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Halara Activewear, is it worth it? Cosmo Editors test and review

If Your FYP If it's anything like mine, you've probably been inundated with a ton of TikTok Shop offers and ads from the activewear brand Halara. I went through dozens of fittings, starting with the brand's best-selling workout dresses to work trousersand I was intrigued – but also a little aware that you had to blindly order something that I had only seen on TikTok.

Instead of ordering from a TikTok Shop ad after hours of scrolling, I checked out the website and was pleasantly surprised by the variety of styles, inclusive sizes, and affordable prices. Honestly, I learned so much from just one extra step of research and was ready to try the brand for myself. Spoiler alert: I was pleasantly surprised, but wanted to know if anyone else felt the same way, so I hired someone Cosmo Editors to also check out some of Halara's best-selling pieces.

So if you want the tea on Halara, CosmoThe purchasing team is here for you. Along with a few other editors, I selected some of our favorite styles as well as bestsellers from the site. We wore them all day long, even in difficult situations Training coursesand of course frolicking around with friends. The styles feature premium comfort and versatility, meaning you can wear the brand for literally any occasion – from a Pilates class to a fancy dinner. Some pieces definitely performed better than others… But we'll get into that in a moment.

Keep scrolling to find out all things Halara and our unfiltered review of the brand.

Our reviews

Two dresses in different models, one in navy blue and one in pink

Hannah Oh/Halara

  • Advantages: Lightweight for everyday wear, swim-friendly shorts, integrated side pockets
  • Disadvantages: The built-in bra may not provide enough support for larger breasts. One editor said the built-in shorts were too small

Jasmine's opinion

I was excited to see what all the workout clothes hype was about, and it's safe to say that the virality is definitely justified. The fabric is super soft yet supportive enough to workout in – it instantly became my favorite dress for pickleball. And of course there are many different silhouettes, colors and lengths to choose from.

Hannah Oh's take

“I wore my Halara dress two days in a row when I first opened it because, oh my god, is it so comfortable?!” shopping editor exclaims Hannah Oh. “Honestly, it’s the ultimate lazy girl outfit. I wear it when I don't want to think about what to wear and so many people have complimented me on it! This might be TMI, but it's so pee friendly. The shorts are attached to the front of the dress but are open at the back. So if you hate the feeling of getting completely undressed in a public restroom, you'll love that you can easily slip the attached shorts down.”

Kim's opinion

“The silhouette of this dress is so cute and I love the thickness of the material,” says the assistant purchasing manager Kim Duong. “The integrated shorts that are easy to put on and take off are an ingenious design. I'm between sizes and wore this dress in a size larger, but I found that the shorts were still a bit too tight and had a lot of bagginess, which made performing squats an even less comfortable experience. Overall, it's a cute dress that I would wear for errands or light cardio workouts. However, I would leave it out for more intensive training sessions.”

Side by side comparison of two outfits with wide pants

Hannah Chubb

  • Advantages: Super stretchy, available in many colors, comfortable elastic band
  • Disadvantages: The white coloring is somewhat transparent

Jasmine's opinion

I like to classify my work attire as professional chic, and I always Used to sacrifice comfort for style when dressing for the office. Until I tried it Halara's casual waffle work pants. I'm not exaggerating when I say they're as comfortable as sweatpants. They have a thick elastic band so you can sit in them all day without being stiff or uncomfortable, and with their pleated cut they really look like classic pants.

Hannah Chubb's opinion

“The waffle pants are everything,” says Editor Hannah Chubb. “I immediately ordered them in other colors a few hours after receiving them. They are so comfortable, have plenty of room in the crotch area and aren't too long for my 5'10″ height (unlike all the other pants I've ever bought, RIP).”

