It doesn’t get more textbook LA than a midday outdoor workout in a private mansion with panoramic views of the city. It’s also what brought me on a recent Saturday to the landmark Sheats-Goldstein residence to test out On’s latest innovation: the SenseTec Studio legging. Engineered as a low-impact tight that moves with you—not against you—a day of artful movement led by Cami Árboles would bring the new design to life.
Allow me to set the scene: High eighties, clear blue skies—the only clouds in sight are box-fresh sneakers, sported by the On team that flew in from Zurich (where the brand is headquartered), London, and New York to put the event together a mere 24 hours before the LA marathon. The Sheats-Goldstein residence—an experiment in indoor-outdoor living originally devised by architect John Lautner and realized in concrete and glass in 1963—is perched at the far end of a road in the secluded Beverly Crest neighborhood. As I quickly learned, it’s impossible to reach by car.
A golf cart stationed at a cul-de-sac whisked guests to and from the house’s main entrance. From there, it’s down a few steps, through a long hallway, and onto another set of staircases that leads you to the garden. The first thing I noticed was the view: sprawling. The second, the infinity pool. Its glittering waters would soon be the backdrop of our flexibility class. Two pool houses—rendered in steel and stone—flanked the patio (a humble description), which for the occasion had been turned into small changing rooms. My lilac tote and outfit in hand, I slipped into the nearest one to get ready.
The Leggings
A devoted On fan—I’ve been running in the brand’s sneakers for nearly a decade now—I’m less familiar with its apparel than I am its running shoes. Still, given the brand’s reputation for innovation, I had high hopes for the leggings and the design tech that powers them, which promises a soft and smooth-to-the-touch wear, with just enough stretch for low-impact movement.
What stands out for me with any new legging is fit and feel first, performance second. I go through a mental checklist to determine what works and what doesn’t: What’s the length and general cut? I like a 7/8 crop since I’m only 5’1, and usually don’t do side pockets since I’d rather keep my phone in my jacket if I’m running (if it’s a studio class, I’m not working out with anything on me). I don’t like anything ultra high-waisted and prefer fabrics that are soft and barely-there—I want second-skin, not Saran Wrap.
They say first impressions are everything, and it didn’t take long for me to figure out what the SenseTec Studio legging was all about. Like Cami in her tripod headstand, I found the leggings to be wonderfully well-balanced: Lightweight but not light-as-air, stretchy but not too loose, and comfortable from the get-go. A 1 p.m. workout under the blazing sun is ultimate litmus test: I got a little sunburnt, but at least I didn’t overheat.
The leggings have a phone pocket that I barely noticed, and the 23-inch inseam hits right at the ankle (just how I like it). The high waist bunched a little when seated, but it was hardly cause for breaking focus when attempting an inversion (the whipping wind, however, was another story).
Colors in Motion
On’s SenseTec Studio leggings come in a mix of neutrals (black and navy) and pastels (washed pink, mint green, dusty mauve, and a wispy blue that’s soon to launch). Our session put the lighter colors in focus: I was outfitted in the mint green (“mineral”) legging, along with the brand’s criss-cross bra and fitted zip-up jacket for a tonal look that captures the essence of spring. The soft tones are soothing—these are shades you might gravitate to to lift yourself up, or even to feel grounded; an intentional palette reflective of the kind of movement you do to feel calm and centered.
The market for studio-to-street leggings is a crowded one, and I’d argue the only way to make into a regular rotation is to make someone feel good in what they’re wearing. Somehow, these did—in a color I’d never have imagined for myself. If that isn’t Hollywood movie magic, what is?
