Royal Robbins Xenon Top : Versatility Meets Style

I admit it. As I've gotten older, I've gotten a bit vain about my fitness wardrobe. Twenty years ago, I was wearing my dad's old football jersey and a pair of sweat pants with a crotch that bagged down to my knees. These days I expect more out of my fitness gear. I want clothes that don't show giant yellow spots in the armpits when I sweat, that feel somewhat cooler and drier than a kitchen sponge, and that don't open new ventilation holes in embarrassing places whenever I move too quickly. Oh, and if possible, I want my exercise clothes to make me look really, REALLY hot.

So, okay, RR's Xenon shirt may not be enough to get me on the cover of Glamour Magazine, but it's definitely super-cute. I love the little embroidered detail on one hip (feminine without being frou-frou) and the wrap-around bodice. I put it through its paces at my weekly belly dancing class, and I couldn't have been more pleased. The material felt light and comfortable, with a soft, silky hand. This cotton-poly-spandex blend shirt allowed me total freedom of movement while managing to stay put--no slipping or gapping to let various body parts fall out. At the end of class, the shirt still looked fresh and unwrinkled, even if I didn't.

Next, the Xenon came with me for a Passover get-together in the Mountains of North Georgia. After being scrunched in my suitcase, it still looked great. While clambering up and down steep woodsy hills and working up a good sweat in the hot and humid Georgia air, the shirt managed to keep me dry and cool. No sweaty armpit spots, hurray! The best test of all, though, came from baby Annabelle, who thought the Xenon looked yummy enough to eat. (Literally.) With some trepidation, I stared down at my baby-slimed shirt and wondered if it could be salvaged: amazingly, after about five minutes the drool-goobers simply dried up and vanished! Presto, the Xenon looked as glorious as ever! A few days later, after being sweated and drooled on, smooshed, stretched, and otherwise abused, the Xenon still looked good enough to be worn with a skirt to Passover Seder. And let me tell you...I looked faaaaaaabulous.

Bottom Line: The Little Black Dress of the fitness world. This shirt is tough enough for working out, comfy enough for lounging, classy enough for a nice dinner in town, and cute enough for anything any day! --N.W. (May '06)

Price: $44.

Manufacturer's Site: www.royalrobbins.com

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