Lululemon and Alo Yoga are both premium activewear brands built on a yoga aesthetic. Both cost £80–£130 for leggings. Both have massive cult followings. But if you've worn one and are considering the other, the fit differences are significant enough to matter.
Sizing: how they differ
Lululemon runs true to size across most of its range, with the important caveat that the Align Leggings run slightly smaller than the rest of the range. Most UK women buy their standard size in Lululemon.
Alo Yoga runs small, sometimes significantly so. The brand is US-sized and designed on a narrower frame than the UK average. Most UK women find they need to go up one size, and some up two, particularly in the hip area.
The fabric difference
Lululemon Align — The signature Nulu fabric is buttery and lightweight. It has almost no compression — it's worn more for feel and comfort than support. The fabric is so soft it can feel almost like a second skin, but it shows everything underneath.
Alo Airbrush — Alo's main fabric has more compression than the Lululemon Align and a more structured feel. It smooths more and holds shape for longer. Better for higher-impact activity than the Align, though not as comfortable for extended wear.
Price comparison (UK)
Both brands price similarly in the UK after conversion: leggings typically £90–£130, sports bras £50–£80.
Who each brand suits
Lululemon — Better for UK women overall because the sizing is more predictable and the range of inseam lengths (Short, Regular, Tall) is genuinely rare in the market. Lululemon's cut also accommodates a wider hip-to-waist ratio than Alo.
Alo Yoga — Better for women who are on the slimmer end of activewear sizing and want a more compressive feel. Also better if you want something that photographs well — the Airbrush fabric has a specific look that's become its own aesthetic.
What the community finds
The most common Alo complaint from UK buyers: "I ordered my usual size and it was too small in the thigh/hip area." This is consistent with Alo's narrow cut and US-centric sizing.
The most common Lululemon complaint: "The Align shows VPL and is sheer in certain colours." True — darker and muted colours are safer for the Align specifically.
The recommendation
If you're buying activewear to wear and not just to photograph, and you want fit confidence without guessing, Lululemon is the safer bet for UK women. If you're specifically after the Alo aesthetic and compression feel, size up at least one — possibly two — from your usual UK size.
Take the Forre quiz to get specific size recommendations based on your measurements from women built like you.