Do you remember where you were when you first heard the word athleisure? For some strange reason, I do.
I was sitting on my bed in my tiny college house pretending to listen as my sister rambled on about this thing called “athleisure” that she bought on Shopbop. In fact, I even remember making fun of her for it. “That’s not a real thing,” I said. “What a waste of money.”
Flash forward to today, and I am one of the biggest proponents of an athleisure lifestyle. And it is not just me. Given its adaptability, the trend continues to grow — by 2020 the NPD Group expects the global athleisure market will be valued at $350 billion.
But it has evolved past yoga pants and trendy sweatshirts. Today, people are using every chance to incorporate the comfortable trend (think: sweat-wicking and Lycra fabrics) into their daily lives — even at work. Workleisure, enter stage left.
Granted, this might not be an option for those that look forward to Casual Fridays and the chance to throw on your favorite pair of jeans. But if you have standing desks, color-coordinated fridges, granola dispensers or office bean bag chairs — well, this is your lucky day.
And while I am not advocating for wearing a head-to-toe athleisure get up to the office, there are ways you can incorporate pieces into your professional look. So, peruse my Instagram athleisure lookbook and get comfy.
Bike Shorts
Love them or hate them, bike shorts are quickly making a comeback in the fashion world. The new Bermuda short, pair these on with your favorite blazer or under a short dress to make a fashion statement your co-workers will love.
Tracksuit
Long live the days of the Juicy Couture tracksuit. There was not a cooler person in the room when you walked in wearing your green velour look. Not exactly the same, fashion has taken the tracksuit and evolved it into 2019 must-have (think: Fendi and Givenchy). Go for straight matching or mix and match with other pieces.
Graphic Tee
Grab your favorite graphic tee — whether that be rocker, tie-dye, vintage — and pair it with your favorite skirt or slacks. Add a heel and dainty jewelry to turn the look from weekend beer garden to the weekday water cooler.
Sweatshirt
Either cropped or oversized, the perfect sweatshirt is a staple in your athleisure look. And luckily, there are ways to sneak your jacket into your office look — especially if your office feels like the arctic.
Chunky Sweater
Often thrown on as you head to brunch after your morning yoga, you can *pretend* you are sipping mimosas at your desk while cozied up in your best weekend sweater.
Lululemon ABC
Every man I have ever talked to about athleisure tends to wax poetic about these Lululemon ABC pants. And I am pretty sure if there was a fire, they would save these pants before anything else. It is the finance equivalent of, “I can’t believe it’s not butter.”
Pants
Yes, we all know that you can take a nice pair of leggings and dress them up. But step out of the box by adding some shine — or opt for culottes for premium post-lunch comfort.
Tank Top
A racerback tank may be the poster child of athleisure, but it is a staple piece that can easily be transitioned into workwear under a blazer or with a high-waisted skirt or jeans.
Sneakers
Ugly sneakers: your workleisure swap in for heels. Thankfully (or not) it does not look like the ugly shoe trend is going anywhere, making this a good investment. Not ready to make the full commitment? Work up to the idea by using these as your commuter shoes — pretty soon you will stop making the swap as you walk into the office.
Gym Bag
When the designer fanny pack just is not enough.
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