the calm before the storm

When I told my friends and family in Toronto that I would be moving to Vancouver, the response I heard over and over again always seemed to look past the scenic ocean and mountain views, the friendly Vancouverites, and the desirable active lifestyle that the city has to offer. “Doesn’t it rain a lot in Vancouver?” “You better be ready for rain” “Don’t forget to pack your umbrella!” YES, YES, YES. It rains in Vancouver. There I said it. And yes it is true. But I would never in a million years take back -30 temperatures with 6 feet of snow for a little rain because what I have found is that it’s not so much about the weather as it is about how you handle it.

when it rains it pours

I remember so clearly my first confrontation with the Vancouver rain. I remember it because it was like no other rain experience I’d ever had. The weather shifted from bright and sunny to dark and gloomy in a matter of seconds, a common occurrence in Vancouver I since realized. As the 5’oclock crowd made their way through the streets I readied myself for the downpour. I was waiting for the cityscape to morph into a sea of umbrellas but nobody seemed to skip a beat, everybody just embraced the wet.

singing in the rain

In an effort to fit in, I fought my Torontonian instinct to run for cover or throw up my umbrella. I kept the cadence of my stride, a smile on my face and pretended to not be fazed by the rain (I really had to try to not worry about how my hair might react.) What I quickly realized was that ‘rain’ is only as bad as you make it to be. In Toronto, I would have let it ruin my day by replacing my conversational, “hey how are you?” with “can you believe this weather?”  The Vancouverites have it right. The number one reason the rain is far more tolerable in Vancouver is because nobody complains about it.

there is no such thing as bad weather

Someone once said to me, there is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing choice. While I aim to take on the Vancouver attitude, I think it’ll take some time before I can truly embrace the rainfall and power on through. For those of you who aren’t quite ready to soldier on, here are some of my tried and tested ways to weather the storm.

• Right As Rain Jacket: The perfect accomplice for rainy day errands when staying in just isn’t an option.

• Birdcage Umbrella: There’s nothing more embarrassing then being that person on the street whose umbrella flips inside out. The uniquely shaped birdcage umbrella (available at The Bay, Sears, and Harry Rosen) is designed to keep the wind out, so you can go confidently in any direction. This umbrella even has the Queen’s approval!

• Rubber Boots: Plain and simple, my feet are happy feet when they are warm and dry. My rain boots give me no excuse to not brave the storm.

With the right attitude, and perhaps the right accessories, no amount of rain should ever stand in your way. As for my dear friends and family in Toronto, I look forward to hearing from you in February, not to worry, I have a pull-out couch.

want more?

• protect your laptop (and your other stuff) from light rain with the wet coast backpack
• a little rain never stopped our no excuses run club

Forecast = rain. Merino wool = dry and cozy.

Let me start by saying that keeping warm is a high priority for me, especially during the winter months. Curling up by a roaring fire is my idea of pure bliss. So you can imagine how much I like the idea of running in the rain: www.notverymuch.com.

Don’t get me wrong, I am full of gratitude for rain; it nourishes the earth, smells divine and creates a unique and dramatic ambience; an ambience I most enjoy whilst peering through a window with a cup of tea in hand. This being said, I decided to try out our new Run: Balance Pullover to see if it could help get me outside, despite the cold, rainy weather.

what I loved about it:

• it’s surprisingly soft with a zero itch factor.
• it has great breathability
• the natural fabric has a rich and refined quality, giving it a sophisticated look
• it stays warm even in the wettest conditions - magical!

Alexis in the Run: Balance Pullover, moments before she ditched her umbrella and went for a run!

after wearing it more than once

Now that I have worn it a few times, I can honestly say that it didn’t itch at all. Without the bulk of a sweatshirt , the 100% merino wool pullover kept me perfectly heated on chilly mornings. I can’t wait to try this on the mountain, where dryness and warmth are so important. Hello après ski hangouts!

If you are like me and are cautious to try new fabrics, I dare you to try this on – it’s as cozy as a hug and as cool as James Dean. It might even make that 5:30 a.m. run downright jump-out-of-bed-worthy! Okay, that was an exaggeration. But at least you’ll be warm…and ultimately, that’s all that counts.

Look for the the Run: Balance Pullover in your local lululemon, and online very soon!

Our blog artist Alison took the Not So Stuffy Puffy to a rainy Seattle music festival.

Puffy jackets have always been an enigma to me. The burning question in my mind was how does one look NOT so puffy IN a puffy? At 5’8 and roughly 145 pounds I do not exactly have what one would call a “petite frame” and I was deathly afraid that a puffy jacket would make me resemble Ralphie’s little brother in everyone’s favorite holiday movie, A Christmas Story.

However, the Seattle winters call for a jacket that is both warm and water resistant and when lululemon introduced a jacket that boasted both of these important features…well, I had to get my hands on that jacket.

Michelle from our Strategic Sales tries on the Not So Stuffy in Cherry.

While everyone was grilling out for the last summer hurrah on Labor Day, I was at a music festival in Seattle where the temperature didn’t get out of the low 60s and there was light to heavy rain. I was going to be there all day and into the evening and I thought this was going to be the perfect time to try out my puffy jacket.

A close up of the NSSP's insides!

I slipped it on and after one or two or twenty looks at myself in the mirror at every conceivable angle I came to the conclusion that this jacket outlines my silhouette and does not make me look huge at all. It almost felt like a second skin, it was neither bulky nor bunchy. The hood kept my ‘do intact so on the off-chance that I ran into Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas after the show I wouldn’t look like a frizzy mess.

The luon thumbholes on the sleeves kept my sleeves down so when I was clapping or dancing wildly I didn’t feel one raindrop or the wind. Most importantly, it kept me both warm and dry.

Warning: staring too closely at the Not So Stuffy Puffy can induce feelings of extreme warmth and friendliness.

Personalize your Puffy!

This is what the Not So Stuffy Puffy looks like all bundled up at lululemon Coquitlam Centre.

If you're in Canada, visit your local lululemon to pick up the Not So Stuffy Puffy. For our U.S. friends, you can visit your store or buy it online here.

On a rainy Saturday morning at the lululemon Logan Circle run club, I wore my Run: See Me Jacket. This jacket is made of Flight: an incredibly light material that will keep you dry and is perfect not only for a rainy day, but also on days when you need an extra light layer. Due to the fact that I was not focused on worrying about the elements since my jacket was keeping me protected, I was able to focus on my run and the Logan Circle runners.

Features of the Run: See Me Jacket:

• multiple areas of mesh and venting to keep you from overheating
• reflective stripes on the sleeves for maximum visibility during early morning and night runs
• two large pockets on the front and back, which offer plenty of room for a cell phone, credit card, ipod, and energy bar.
  a longer fit for more coverage
• an adjustable, cinched waste so you can customize the fit

The Run: See Me Jacket is also incredibly compact and takes up virtually no room in a gym bag or tote. I paired mine with my Swiftly Tech tee and my favorite shorts, the Run: Speed Short.

Above: Daysha (on our administration team) jogs through the East Vancouver streets wearing the Run: See Me Jacket and Wonder Under Tights.

Happy running!