I can attribute four things to the reason I’m always wearing athleisure. 1. I grew up a tomboy. 2. I’ve always been an athlete. 3. I like to be comfortable. 4. Pants are leg prisons (this is not up for discussion). For me, activewear is something I feel comfortable and confident in, which is why it’s always been a part of my style.
Since I’ve never been a girly-girl, the way I dress has always been sort of sporty and comfortable. When my friend Abbey over at Blondie and the Beat complimented my bomber jacket the other day, I told her it was actually from the activewear section at Old Navy! So I figured I’d share a little bit about how I fit athletic pieces into my wardrobe.
Match your style
I wear a lot of neutral colors – aka tons of blacks and greys – so I wouldn’t mix in vibrant, crazy colored workout gear into my outfit because it wouldn’t match my typical vibe. That’s why this black jacket works perfectly – I’m able to dress it down with a casual tee (my OOTD go-to) and I’ve even worn it out to bars with a cute tank or crop underneath on the weekends.
Keep it clean
If you’re trying to fit activewear into your wardrobe for work like I did, this is super important. Ditch the old Nikes that you actually wear to workout in and match a fresh, clean pair of kicks with your outfit. This same rule goes for any other articles of clothing – no grungy shirts that you’ve worn to countless spin classes or see-through leggings! I’ve never actually worn that bomber jacket or those sneakers to the gym, which helps keep them in great condition.
Function and fashion
You’ll want your outfit to actually make sense. I don’t claim to know much about fashion trends, because I’m very certain that I don’t, but something like plain black leggings with sheer cutouts, a plain white tee tied in the front, and a leather jacket can make for a rockin’ outfit. I’ve seen some sporty pieces that I can’t imagine working out in (non-supportive, too tight, etc.) and I find those are the best pieces to fit into your day to day outfits.
And of course – there has to be a line drawn somewhere. You shouldn’t show up to work the day you’re giving a presentation in an Adidas 3-stripe shirt, jeans, and sneakers. There’s a time and place for fitting sporty pieces into your wardrobe but it’s totally doable! How do you blend your styles? What are your favorite pieces?