I was asked to be an ambassador for Svelte Belle clothing through Instagram. I thought I would give them a shot since their clothing on the website looks very cute.
When they first asked me to be an ambassador, I acted as a customer with lots of questions since I love testing customer service. The result was lackluster. The questions weren’t answered, even though I could see they’d read them, or answered after a long wait, vaguely.
I chose the Geode Leggings and the Enchant Sports Bra in pink. Once I put in my order and let them know, I was met with a list of demands from them I was to meet, stating, “We want to create a community of real women who support and inspire each other”, which is nice. But it felt a little insincere with the tone of the rest of the email. Maybe I read too much into the tone…and I was still excited to get my order.
When I ordered the bra and leggings, I did so at the same time, to the same address. Yet, I received them in separate packages, which felt unnecessary.
The Enchant Sports Bra
The bra came in one of those plastic envelopes, wrapped in plastic inside of that. No tag, no paper, nothing. Just the bra wrapped in plastic inside an envelope marked with Chinese lettering, with an address in China, I guess, which gave a-sweatshop-factory-sent-this feel.
My first impression of the bra is that it’s very cute! I loved the light pink colour and the cute straps on the back. I couldn’t wait to wear it for my workout.
My workout was a energetic HIIT workout. Since it wasn’t a long distance run and only a medium amount of bouncing, I figured the “medium support” bra would be fine. I quickly found out two things:
- Website says to go one size up if in between sizes. I was closer to the extra-large, so I ordered that. Going one size up is a bad idea for this bra, since that means it’s comfortable BUT also shifts around a lot during the workout, so I was stopping to readjust a lot.
- Once you wear it for a couple of workouts, it stretches a bit. Which makes it harder to wear during workouts. It’s more suited to light workouts when you have a heavier chest like mine (32D).
Unfortunately, once you sweat in a sports bra for a week, they’re not going to take it back (understandably). I will reserve this one for hiking and low-intensity yoga sessions. So cute, though.
Geode Leggings
The leggings came almost two weeks after the bra, in the same unrecyclable packing, with the Chinese writing and nothing else. The name “Svelte Belle” wasn’t even on the return address. No tags, again, or logo, or welcome.
I had trouble figuring out my size on the website, but I was between a medium and a large. I ordered the large after a lot of consideration. Now, I’m curvy but I’m size 8 or small, normally, so good luck, curvier girls.
When I put on the leggings, I was in love with the pattern. The rest of it, frankly, was disappointing. The material is very thin with visible underwear lines. (And the top of the leggings are black! Not a light colour).
Also, I have a bit of loose skin on my belly from pregnancy- still! (Urgh) These leggings seem to gather it all up into a round ball, making me feel as if I have Santa’s belly. Not a good thing when you have body issues. They didn’t pinch the waist or feel tight, but the shape they gave me was uncomfortable for me to look at.
If you’re size 10 or above, I don’t think you could buy this pattern since it runs small to begin with, which is a shame.
They were comfortable enough to wear during a HIIT workout and during yoga. I would never wear them out, but they will work for at-home yoga sessions.
After testing out two of Svelte Belle’s products, I’m not impressed and won’t be an ambassador of their brand.
I hate NOT liking things. I always want to like every person I meet and every product I try, so it’s heartbreaking not to…but I just can’t, in good conscience, rep this brand. *teary sad face*.
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This is so so helpful, I’m so glad to have found it. They have reached out to me to be an “ambassador” as well. Thank you for this well written review of your experience…. I’ll be steering clear.
I HIGHLY recommend Pineapple Clothing, if they approach you. I work with them and their customer service is incredible, their clothing nice and made in a more environmentally friendly way and the prints fun. I own 4 pairs and I’m happy with them.
Thanks so much! I was approached as well so I really appreciate you taking the time to help others not take the same bullet! <3
Thank you for the review. I’m going to steer clear.
Another person to say thank you again for the review because I was approached as well!
They asked me the same thing, to be an ambassador to their clothing. Not because I wanted to be an ambassador, but, it got me curious and checked on the clothes. It looked really nice and I ordered four items. I got my order but there was just one item being sent! No Svelte brand and made in China! It’s disappointing! Wish I have come across your blog and read it! Lesson learned!
They sent my order in separate packages as well- which came a couple of weeks apart, which is annoying.
I had, basically, the same experience. I like one pair of leggings I ordered and do Hiit workouts in them regularly. But the cuter pair I ordered are super thin, cheap feeling material and don’t stay up when I bend at the waist. I also found the exact same our on another company’s site. Wish I had seen this sooner!
Thanks so much for your review. They approached me as well, and for some reason I wasn’t excited to become and ambassador. I figured I would purchased two items a top and bottom and see how it goes. I’m also a size 8 so I wish i had seen your review first.