My FYP has been flooded with TikTok Shop hauls and ads from activewear brand Halara recently, and while I don't mind a targeted ad or two, it's getting out of hand. It all seems a little too good to be true—affordable, good quality, looks just like some of those splurge-y athleisure brands we all love, etc. Nothing is ever that simple right? But after scrolling (mostly against my will) through dozens of try-ons featuring everything from Halara's best-selling tennis dresses to their iconic work pants, I'll admit I was intrigued. Also, wary about blindly ordering something I've only ever seen on the clock app.
So instead of ordering straight from a sketchy TikTok Shop ad (which only ever happens after I've been hypnotized by hours of doom-scrolling), I decided to check out Halara's website, and I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of styles, inclusive sizing, and affordable prices. And after that extra step of research, I bit the bullet, ordered a bunch of items, and enlisted some fellow Cosmo editors to test out some bestsellers with me.
We wore our pieces (including the popular Halara pants and Halara leggings) to the office, during tough workout classes, and of course, while bopping around the city with friends. And our conclusion? The styles were top-tier as far as comfort and wearability, so you can truly pull out the brand for any type of occasion from pilates class to a big presentation at work. Some pieces definitely performed better than others… but we’ll get into that in a bit. Scroll for our unfiltered review of Halara to get up to speed before you buy.
Our Reviews
Halara's Easy Peezy Dress ($39.95)
Hannah Oh's Take
I wore my Halara dress two days in a row when I first opened it up because oh my gosh it is so comfortable?! It’s honestly the ultimate lazy girl outfit, I throw it on when I don’t wanna think about what to wear, and so many people complimented me on it! This might be TMI but it’s so pee-friendly. The shorts are attached to the dress in the front but open in the back, so if you hate the feeling of fully undressing in a public restroom you’ll love that you can just slip down the attached shorts.
Jasmine's Take
I was excited to see what all the workout dress hype was about, and it’s safe to say that the virality is definitely warranted. The fabric is super soft while still being supportive enough to workout in—it immediately became my go-to dress for pickleball. And of course, there are a bunch of different silhouettes, colors, and lengths to choose from.
Kim's Take
“The silhouette of this dress is so cute and I love how thick the material is,” says deputy shopping director Kim Duong. “The easy on-and-off built-in shorts are a genius design. I’m in between sizes and sized up with this dress, but I found that the shorts were still a bit too tight and bunched up a lot, which made doing squats an even less enjoyable experience. Overall, it’s a cute dress that I’d wear for errands or light cardio. But I’d skip it for higher-intensity workouts.”
Pros
- Easy for everyday wear
- Bathroom-friendly shorts
- Side pockets hidden in the shorts
- Built-in bra
- Comes in shorter and longer lengths
Cons
- Larger chests might want more support
- One editor felt the built-in shorts ran small
Halara's UltraSculpt Leggings ($29.95)
Hannah Oh's Take
Ahh, the ever-popular Halara leggings. I won't lie, I didn't love them immediately, but they really grew on me. I was expecting more of a buttery feel, and these are more athletic. But once I put them on, I realized that the compression? Excellent. The fabric? Surprisingly stretchy and sweat-wicking, too. Best of all, they're half the price of fancy $98 leggings and they do the job just as well. I tried the full length (a little too long for my 5’3” self) and the capri length (awesome, perfect, no notes), and found them to be great for any time of workout where you're moving and sweating.
I also tried their viral butt-lift leggings, and honestly they do work (lol) although the scrunch seam and the lack of compression around the booty area felt SO weird! At the end of the day, the UltraSculpt leggings are easily my favorite between the two.
Pros
- Comes in multiple lengths, sizes, and colors
- Thick, high-waisted waistband that feels secure
- Cooling, sweat-wicking fabric
- Great compression
- Has two side pockets
Cons
- Doesn't have that really soft, "brushed" leggings feeling
- Maybe not the best lounge leggings, meant more for athletic purposes
Halara's Casual Waffle Work Pants ($34.95)
Halara Flex™ High Waisted Pocket Wide Leg Waffle Work Pants
Jasmine's Take
I like to classify my work attire as professional chic, and I always used to sacrifice comfort for style when dressing for the office. That is until I tried Halara’s Casual Waffle Work Pants. I am not exaggerating when I say they are as comfortable as sweatpants. They have a thick elastic band so you can sit in them all day without stiffness and discomfort, and they seriously look like classic slacks with their pleated tailoring.
