Any woman who finds herself constantly on-the-go can appreciate the simplicity of the athleisure trend. Of course, if you’re not yet familiar with this new approach to fashion, you may have a few misconceptions about it. Athleisure doesn’t mean wearing old sweat pants everywhere. Rather, it’s a whole new way of styling that utilizes the stretch and breathability of athletic fabrics to design wardrobes that are endlessly versatile and oh-so-comfortable.
What Inspired The Athleisure Trend?
The early beginnings of the athleisure trend actually date back to the 1970s when fitness regimes became more popular. So many people started wearing casual clothes to the gym that designers responded by styling traditional gym wear in more casual, wearable fashions.
Over the past decade, athelisure has really taken off as people have started taking the comfort of their gym wear out on the town. The leggings craze truly marked the beginning of the athleisure trend as we know it, but it has rapidly grown to be about much more than casually wearing running shoes and other athletic wear to the store.
Athleisure Is Effortlessly Comfortable and Stylish
Athleisure still leverages the athletic fabrics that you’ll find in top-quality gym wear thanks to their stretch, breathability, and durability. The atheletic materials that go into athleisure items are certainly at the root of the trend’s insane comfort, but the trend offers more than that.
Countless designers are now backing the athleisure trend with looks that continue to blur the line between athletic clothing and everyday fashion. Today, athleisure clothing is designed in such a way that you can take your gym clothes and dress them up for a day out, the office, or even a night on the town.
Putting Together An Athleisure LookÂ
If you want to create the perfect athleisure look, the trick is to blend athleisure pieces with your favorite items from your existing wardrobe. Layering is key to styling athleisure clothing as it brings versatility and personality to any look.
For instance, your business casual athleisure look may incorporate sleek and soft black leggings rounded out by a soft cotton t-shirt and finished with a sharp-looking blazer made of sweat-wicking material. A date night athleisure look may take some of that same core outfit and layer on your old jean jacket and pair it with your favorite shoulder bag and some key accessories.
If you were to start over and create an athelisure wardrobe from scratch, leggings, cotton tops, and comfortable yet stylish footwear would top the list of must-haves. After you check those things off the list, continue building a multi-functional closet with the addition of some essential accessories (i.e. bracelets and handbags) and finish with staple items that make sense for your lifestyle, like a blazer for work days or a leather jacket for a night out.
All in all, athleisure is one of the most versatile styles that exists today, and that’s why everyone loves it so much. Give it a try, and see what everyone is raving about.