5 Easy Way to Pull Off the Athleisure Trend
Forget being called ‘basic’, comfort is king and thanks to the every-growing popularity of the Athleisure trend there’s no reason you can’t wear your gym clothes on the school run, out to lunch with the girls, or even to the office (what a time to be alive!). Yes it’s true, looking great in your favourite sporting brands isn’t only meant for the gym or hitting the trails, it’s still completely acceptable to wear your gym kit almost anywhere! Don’t believe us? Just look at Beyoncé’s Ivy Park line, Rihanna for Puma and the sought-after Adidas Yeezy by Kanye West. These celebrities and many more have helped fuel the athleisure boom and made it look very cool to wear your favourite sports brands all day long. If you’re still not sure how to pull off this trend successfully here are 5 easy steps to looking oh-so-fabulous in your active wear.
“People are changing the way they live and are focusing a lot more on health and well-being. What they wear isn’t as controlled by social norms as it was a decade ago,” says Carey Mol, MD of online sporting apparel and gear store, Commander HQ. “It’s far more acceptable to wear your workout clothes outside of the gym, but there are a few important rules to remember when attempting to work your gym wear into your daily routine.” Carey recommends these top tips:
1. Keep up with seasonal trends
Believe it or not, activewear has trends. Black is still the safe bet, and can be matched with just about anything, but to create a chic look it’s best to mix and match. More and more colour and bold patterns are being introduced into active wear lines. These look amazing when worn with black and mixing your bold patterns with neutral items is a surefire way to take your outfit from drab to fab.
2. Invest in pieces that mix function and fashion
Invest in good quality pieces that are made using performance fabrics. This will ensure the clothing isn’t see-through and will be flattering on your body – especially if you’re using it for both everyday and workout wear. Look for pieces that are quick drying, odour resistant and moisture wicking. For example, Skins DNAmic Women’s Tights have an engineered waistband for a comfortable, precise fit and its exceptional moisture management keeps you dry and comfortable.
3. Accessorize appropriately
According to celebrity stylist, Rob Zangardi, who works with the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Gwen Stefani, you only need one piece to take your athleisure look from gym to street. Whether it’s a pair of mirrored sunglasses, a leather jacket, or even a shirt tied around your waist, the right accessory can give you a sleek sporty look.
4. Heels
There is nothing like a great pair of heels to finish off a look and yes, you can wear high heels with your exercise gear! Dress up black leggings with a brightly coloured heel, preferably a peep-toe or wedge, throw over a sequenced tank top and you’re ready to go.
5. When in doubt, stick to neutrals
If you love colour and you don’t mind making a bold fashion statement go for it but, when in doubt neutrals are your safest bet. Blacks, white and greys are a great place to start when it comes to athleisure and once you’ve got the hang of it, you can start playing around with patterns and bold colours.