Hannah Chubb's Take
"The waffle pants are everything,” says editor Hannah Chubb. “I immediately ordered them in other colors hours after receiving them. They're so comfy, have plenty of room in the crotch area, and aren't too long for my 5'3 frame (unlike every other pair of trousers I've ever purchased, RIP).”
Pros
- Super stretchy
- Comes in a bunch of colors
- Comfy elastic waistband
- Looks professional without the stuffy fit
Cons
- The white colorway is a bit see-through
Halara's U Neck Crossover Barre Tank Top ($24.95)
Hannah Oh's Take
There's nothing I love more than a little workout tank with a built-in bra, so I had to try this one out. I was suspicious of the back cutout (like, what's the point?) but ended up a fan of how breezy it ended up being on the sweatiest runs! I've owned it for months at this point and can confirm that I reach for it all the time for both the gym and lounging around. My only qualm was that it was slightly more loose than I expected it to be, so definitely size down if you're between sizes.
Pros
- Comes in A-C and D-F cup options for customizable support
- Comes in a cropped length and a longer length
- Has a built-in bra
- Very easy to throw on and go
Cons
- Not as tightly fitted as I typically like
Halara's Backless Cut-Out Dress ($39.95)
Kim’s Take
And because you could never have too many dresses, Kim also tried out the Backless Cut Out style. “This dress is so cute with its back cutouts, twist design, and flared silhouette. It’s an easy number to throw on when you want to be casual but still feel cute,” says Kim. “The material is slightly lighter than the OG Easy-Peezy dress, but still durable and substantial. I personally prefer the feel of this thinner fabric—it’s also cooling which makes sweaty workouts or running errands in the summer more comfortable.”
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Cute design elements with cutouts and twists
- Built-in shorts and bra
Cons
- Back hook closure can be tricky to put on when in a rush
Halara's Breezeful Pleated Skirt ($39.95)
Meg’s Take
“ICYMI, Taylor Swift wore this unique tennis skirt to Coachella this year, and after trying it myself, I can truthfully say it checks all the boxes,” says associate shopping editor Meg Uy. “Unlike other athleisure skirts, it has a cool, adjustable buckle strap on the thigh that gives the sporty piece an edgy touch. I love how it exposes the built-in spandex shorts on the left side for a lil skin-baring moment. Its sweat-wicking fabric is incredibly lightweight and breathable, which is perfect for those days when you're out and about for hours. The one gripe I had was that the skirt would fly up easily even with a light breeze and I was constantly having to keep it down.”
Pros
- Versatile for styling
- Has built-in shorts
- Comes in both solid and plaid colorways
Cons
- Skirt flies up more easily due to the slit
A deeper dive into Team Cosmo's thoughts post-testing...
A lot of us were skeptical of the materials since the price was so low compared to other athleisure brands, but ended up being pleasantly surprised. Not only is everything buttery soft and super stretchy, but I personally found the workout clothes to actually be pretty supportive. The Easy Peezy Dress has a built-in bra that is sturdy enough to eliminate the need for a full sports bra, plus that bathroom-friendly built-in shorts design is game-changing. The material is not only comfortable, but also smoothing on the body. Over the three months of testing (and washing) our clothes, the quality has held up well without any pilling.
The fit
We appreciated that the size range starts at an XS and goes up to plus size in every style that we tested, although we disliked that some plus size options cost more than their straight size counterparts. Overall, the pieces fit fairly true to size with a few exceptions. We did find that one dress ran slightly smaller than another dress (despite being the same size and of a similar design) and that the built-in shorts rode up a bit too much, making them not ideal for high-intensity workouts. But they were comfortable overall, and the everyday clothes like the trousers offered ample comfort and elasticity for all-day wear.
The designs
All testers loved the different silhouette options Halara has to offer (no wardrobe fatigue here!). And that easy-on/off backless shorts design? Game-changing! We also loved that Halara takes pride in incorporating community feedback when designing clothes. They use customer reviews and algorithms in order to create top-tier designs that are as fashionable as they are practical. For example, customers wanted to be able to use the bathroom while sporting the dresses, and Halara delivered—its backless shorts design was created! Or when customers wanted a longer dress, Halara made different length options!
The bottom line
Despite some slight fit issues, overall, every tester had a positive experience with the brand and would recommend it to a friend. In search of some new office outfits? They have a plethora of business-casual designs. Looking for a workout outfit? You can find everything including sports bras, leggings, and of course, the viral Easy Peezy dress. Oh, and it's all at a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere. In summary: 10/10!
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
Hannah is the Shopping Editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from chic home decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and pictures of her office outfits that nobody asked for.
