This term was first coined several years ago when activewear started to take over global retail. In other words, women started wearing their yoga pants everywhere, and boom! Another department.
And it’s not a small one.
Now valued at over $84 billion, this is not a “passing trend”. Companies are much more relaxed on dress code, overall fashion trends are more casual, and people just don’t have the time to change their entire outfit after their workouts and before their errands. And as a trainer, I couldn’t be happier!
I lived in my team-issued gear at Ohio State, mostly because it was comfortable, but it was also because I just didn’t want to have to go all the way home before practice. These days, when I teach, I am usually going to or from a class that I was taking! And don’t have a ton of time between classes to be able to get some errands done. And let’s be honest, yoga pants are so much more comfortable than jeans!
And a lot of people agree, and want this trend to stay as long as possible. So I decided to document some of my favorite athleisure pieces and outfits. The key? Finding one or two pieces that you could wear with several different outfits, or maybe even jeans! If it passes the jeans test, then you could probably wear it anywhere.
LAYERS
Whether it’s a light jacket, a scarf, wrap, or sweatshirt, unless it is 90° outside, I tend to layer up. If you’re leaving a class, you probably want to cover up that sweaty tank or tee! It’s also a great way to make your athleisure look more like an outfit than your workout gear.
THE RIGHT BAG
This part is key! Now, I’m not the kind of person that can carry two different kinds of bags, because odds are something very crucial will be left in the wrong bag, right when I need it. So make sure you have a bag that again, could be paired with jeans, or you would be comfortable to take into a casual restaurant! That way you know that whether you’re in the gym, running errands, or meeting your girlfriend for coffee, you’re covered!
PANTS & LEGGINGS
You cannot go wrong with a pair of black leggings, but to me, those shiny leggings that I sometimes wear when I workout (you know the kind) don’t exactly fit in with my jean jacket look. So having a good number of simple and matte pair of leggings that, yes, you can definitely wear in the gym, but also could pass for a casual weekend look too!
I’m also loving the joggers trend that has increased lately. Lululemon has come out with an amazing pair, called the Align Jogger, that you could also work out in. But if you’re not looking to spend $100, there are some other really good options out there too!
Now, put some of those new finds that you shopped above, and put them to use in some of these cute outfits! You can also click each of these images to shop each of them individually.
Happy shopping!!
