What is athleisure?

The new fashion trend blurring fitness and everyday style

Athleisure – a combination of “athletic” and “leisure“- has taken the fashion world by storm in recent years. Athleisure refers to athletic-inspired and sport-influenced clothing designed for workout and everyday wear.

In simple words “Athleisure clothes are stretchy and comfy like exercise clothes. But they also look good so you can wear them anytime.”

Athleisure clothing is full of comfort, performance and versatility. Made up of fabrics that are stretchy, breathable and moisture wicking that keeps you cool during exercise. Yet these casual attires are stylish and trendy enough to wear to run everyday errands or go to brunch with friends.

The core concept behind athleisure is that comfort and performance need not compromise on style. Athleisure wear allows you to make workout time and downtime just as fashionable. You can go straight from yoga class to coffee with your friends without having to change clothes.

What started as a trend among fitness and health enthusiasts has now become mainstream. Leggings, yoga pants, sports bras, mesh sneakers; hoodies and joggers are some of the most popular athleisure clothing options.

While originally focused on neutral colours and simple silhouettes, athleisure trend now encompasses a wider variety of patterns, textures and details that fuse high performance with on-trend fashion sensibilities.

Key elements of athleisure style

Comfort is King: Athleisure clothing is all about comfort. Its fabrics and fits are designed to keep you cosy and supported. Whether you are practicing yoga, hitting gym or simply lounging around. Athleisure clothing comes in fabrics like polyester blends, spandex and elastane that allow stretch for optimal range of motion.

Silhouettes that Support: Athleisure wear comes in form-fitting silhouettes. Form-fitting leggings, yoga pants and sports bras offer compression and support during exercise. Joggers, sweatpants and oversized hoodies provide a comfy, loose fit for maximum comfort. The key is finding styles that support you without restricting movement.

Practical Details: Performance features like zipper pockets, mesh panels and breathable materials make athleisure clothing highly functional. Zipper pockets provide a secured storage on the go while mesh panels allow airflow and ventilation during your workouts.

Sporty Yet Stylish: Athletic-inspired details like racerback tops, and mesh panels give this clothing a sporty aesthetic without looking too “workout-y”.

Types of Athleisure Clothing

Leggings & Yoga Pants: The ultimate staple of any athleisure wardrobe, you will find at least one legging in their wardrobe. leggings and yoga pants are made from stretchy, sweat-wicking fabrics that move with you. High-waisted styles provide tummy control while cropped and 3/4 length options pair perfectly with crop tops.

Joggers: These casual sweatpants offer the same relaxed fit and stretch fabric as typical sweatpants. But with a tapered, ankle-length leg. This slimmer silhouette makes joggers trendier and more versatile, easily transitioning from workout to everyday wear.

Sports Bras: With a range of support levels from light to high impact, sports bras are essential for keeping you comfortable during high-intensity exercise. Look for option with racerback or adjustable strappy styles for extra support.

Hoodies & Sweatshirts: Hoodies and sweatshirts made from breathable technical fabrics provide a flexible layer during and after workouts. Overfield styles pair well with leggings while cropped tops pair perfectly with high-waisted bottoms. Bonus features like kangaroo pockets and elastic cuffs allow for easy, casual wear.

Mesh Sneakers: For the ultimate in breathability and traction, mesh sneakers made with breathable mesh uppers offer plenty of ventilation to keep your feet cool. Flexible EVA midsoles provide cushioning and comfort while rubber soles provide durable grip.

Athleisure styling tips

Make It Mixy: Mix and match your athleisure clothing with normal staples to create stylish, put-together unique look. Layer your leggings under an oversized denim jacket and pair with chunky sneakers. Throw on an oversized hoodie with this stunning metallic leggings and heeled ankle boots. The mix of sporty and sharp pieces keeps looks fresh and on-trend.

Try Monochrome: Stay in a consistent colour family from head to toe for an effortlessly chic athleisure aesthetic. All-black workout gear pairs perfectly, while all-white looks crisp and clean. Monochrome dressing keeps attention on flattering silhouettes versus a busy print pattern.

Make It Patterned: Layer patterns within an overlapping colour palette for on-trend athleisure style. Pair a cropped graphic tee with leggings featuring an abstract pattern in the same neutral tones. Texture-mix coordinating animal leopard print and florals for an eye-catching yet coordinated gym-to-street look.

Try Oversized: Loose, oversized silhouettes allow room for comfort and range of movement – perfect for active endeavors. Oversized hoodies and crewnecks drape comfortably over leggings while roomy boyfriend blazers pair perfectly with joggers. An oversized tee dresses up activewear instantly.

Related: What should you wear with leggings?

How to Care for Athleisure Wear or How to Care for Activewear?

Wash Regularly: Due to sweat and body oils, athleisure clothes should be washed after every single wear to maintain their shape, colour and overall performance.

Turn Inside Out: For extra care, even in general turn garments inside out before washing to protect prints, graphics and external details. This also keeps elastic edges from fraying and stretching out.

Avoid Bleach: Bleach and other harsh chemicals can deteriorate stretchy fabrics over time, reducing their elasticity and shortening lifespan. Opt for bleach-free, colour-safe detergent when washing athleisure clothing.

Replace Regularly: Since athleisure clothing endures high tension and friction, active items should be replaced every 8-12 months for optimal performance. Replace sooner if fabrics are excessively pilled, stretched out or faded.

Wrapping Up

The athletic wear trend shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon – if anything, it’s only gaining momentum. Athleisure has grown from workout gear into a full lifestyle, with comfortable and versatile pieces that seamlessly blend comfort, function and style.

For many people, athleisure no longer just means clothing for the gym. Instead, leggings, joggers and hoodies have become the new default for lounging, running errands, traveling and more. Do visit our online premium leggings store.