6 Easy Ways To Elevate Athleisure
We’re all familiar with those days when you just can’t face wearing anything but leggings or sweats, but what do you do when you need to look more pulled together? There are several styling tricks that will immediately add polish to your trackpants, sweatshirt and sneakers, ensuring you won’t feel scruffy in these sporty staples
Athleisure has been an off-duty staple for years, but it was the pandemic that really saw it accelerate as dress codes softened and, overnight, it became an entire section of our closets that was suddenly worth investing in. These are items that can be a solid foundation for your everyday wardrobe, not just reserved for a yoga class – and the likes of Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber show that athleisure can be elevated to so much more than exercise kit. Spoiler alert: a tailored jacket and a pair of sunglasses are your best friends here.
Leggings and leather
The base of your outfit may well be a comfortable and very casual gym kit, but if you contrast it with the smartest items you own, your look becomes instantly more luxe and considered. The three items that will elevate a pair of leggings beautifully are as follows: a leather jacket (preferably a tailored fit, as adding refinement is key), chic white sneakers, such as Jil Sander’s ‘Moon’ style, and a beautiful leather shoulder bag. This look is lunges-to-lunch at its finest (or lie-in-to-lunch if that’s more your vibe).
Blazer and sweatpants
On days when you just can’t face leaving the house wearing anything other than your sweatpants, a great blazer has the power to sharpen athleisurewear into a look that’s smart enough for coffee dates, meetings and the school run. The trick it to opt for slightly more refined track pants, such as Sporty & Rich’s navy cotton-jersey tapered style, and pair with an oversized blazer – Wardrobe.NYC’s are a fashion-girl favorite for a reason. A pair of sleek black loafers, will keep things polished; while a monogram shoulder bag such as Gucci’s completes the look.
Track top + tailored pants
If lunching in leggings and a baseball cap is not your thing, ’70s-inflected sportswear offers a chic, Lycra-lite approach to off-duty dressing – and captaining the team is a retro track jacket, which looks effortlessly cool worn with pale-wash denim and sneakers. British designer Wales Bonner’s ongoing link-up with Adidas Originals has produced some seriously aspirational athleisure, and the brown shell jacket from the latest collection is sure to become a cult item. Wear with Wardrobe.NYC’s chic wide-leg pants, Bottega Veneta Eyewear’s shades and a chunky gold necklace. Alternatively, pair with the matching sweatpants if you’re actually hitting the gym.
Elevate a bomber jacket with a skirt and heels
Another popular way to elevate athleisure is to take a sporty bomber, such as Sacai’s cool black version, and swap your sneakers for standout heeled boots to give the look a polished feel. Khaite’s snake-effect ankle pair are a timeless fail-safe that look great paired with a sleek midi skirt such as Toteme’s. Complete the look with oversized sunglasses and minimal silver jewelry. The trick here is to embrace unlikely contrasts.
Hoodie and midi skirt
A hoodie and midi skirt might sound like something of a sartorial mismatch, but if you select your pieces carefully, this is the perfect weekend look. Loro Piana’s black wrap-style midi will look great with a cropped fit hoodie that will show off the pretty button details, such as Les Tien’s burgundy style. To pull the look together, add sleek accessories: Loewe Eyewear’s cat-eye ‘Cocktail’ glasses will add instant polish.
Finishing touches
When in doubt, focus all attention on the accessories, as these can be key to adding fashionable flair. On’s crisp white and orange ‘Cloud X 4’ sneakers bring freshness to top-to-toe Lycra, while Toteme’s dark-gray pair add a cool-girl edge to top-to-toe denim. Don’t overlook the gym bag, either: Loewe’s large crinkled-leather ‘Fold’ bag will elevate both early-morning workouts or weekends away.
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