Lululemon Align Hip Dips: Honest Review (And 5 Better Alternatives)
The Honest Review
The Lululemon Align is the most popular legging in the world. It is also one of the worst leggings for visible hip dips. Here is why, honestly:
The Problem With Aligns
No compression. Aligns are designed for yoga, with a "naked sensation" fabric (Nulu) that prioritizes freedom of movement over compression. For hip dips, this is the opposite of what you want — the fabric stretches to conform exactly to your body's contour, revealing every structural depression with nothing to smooth it.
Shiny finish. The Nulu fabric has a subtle sheen that catches light. That light creates highlights on the peaks around the dip and shadows in the depression, making the contour more visible than a matte fabric would.
Very thin. Aligns are 1.5-2x thinner than a compression legging like the Wunder Train. The thin fabric provides no visual smoothing.
High-contrast colors. The most popular Align colors are light heathers, pastels, and bright solids — all of which make contours more visible. The black Align minimizes the problem but still shows more contour than a compression black legging.
Who Should Wear Aligns With Hip Dips
Lululemon Aligns are acceptable for hip dips if:
- Your dip is mild and barely visible in flat lighting
- You are wearing them for yoga at home, not as your primary visible legging
- You layer them with a long top or jacket that covers the lateral hip
- You do not care that the dip shows (a valid choice)
Who Should Skip Aligns
The Lululemon Align is a poor choice if:
- Your dip is pronounced and you want it less visible
- You wear leggings as standalone bottoms without a covering layer
- You want the smoothest possible silhouette
- You are spending $98 on a legging and expect it to help, not hurt
The 5 Better Alternatives
1. Lululemon Wunder Train — $98
Why it is better for hip dips: The Wunder Train uses Everlux fabric, which provides significantly more compression than Nulu while remaining comfortable for all-day wear. The fabric is matte (not shiny), thicker than Align fabric, and smooths the lateral hip contour effectively.
The compression is firm enough to reduce the visibility of a moderate dip. The matte finish avoids the highlight-shadow problem that shiny fabrics create.
Trade-off: Less "naked feeling" than Aligns. You will be aware you are wearing compression.
2. Gymshark Vital Seamless — $45-$60
Why it is better for hip dips: The V-cut waistband is one of the best design features for hip dips — it lifts the eye at the lateral hip and draws attention to the waist. The seamless construction avoids the visible seam lines that some leggings create.
Trade-off: Gymshark is "fast fashion" activewear — the quality is good for the price but will not match Lululemon's durability. Expect 12-18 months of regular wear before the compression degrades.
3. Old Navy PowerPress — $30-$45
Why it is better for hip dips: The best value compression legging on the market. The PowerPress fabric provides firm, even compression similar to the Lululemon Wunder Train at less than half the price. The high-waisted design covers the dip area with smoothing compression.
Trade-off: Durability is lower than Lululemon. Expect 12-18 months of regular wear before replacement.
4. Alo Yoga Airbrush High-Waist — $82-$92
Why it is better for hip dips: Thick, firm compression fabric. The Airbrush line is Alo's thickest, most supportive fabric, and it provides the most smoothing of any Alo legging. The high waist covers the dip area with compression.
Trade-off: The thick fabric is warm and less comfortable in summer than thinner options.
5. Spanx Look at Me Now — $68
Why it is better for hip dips: Built-in shapewear panels at the lateral hip. This is the legging that comes closest to combining shapewear and leggings in one garment. The panels provide targeted compression directly over the dip area.
Trade-off: More expensive than standard leggings, and the compression panels can be felt during wear, particularly during exercise.
How to Wear Aligns if You Already Own Them
If you already own Aligns and are not going to replace them, here is how to make them work:
Layer a Long Top
An oversized tee, tunic, or sweatshirt that falls below the hip hides the dip entirely. This is the simplest and most effective solution.
Wear Dark Colors Only
Black Aligns are the least revealing. Avoid light colors, pastels, and bright solids.
Reserve Them for Low-Visibility Settings
Wear Aligns for yoga at home, errands in a long jacket, or layered under a dress. Reserve your smoothing-friendly leggings for the situations where the contour matters more.
Add a Jacket or Cardigan
A cropped or hip-length jacket breaks the visual line at the waist, making the lateral hip contour less prominent.
Should You Buy Aligns If You Have Visible Hip Dips?
The honest answer: probably not. The Align is not designed for the hip dip contour. Lululemon makes better leggings for this specific need — the Wunder Train and the new Contour Fit lines — that cost the same and perform significantly better on the lateral hip.
If you buy Aligns, buy them for their intended purpose (yoga, comfort, the "naked feel") and accept that the dip will be visible. If you buy them expecting them to smooth your hip dips, you will be disappointed.
If you want the Lululemon brand and need hip dip smoothing, buy Wunder Trains. If you want a cheaper alternative, buy Old Navy PowerPress. If you want built-in shaping, buy Spanx Look at Me Now. Any of these will serve you better than the Align for this specific purpose.
The Lululemon Align in Context
The Align is a great legging for yoga and lounging. It is a poor legging for hip dips. The product is not flawed — it is designed for a different purpose. The flaw is buying it for the wrong purpose.
The articles on this site exist to help you choose the right legging for your body and your goals. The Align is the right legging for some bodies and some goals. If your goal is to minimize the visibility of your hip dips in leggings, the Align is not the right choice. The alternatives above are.