From the CBD to the suburbs, to the beach to the grocery store and even the bar: it seems everywhere you go these days, you can almost guarantee there will be someone there who is wearing activewear.
A decade and a half ago, the idea of wearing your gym gear anywhere but the gym would almost certainly raise eyebrows. It goes without saying that a lot has happened in the past 15 years, with the rise of social media, a global pandemic and a seismic shift in the way we shop transforming the way we dress.
In particular, not only did the pandemic remind us that activewear is *really* comfy, it gave us permission to wear it outside the house (on our allotted hour-per-day walks). Seriously—for those of us who made a habit of picking up takeaway coffees in our Oodies (guilty), popping on some tights and a tank top felt like the era’s equivalent of dolling up for a night out.
"I think there is a real hunger for simplicity in our lives which can be seen in Aussies moving towards the ‘Ath-life’ lifestyle"
While lockdowns may feel like a distant memory now, the period’s sartorial impact is still reverberating. But why? If activewear was what we wore to lounge around in, one would think that as our lives return to “normal,” we would be keen to slip back into jeans and coats and much-less-practical footwear.
“As our lives seem to get busier and our cities more congested, I think there is a real hunger for simplicity in our lives which can be seen in Aussies moving towards the ‘Ath-life’ lifestyle,” offers stylist Jade Leung.
Our lives have gone from zero to one hundred, with workers returning to offices, gyms and dining spaces reopening, and personal calendars getting more packed out. As this occurs, not only are we seeking out comfort in our clothing, but ease. If we can cut out at least one outfit change between the dots on our to-do lists—and activewear is now totally socially acceptable—why wouldn’t we? Accordingly, the line between fashion and activewear is blurring, and brands are cottoning on.
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In addition to many mainstream activewear brands producing pieces designed to fit in with fashion trends (whether by leaning into it-colours or producing new, Pinterest-worthy shapes), companies like Nike are designing whole collections with a gym-to-life wear in mind. Jade references Nike’s new 24.7 collection—which includes formal-look shirts, skirts and trousers alongside bike shorts, sports bras and training tights—as a “perfect example of how to curate a wardrobe that can cater to your class in the morning to your first work meeting”.
For the fashionistas of the world, the pull of comfort and convenience is one that coincides with a desire to still, well, look fashionable. Thankfully, it is possible to hop on the oh-so-attractive activewear trend and still look fashion-week ready.
How To Style Activewear For Everyday-Wear
When pulling together an activewear-inspired look, you should consider what purpose you need your clothing to serve that day. Will you *actually* need to head to gym, or are you just going for max comfort?
Jade points to Nike’s 24.7 Perfect Stretch Woven Shirt as an example: “If i’ve got a day of meetings i’d probably opt for the 24.7 Perfect Stretch Woven Shirt, buttoned to the top with a tailored jacket or blazer. Where as for a work out i’d probably use the 24.7 Perfect stretch woven shirt as more of a shacket.”
While Jade notes that her formula for pulling an outfit together is ever-evolving, she does have a starting point. “Generally, I start with the question; ‘How comfortable do I need to be?’ and ‘How many layers are needed today?’ And i’ll work from there,” she explains. “But I generally try to establish what my look needs to achieve, and then I build from there.”
The best part about the activewear trend’s omnipresence is that it has pushed brands to think outside the box, too. Jade points to Nike’s 24.7 Perfect Stretch Wide Leg Pant, which features all Nike’s best workout tech but looks like a regular pair of wide-leg trousers, as well as the aforementioned shirt, as examples. “Pop a trench on over the top for that polished, put together look,” she says, or pair them with a sports bra and head straight to a Pilates class.
You can dip your tow into the trend, too. “I love adding little pops of active into my otherwise tailored outfit,” says Jade. ” Whether it’s an impossibly soft crew neck sweater over the shirt, or completing my outfit with a DRI FIT cap.”
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With all this in mind, the real question is: Millennials had smart-casual in the club—will Gen Z’s version of a blazer and pencil skirt be a sports bra and some four-way-stretch pants? That remains to be seen. But what we *do* know is activewear is now not only comfortable and acceptable, but fashionable, too. So own it!
