"Girls Just Want To Have Fun..."

I know I have been kind of MIA lately and haven’t really written much in the past month or so. No excuses, but instead of reading and researching fitness trends and ideas, I’ve actually been “researching” by talking to people on a daily basis.

Fitness and food have always been my passions, but there’s something else I really love, and that’s SHOPPING! Stores, catalog, online: you name it, I’ll browse for hours when it’s a store I love.

But, as much as I like looking at clothes online, I worry about sizing and fit, especially if it’s a brand I’ve never worn.

I discovered the online brand, Athleta a few years ago. I loved the sporty look of the clothing and the natural looking, athletic models wearing the clothes. I ordered a few pieces, but I was afraid to order too much in case I had to send something back if it didn’t fit. And although Athleta allows returns of any item for any reason, I’m pretty lazy about packing up an item and shipping it back.

So, I was pretty excited to hear they were going to open a store where I live in St. Louis. Some of the managers were recruiting people at the gym where I workout and I jumped at the chance to work there.

I knew it would be right up my alley. The store is so much more than just workout clothing. It’s a total active lifestyle concept and it caters to all women; from hard-core athletes to the neighborhood walker. They have swimwear, yoga and run clothing, hiking, and errand-running clothing. Jackets, tops, skirts, skorts, shorts, pants; everything for all activities.

But, as much as I love the clothes, what amazes me about working there is getting to know the people who shop at the store.

Obviously, I am always interested in hearing about new fitness trends and workouts, and I love to hear about each individual’s progress in their fitness journey. Whether they’ve lost 10 pounds, run a 5K, overcome an obstacle, or just want to look great at the gym, the stories and achievements they share while they are trying on the clothes and shopping really inspire me.

And, to top it all off, I work with an amazing group of women! We are a very diverse group; different ages, different backgrounds, and different goals and strengths, but we all share a common bond: our passion for fitness and a fit lifestyle, and a desire to help others with their goals.

We work hard, but we have fun. We get excited when someone comes in wearing a new Athleta top or dress and we act as each other’s fan club and fashion consultants while we try on the new merchandise. The excitement is contagious too.

Sometimes in the fitting rooms, one customer will end trying on a pair of yoga pants or dress and three other customers will end up buying the same thing.

We all have our favorite pieces and we usually share that with our customers, bringing them a dress or top they might never have considered. And when one of us wears one of our favorites, it seems like a lot of customers end up buying that same piece.

But, even though I’m working, I’m constantly getting something back. The enthusiasm is contagious, from our managers to our customers to each other.

So, go online to Athleta.com and check out their great products and then come into our brick and mortar store at Plaza Frontenac in St. Louis (and other locations throughout the US) to see the merchandise live and in 3D!! You’ll love the clothes, but mainly, you’ll love the whole experience!