Every brand has a piece that best explains why that brand has the reputation it does. For Lunalae, the answer changes with each collection but right now, the piece that most clearly demonstrates what makes Lunalae worth knowing about is the Kehlani High Waist Bottom in Steel Blue.
Not because it's the most dramatic piece in the store. Not because it photographs most spectacularly. But because it delivers everything Lunalae is consistently celebrated for extraordinary fabric softness, a waistband that genuinely holds, and a colourway specific enough to feel like a real choice in a format that works for every training session you'll ever have.
What the Kehlani Actually Is
Lunalae Kehlani High Waist Bottom Steel Blue
The Kehlani is a high-waisted pole training short from Lunalae's current collection, available in the Steel Blue colourway a muted, sophisticated blue-grey that sits at the intersection of neutral and distinctive.
Available in Australian sizing 2 through 12, the Kehlani carries Lunalae's standard fabric construction: the premium nylon-spandex blend that the brand is known for, with the four-way stretch and excellent recovery that makes Lunalae pieces hold up through years of regular training.
The Steel Blue Colourway: A Specific Kind of Versatility
Steel Blue is the detail that makes the Kehlani more interesting than a standard training bottom.
Most training shorts sit in two categories: neutral (black, white, grey) or statement (bold prints, vivid colours). Neutral bottoms pair with everything but provide no visual interest. Statement bottoms provide visual interest but require more thought in pairing.
Steel Blue is neither. It's specific enough to look chosen, not generic, not default but muted enough to pair naturally with almost any top. Black top: Steel Blue reads as a considered accent. White top: Steel Blue creates a clean, editorial pairing. A Thunderstorm Gigi Active Top from Paradise Chick: the blue tones work together in unexpected harmony.
This is what Lunalae does particularly well: colourways that are distinctive without being difficult. Steel Blue is a specific choice that makes itself easy.
The Lunalae Fabric: What Makes It Different
This bears explaining for anyone who hasn't tried Lunalae before, because "extraordinary softness" as a descriptor doesn't fully communicate the experience.
Most quality activewear fabrics feel functional. They stretch, they recover, they hold their shape. The experience of wearing them is neutral - you don't think about them because they don't demand attention.
Lunalae's fabric demands attention in a different direction: it feels so good that you notice it. The hand feel of the premium nylon-spandex blend - smoother, softer, more tactile than standard activewear fabric is consistently the first thing people mention after wearing Lunalae for the first time.
For pole training specifically, this matters because you're wearing very little and the fabric is in constant contact with your skin. The difference between training in fabric that feels neutral and fabric that feels genuinely pleasant is felt over the course of a full session.
The High Waist Design: Why It Works for Pole
The Kehlani's high waist isn't a styling choice - it's an engineering decision for pole training specifically.
Why high waist matters for pole:
Security during inversions. When you're upside down, gravity works on everything including your waistband. A high waist provides more fabric above the hip to maintain position. The Kehlani's wide, structured waistband sits securely through inverts, drops, and any dynamic movement without rolling or sliding.
Midsection coverage preference. The pole community has broadly embraced high-waisted styles because they provide midsection coverage without sacrificing the leg exposure needed for pole grip. The Kehlani's high waist covers the midsection; the leg cut maintains inner thigh access.
The silhouette. High waist with a high leg cut creates the elongated leg line that the community has embraced as the defining aesthetic of modern polewear. The Kehlani delivers this in a fabric that enhances rather than simply achieves it.
Pairing the Kehlani
With Lunalae's own crop tops: Lunalae designs tops and bottoms to work together. A Lunalae crop in a complementary colourway or a matching top if the collection includes one creates the coordinated training look the brand excels at.
With the Gigi Active Top from Paradise Chick: The Thunderstorm colourway (deep electric purple-grey) of the Gigi Active Top sits in a related cool-toned palette to the Kehlani's Steel Blue. An unexpected pairing that the community has embraced.
With the Queen Wear Top Nova Grippy: Steel Blue Kehlani bottoms with a black Queen Wear grippy top creates a technical training combination - Lunalae's fabric softness on the bottom, Queen Wear's Star grippy functionality on top.
With the Rolling Brand Botanica Balconette Bra: The botanical print works with almost any bottom Steel Blue is no exception.
The Carla Mesh: The Other Lunalae Essential
If the Kehlani is Lunalae's current training standout, the Carla Mesh High Waist Bike Shorts Recycled Black is its counterpart same brand, different approach.
|
Factor |
Kehlani |
Carla Mesh |
|
Fabric |
Solid premium nylon-spandex |
Recycled nylon with mesh panelling |
|
Colourway |
Steel Blue |
Black |
|
Length |
Hot pants / training short |
Longer bike short |
|
Eco credentials |
Standard |
Recycled nylon ✅ |
|
Best for |
Performance + versatile training |
Beginner-friendly + sustainable choice |
Between the two, the Kehlani suits intermediate to advanced dancers who want Lunalae's fabric quality in the colourway that best represents the brand's aesthetic. The Carla suits beginners and eco-conscious shoppers who want more coverage and sustainable fabric.
Sizing the Kehlani
The Kehlani uses Lunalae's Australian sizing (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) which does not correspond directly to US sizing. Use your hip measurement in centimetres and compare it to the product-specific size chart.
The Kehlani's high waist means the high hip measurement (approximately 4 inches above your standard hip) is also relevant for waistband fit comfort. If your high hip measurement pushes the top of a size range, consider sizing up for the most comfortable waistband experience.
When between sizes: go up. Lunalae's fabric has excellent recovery - the larger size will perform well and feel more comfortable through a full training session than a too-tight waistband.
Shop the Kehlani at The Pole Edit
Lunalae Kehlani High Waist Bottom Steel Blue →
Available at The Pole Edit with US domestic shipping no import tariffs, fast delivery, easy returns. Browse the full Lunalae collection or all 7 brands at thepoleedit.com/collections/all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What sizing does the Lunalae Kehlani use? A: Australian sizing (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12). Use your hip measurement in centimetres and compare to the specific size chart on the product page.
Q: What does Steel Blue look like? A: A muted, sophisticated blue-grey - cooler than standard blue, warmer than grey. Specific enough to look chosen, versatile enough to pair with almost any top.
Q: Is the Kehlani high waist suitable for pole training? A: Yes - the high waist is specifically designed for pole training's inversion and dynamic movement requirements. The waistband holds its position through inversions without rolling.
Q: Where can I buy the Lunalae Kehlani in the USA? A: The Pole Edit US domestic shipping, no tariffs, easy returns.
