. Their prices, often double or triple that of Victoria's Secret Sport, are justified by a focus on fabric innovation, durability, and a "quality promise" that includes complimentary hemming and repairs. While more expensive upfront, many customers consider it a worthy investment due to the apparel's long lifespan.

Quality & Materials

Lululemon's primary advantage lies in its superior materials and construction. Proprietary fabrics like Nulu™, Everlux™, and Luxtreme™ are engineered for specific activities, offering exceptional softness, moisture-wicking capabilities, and shape retention that stands the test of time. The meticulous stitching and thoughtful design details contribute to both comfort and performance.

Victoria's Secret Sport uses good quality synthetic materials that are comfortable for everyday activities and light exercise. However, they are not engineered for the same level of high-impact performance or durability. Over time, some users report issues with elasticity, pilling, or color fading after repeated washing, which is less common with Lululemon products.

Style & Aesthetic

The brands' styles appeal to different tastes. Victoria's Secret Sport leans into a trendy, youthful, and often sexy aesthetic. Expect to find bold colors, vibrant patterns, mesh details, and prominent logos. It's designed for those who want their activewear to make a fashion statement.

Lululemon adopts a more minimalist, clean, and sophisticated approach. Their color palettes are often more subdued, featuring solid colors and timeless designs that transition seamlessly from the yoga studio to daily life. The focus is on flattering silhouettes and understated elegance, with minimal branding.

Fit & Sizing

Lululemon is known for its incredibly reliable and consistent sizing. Their leggings and sports bras are designed to hug the body in a supportive yet comfortable "naked sensation" way, providing excellent compression and coverage without digging in. Their wide range of sizes and lengths also accommodates more body types.

Victoria's Secret Sport offers standard sizing that is generally true to size but can sometimes be inconsistent from one style to another. The fit is often more focused on creating a flattering shape but may not offer the same performance-oriented support or security during intense movement compared to Lululemon.

Sustainability & Ethics

Lululemon has made public commitments to sustainability, with goals focused on using recycled materials, reducing water usage, and ensuring fair labor practices in its supply chain. They publish yearly impact reports, offering more transparency for conscious consumers.

While Victoria's Secret has started to implement some sustainability initiatives, the brand has historically been less focused on and transparent about its environmental and ethical practices compared to industry leaders like Lululemon.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice really depends on your priorities, workout style, and budget. Both brands offer quality products but are tailored for different customers.

Choose Victoria's Secret Sport if:

• You are building a workout wardrobe on a budget.
• You love fun, trendy, and bold styles with eye-catching prints.
• Your workouts are typically low-to-moderate intensity, like walking or light gym sessions.
• You enjoy shopping sales and getting the best possible deal on new activewear.

Choose Lululemon if:

• You see activewear as a long-term investment in durability and quality.
• You need high-performance gear for activities like running, yoga, or high-intensity interval training.
• You prefer a minimalist, sleek aesthetic that is versatile enough for both workouts and casual wear.
• A consistent, precise, and supportive fit is your top priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Victoria's Secret Sport or Lululemon cheaper?

Victoria's Secret Sport is significantly cheaper. You can often purchase two or three items from Victoria's Secret Sport for the price of a single pair of leggings from Lululemon, especially if you shop during one of their frequent sales.

Which brand has better quality leggings?

Lululemon is widely regarded as having superior quality leggings due to its proprietary technical fabrics, advanced construction, and long-term durability. They maintain their shape, color, and performance features through rigorous use and washing.

Does Lululemon run smaller than Victoria's Secret?

Lululemon is known for its precise and consistent sizing that feels compressive and supportive. Some people might find it fits smaller if they are used to a more relaxed fit. Victoria's Secret sizing is generally true to size but can be less consistent across different products.

Is VS Sport good for running or high-intensity workouts?

Victoria's Secret Sport is best suited for low to medium-impact workouts like yoga, weightlifting, or walking. While some of their bras offer good support, Lululemon's technical fabrics and construction are specifically designed to handle the demands of high-sweat, high-impact activities like running.

Which brand has better sales?

Victoria's Secret Sport has far more frequent and predictable sales events, including their famous Semi-Annual Sale. Lululemon rarely holds site-wide sales, discounts are primarily found in the "We Made Too Much" section, which has limited stock and sizes.

Is Lululemon worth the money?

For many dedicated fitness enthusiasts, Lululemon is worth the investment. The high price tag buys you exceptional comfort, performance, and durability that lasts for years, potentially making it more cost-effective over the long run than repeatedly replacing less expensive activewear.

What style is each brand known for?

Victoria's Secret Sport embodies a fun, bold, and fashion-forward style with vibrant colors and trendy patterns. Lululemon is defined by a minimalist, sleek, and timeless aesthetic with an emphasis on clean lines and versatile, solid colors.