How Does VS Pink's Buttery-Soft Activewear Perform at the Gym? We Tried It
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Rather than grouping all of its activewear together, VS Pink releases its workout clothes in devoted drops, all of which cater to a specific style and feature distinctive elements, from the brand's signature compression panels to its logo. The latest, called Relay, has early 2000s collegiate vibes, consisting of flares, sporty stripes down the legs, and fitted zip-up jackets that pair nicely with a pleated tennis skirt. The brand is spotlighting its new buttery-soft fabric that makes up all the pieces, ranging in price from $15 to $60 and available in sizes XS-XXL.
The flexibility of the material that still retains a fair amount of compression is impressive — in fact all four PS editors who sampled a matching set for this Vetted picked up on that innovative design detail. Other highlights worth mentioning include the ability to choose between short or regular length in the pants; the use of partially recycled materials; the casual slitted maxi dress for those who veer on the athleisure side; and the color palette, which includes jewel tone emerald and navy, a graduated-to-fall pink called midnight mauve, and a rich neutral toffee.
Ahead, you can read up on the specifics about four different co-ords we tried — and worked out in to gauge functionality — then click over to VS Pink to shop the full collection.
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VS Pink Relay Square-Neck Sports Bra + Relay Flare Leggings
VS Pink Relay Square-Neck Sports Bra in Mousse ($30) and VS Pink Relay Flare Leggings in Mousse ($50)
"I'm completely obsessed with the cut of this set, especially for my weekly Solidcore classes. I'm new to flared leggings and wouldn't dare try them for a run (I'd probably trip, especially since I'm petite and these are long), but the buttery-soft fabric allows me to pull the material up high so I feel safe enough on my reformer machine. The sports bra takes a unique shape that feels sort of bare and sexy to me, however, it's definitely not the most supportive if you have a larger bust. Overall, I'm most impressed by the healthy mix of stretch and compression in the fabric, which is made with 75 percent recycled (!) polyester for a little eco-friendly bonus." — Sarah Wasilak, associate director, Shopping
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VS Pink Relay Racerback Sports Bra + Relay Leggings
VS Pink Relay Racerback Sports Bra in Midnight Mauve ($40) and VS Pink Relay Leggings in Midnight Mauve ($45)
"I recently took up running, and it can be tough to find a cute, functional workout set I genuinely look forward to wearing (at 6 a.m. no less). Thankfully, this VS Pink set checks all the boxes. The material is lightweight and buttery, à la some of the pricier athleisure brands in my collection, and both pieces held up well through a quick morning jog and follow-up leg day at the gym. I was a big fan of the high-waisted design and side pockets on either side of the Relay leggings, and the Relay contour bra felt perfectly supportive. If you're looking for a flattering workout set that feels as good as it looks, this one definitely gets my vote." — Chandler Plante, assistant editor, Health & Fitness
Rating:
★★★★★
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VS Pink Relay Longline Sports Bra + Relay Compression Leggings
VS Pink Relay Longline Sports Bra in Pure Black ($40) and VS Pink Relay Compression Leggings in Pure Black ($55)
"I was in need of some activewear, and the new Pink Relay activewear — specifically the Relay Longline Sports Bra and leggings in black — was right on time. I've never tried activewear from Victoria's Secret before, and I was pleasantly surprised by the buttery-soft feel of the fabric. It also has compression, which is always a plus in my book. I always opt for black as a default (native New Yorker here!), but I'm definitely heading back to the site to get the other colors." — Shari Straker, social content producer
Rating:
★★★★
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VS Pink Relay High-Neck Logo Sports Bra + Relay Compression Leggings
VS Pink Relay High-Neck Logo Sports Bra in Toffee ($40) and VS Pink Relay Compression Leggings in Toffee ($55)
"As a 32DD, I'm in-between sizes in the Relay High-Neck Sports Bra. Small delivered support but felt too tight around my bust while medium had a decent fit, but the support wasn't enough. I decided to wear the medium and consider this a light support bra. Although I love the way it looks and how soft it feels, I probably would wear this when I'm lounging around, rather than for an actual workout.
The Relay Compression Leggings offer the perfect amount of compression for a high-intensity workout without feeling too constricted. I can go for a brisk walk or hit the stairmaster while maintaining the range of motion to do squats, lunges, and deadlifts. They're also compressive at the waistline, which reminds me to engage my core. These leggings are flexible and super-soft against my skin." — Anvita Reddy, assistant editor, Shopping
Rating:
★★★★
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Sarah Wasilak is the associate director of Shopping at PS. With plenty of experience in the commerce market, a keen interest in SEO, and 10 years as an editor at the brand, she enjoys writing across the lifestyle and health-and-fitness categories. She has bylines at PS, InStyle, Elle, Refinery29, Who What Wear, Elite Daily, Byrdie, and The Quality Edit and aims to amplify minority voices in all her work.