What Is Sizing Like at Alo Yoga? An Honest Stylist's Fit Guide

By Ella Blake – Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder | Tellar – Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

The short answer: Alo Yoga generally fits true to size, so most people should take their usual size. But activewear is never quite that simple, and Alo is a brand where the fabric does as much talking as the size label. After years of pulling Alo pieces for shoots and squeezing into more pairs of their leggings than I care to admit, my honest take is that you can trust your normal size in most styles — with a few important style-by-style caveats I'll walk you through below.

Does Alo Yoga run small, big or true to size?

For the majority of their range, Alo lands bang on true to size. The reason it can feel small is the compression. Their signature Airbrush fabric is dense and sculpting, so the first time you pull a pair on you may panic and assume you've sized down by accident — you haven't, that's just the hold doing its job. Here's how it breaks down by category:

Leggings: True to size in the hero styles. Airbrush and Airlift both fit as you'd expect, just snug and supportive. If you're between sizes or want a softer, less compressive feel, size up. If you want them painted on for a hard workout, stay put.
Sports bras: True to size for most, but if you're a fuller bust I'd nudge you up a size for proper coverage and to avoid that squashed-down feeling in higher-impact styles.
Tops and tanks: The most varied category — some are cropped and fitted, others deliberately loose and floaty. Stick to your usual size and check whether the cut is "fitted" or "relaxed" before you buy.
Hoodies, sweats and sets: These are cut for a relaxed, slouchy drape. True to size gives you that intended oversized look. Size down only if you want them neater through the body.

A quick confession of my own: my first Alo order was a wardrobe win and a fail in the same parcel. The Airbrush leggings in my normal size were perfection — second-skin, didn't budge through a reformer class. But I'd sized down in a sweatshirt thinking "activewear runs big," and ended up with something I could barely lift my arms in. Lesson learned: trust the brand, not your assumptions.

How to nail your Alo size first time

Decide your feel before you buy. Compression and support, or relaxed and breathable? That single decision tells you whether to stay true to size or size up.
Mind the inseam. Alo leggings tend to run genuinely full-length, which I love — no more cropped-at-the-ankle compromises. Taller readers, rejoice; petites, factor it in.
Don't over-order on bras. The stretch is excellent, so a too-big band will ride up. Go true to size and only adjust for bust.
Check the product page wording. Alo flags "fitted" versus "relaxed" on each piece — it's the single most reliable steer they give you.

Where else to shop: my brand recommendations

If you love the elevated-athleisure look Alo built its name on, here are the brands I actually send clients to, organised by budget. I've picked these specifically for performance activewear and the studio-to-street aesthetic — not just the usual suspects.

High street & accessible

M&S (Goodmove) – Quietly brilliant value, with sculpting leggings and supportive bras that punch well above their price. My go-to for clients who want to test the waters without the Alo price tag.
H&M (Move) – The most affordable entry point, surprisingly decent compression leggings and seamless sets that photograph far more expensive than they are.
Gymshark – Strong on squat-proof compression and a younger, gym-forward fit. Best for training rather than yoga flow.
COS – If it's the minimal, architectural lounge side of Alo you're after, COS does pared-back movement-friendly basics with that clean Scandi line.

Premium

Sweaty Betty – The British answer to Alo. Their sculpting leggings are some of the most flattering on the market and the quality genuinely lasts.
Lululemon – Alo's closest rival. The Align range in their buttery Nulu fabric is the one to try if you want softness over heavy compression.
Calvin Klein – For sleek, minimalist sports bras and logo-led pieces that work as easily under a blazer as in the studio.
Superdry – A solid premium-casual option for the off-duty hoodie-and-jogger side of the Alo look.

Luxury & designer

Max Mara (Leisure) – When you want the elevated, throw-it-over-everything luxury layer that bridges activewear and real clothes.

Two independent brands worth knowing

TALA – Founder-led, sustainability-focused British activewear with sculpting fabrics that genuinely rival Alo's at a kinder price. A brilliant left-field swap most people haven't tried yet.
Vaara – Scandi-luxe activewear with a refined, fashion-forward edge. If you want the Alo aesthetic but a little more under-the-radar, this is my insider pick.

Find your exact Alo size in seconds with Tellar

Here's the bit that saves you the returns headache. Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool — your body matched exactly to 1,500-plus brands instantly, so you never have to squint at a size guide again.

Measure once using your bust, waist and hip, or simply enter a size you already own in another brand.
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and hundreds more: tellar.co.uk/store-size-lookup
Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

And once you've sorted your size, the Tellar Fashion Hub is a free library of honest, unbiased, independent style posts from our top stylists — style advice, top picks and the best brands, all in one place. A few of my most-read guides:

Stop guessing your size.

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