of all the words i would use to describe myself, “edgy” wouldn’t be among them. sure, i may wear all black and occasionally sport dark lipstick, but owning a faux leather jacket from target and dating a guy with tattoos is about as edgy as i get. otherwise, i’m as conventional as they come.

so imagine my surprise when i was contacted by roic + bru athletique, an athleisure lifestyle brand focused on blurring the lines between your favorite workout apparel and your most fashionable ensemble, with the opportunity to model pieces from their new collection. one look at the line and i wasn’t sure i was cool enough to sport such innovative, almost futuristic, designs. but i loved the concept of adding a little edge to my workout wear and the fact that all of the pieces were versatile enough to incorporate into my non-exercise life, so i was grateful for the opportunity to learn more.

i tried on four pieces from their upcoming fall/winter 2016 collection, available for pre-order via their kickstarter account. on top i layered the soul’o top over the matching bralette. i loved how the asymmetry of the cream-colored performance knit top over the black straps of the spandex bralette beneath created visual interest and helped me feel tight and toned in all the right places. both were extremely comfortable, which is obviously one of my top requirements when looking for pieces to add to my workout and non-workout wardrobes.

the next piece was definitely the most playful and futuristic of them all. layered over the soul’o top and bralette, i modeled the eeo crop. with exaggerated shoulders and made from an embossed ponte knit that almost reads like leather, this is definitely not your average layering piece. it makes a statement and is truly unlike anything i’ve seen in not only the fitness apparel realm, but in the fashion industry as a whole. while i’m not sure how functional it would be in a studio barre class, i would totally rock it layered over a tank, skinny jeans, and black pumps for a night on the town. plus it has one of my favorite features in a long-sleeve top -thumb-holes!

finally, let’s talk leggings. the spectre pant is everything i’ve wanted in a legging but wasn’t sure i was cool enough to pull off. plain and simple (and pardon my french), they make me feel bad a$%. they’re made from performance grade spandex with not one, not two, but four-way stretch, to ensure they don’t feel like a sausage casing when you slip into them. designed by and created for women, roic + bru athletique’s pieces are definitely created with the female physique in mind. the majority of the pant is a polyester/spandex blend whose smooth lines look like buttery leather. on the knees, however, is an extra block of quilted jacquard supplex fabric, which is an ingenious detail for mat workouts (barre, pilates, yoga) as well as for mommas with toddlers who may be on all fours picking up toys from the bedroom floor. in addition to the liquid black, these pants also come in grey with white knee detailing.

important to note in all of roic + bru’s pieces is the fact that they boast moisture wicking ability -which, in layman’s terms, means that as you sweat, the fabric pulls the moisture from the body to the exterior of the garment so it can evaporate more easily. because the last thing you want to feel like is a sweaty mess in your workout clothes, right?

since socially responsible clothing is a topic of conversation these days, i’m happy to report that all of roic + bru’s design, development, and manufacturing occurs right here in the good ol’ us of a.

all in all, i was very impressed with both the uniqueness and cohesiveness of roic + bru athletique’s collection. their mission is to create clothing that “moves beyond athleisure” and with hip, cool, and functional designs, i’d say they’re well on their way.

interested in learning more about roic + bru athletique? check out (and pledge!) their kickstarter campaign, like their facebook page, follow them on twitter, and peruse their instagram account for more information and details regarding the launch of their fall/winter 2016 collection.

thank you again to the entire roic + bru team for such a fun and memorable experience!

photos courtesy of tracy waldron