Attractive and Active: Best Athletic Wear Stores In LA

In the past, exercising was not considered "cool" or mainstream and our choices for workout apparel were limited to satin lycra leos a la Jane Fonda, dolphin shorts donning Richard Simmons or leg warmers with matching headbands from Olivia Newton John's "Let's Get Physical" days. In addition, clothing for outdoor adventures were less-than-desirable, frumpy options that closely resembled a hermit hiding in the wilderness.Today, sporting a Wendy-workout pony and wearing your fitness gear around town is one of the hottest fashion trends and a rapidly growing business sector.

From gym to real life

Hours: Mon to Thurs—10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri to Sat—10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun—11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Founded in Vancouver BC in 1998, lululemon athletica is one of the premier trendsetters in the fitness apparel market. Not only is the clothing comfortable, breathable and sweat-proof, the functional styles are chic and come in a variety of colors and patterns. The company makes exercise wear for yoga, running, dancing, hiking and any other sweaty activity that requires great-fitting clothes. In addition, lululemon puts the customer first as each of its locations offer complimentary yoga and Pilates classes. This Glendale location offers yoga every Sunday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Hours: Mon to Sat — 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Lucy Activewear focuses on three fits, three lengths and varying levels of compression and support geared specifically to a women's workout. Loyal customers are drawn to shopping at lucy because each of the styles is designed and developed by women who actually exercise. The lucy team is comprised of marathoners, triathletes, swimmers, tennis players, golfers, rock climbers, dancers, weight lifters, Pilates enthusiasts and martial arts experts. The apparel sold here will take you to the gym, the yoga studio or your next traveling adventure.

Hours: Mon to Sat—10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

No one (and we mean no one) wants to jiggle during a spin class. Lisa M Fitness Fashions is the place to shop for Bia Brazil, fitness bottoms designed especially for spinning, while at the same time keeping your booty and belly from spilling over. The Bia Brazil shorts are made with Brazilian Supplex from DuPont, which is a wicking fabric that will keep you dry during any workout. And, how do we know this? Because Lisa M Fitness Fashion experts test and retest each product they sell to ensure that it meets their clients' highest standards.

Live to dance

Hours: Mon to Fri—11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat to Sun—11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

From the street, The Dance Store's location isn't too impressive, but upon entering you are whisked away into a world of delicate Swan Lake-like tutus and Debbie Allen-inspired jazz ensembles. The store has the widest selection of pointe shoes on the West Coast and dancers from all over the world come to The Dance Store for its professional pointe shoe fittings.

Hours: Mon to Sat -10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sun - 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

With entertainment industry clients including Universal Studios, Warner Brothers and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, it is no wonder Karabel Dancewear is jammed most days with shoppers. The store not only offers a wide selection of dancewear for all styles of dance, but it also provides customers with a huge selection of fitness training, gymnastics, yoga, Pilates and ice skating apparel.

One if by land, two if by sea

Hours: Mon to Fri—10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat—10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun-10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Having a reputation as being one of the best outdoor outfitters in the U.S., Adventure 16 offers customers a shopping experience that is thorough, knowledgeable and fun. The store is dedicated to providing its customers with the finest products from hiking shoes to alpine skiing baselayers, first hand and accurate information about each of the products it sells and an ample supply of inspiration to discover your next outdoor adventure. On Saturday, May 5 at 5 p.m., Adventure 16 invites you to join its team of experts in the "Reaching Beyond the Clouds Slideshow & Booksigning" featuring Cindy Abbott, who will tell her extraordinary true story about her journey to the summit of Mt. Everest while battling Wegener's Granulomatosis, a rare disease that turned her own body against her.

Related: Best Kids' Camping Gear 

Hours: Mon to Fri—10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat—10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun—Noon to 6 p.m.

Discovering the depths of your interest in the underwater world is made easy at Eco Dive Center. From novice to know-it-all, Eco Dive Center offers the best top quality scuba and snorkeling brands from all over the world featuring products from the most popular, top rated dive gear including instructor's choice Hendersons Wetsuits. Known for the company's H2 Hyperstretch Comfort, Hendersons Wetsuits incorporates the latest advances in neoprene, fabrics and technology.

Jennifer Geisman is a freelance writer and faithful beauty junkie living in Los Angeles. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.