Dress

Kim Duong / Halara

  • Advantages: Lightweight, cute design
  • Disadvantages: When in a hurry, it may be difficult to tighten the rear hook fastener

Kim's opinion

And because you can never have enough dresses, Kim also tried out the backless cut out style. “This dress is so cute with its open back, twisted design and flared silhouette. It’s easy to throw on when you want to be casual but still feel cute,” says Kim. “The material is slightly lighter than the original Easy Peezy dress, but is still durable and sturdy. Personally, I prefer the feel of this thinner fabric – it’s also cooling, making sweaty workouts or running errands in the summer more comfortable.”

two people wearing skirts and crop tops

Meg Uy / Halara

  • Advantages: Versatile, with integrated shorts, also available in a checked pattern
  • Disadvantages: The slit allows it to be folded up a bit (but it has built-in shorts!)

Meg's opinion

“ICYMI, Taylor Swift wore this unique tennis skirt to Coachella this year, and after trying it on myself, I can honestly say it ticks all the boxes,” says Associate Shopping Editor Meg Uy. “Unlike other athleisure skirts, it features a cool, adjustable buckle strap at the thigh that adds an edgy touch to the sporty piece. I love how this exposes the built-in spandex shorts on the left side for a little skin-baring moment. Its sweat-wicking fabric is incredibly light and breathable, which is perfect for days when you're on the go for hours. The only criticism I had was that the skirt would fly up easily even in a light breeze and I had to constantly hold it down.”

Two women wear similar black tops, one in a mirror selfie and the other in a studio setting

Daisy Maldonado / Halara

  • Advantages: Soft, high compression
  • Disadvantages: Not particularly breathable

Daisy's opinion

“Not only is this shirt an athleisure piece, but it could also double as a great night out top,” says Associate Shopping Editor Daisy Maldonado. “I like how stretchy and breathable it is, and the material itself is super soft and has a great smoothing effect that I really like. I wore it to a Pilates class and felt confident in it the entire time. Honestly, I think it might be a hit at my next happy hour too!”

Our thoughts on…

The quality

I was a little skeptical about the materials since the price was so low compared to other athleisure brands, but I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is everything buttery soft and super stretchy, I've also found that the workout clothes are actually pretty supportive. The Easy Peezy Dress features a built-in bra that's sturdy enough to eliminate the need for a full sports bra, and the bathroom-friendly built-in shorts design is groundbreaking. The material is not only comfortable, but also flatters the body. In the three months we tested (and washed) our clothes, the quality held up well with no pilling.

The fit

We estimated that the size range for each individual style starts at XS and goes up to 3X, and that overall the pieces are pretty true to size. We found that one dress ran slightly smaller than another dress (despite being the same size and similar design) and that the built-in shorts rode up a bit too far, making them unsuitable for high-intensity workouts. For everyday clothing like pants and dresses, we felt they provided enough comfort and stretch to be worn all day long.

The designs

We love the different silhouette options Halara has to offer (no wardrobe fatigue!). And that backless shorts design that's easy to put on and take off? Game changing! We also like that Halara prides itself on incorporating community feedback into clothing design. They use customer reviews and algorithms to create top-notch designs that are as fashionable as they are practical. For example, customers wanted to be able to use the toilet while wearing the dresses, and Halara delivered – the design of her backless shorts was born! When customers requested a longer dress, Halara made several different length options!

The end result

Despite some slight fit issues, overall we would highly recommend Halara for all your wardrobe needs. Looking for new office outfits? They have a plethora of business casual designs. Looking for a workout outfit? You can find everything here including sports bras, leggings and of course the viral Simple Peezy Dress. You can even shop for a special occasion and purchase their collection of comfortable yet elegant dresses. Everything looks super chic while offering premium all-day comfort at a fraction of the price.

Headshot by Jasmine Hyman

Jasmine Hyman is deputy purchasing editor at Cosmopolitan Here she covers the best things to add to your cart. She loves writing about everything from fashion to politics, and you can definitely catch her listening to Harry Styles' entire discography on loop. She's also probably lying in bed reading or endlessly scrolling through TikTok (most likely the latter). Feel free to follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.

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