4 Easy Ways To Elevate Athleisure

Athleisure has been an off-duty staple for years, but it was the pandemic that really saw it accelerate as dress codes softened and, overnight, it became an entire section of our closets that was suddenly worth investing in. These are items that can be a solid foundation for your everyday wardrobe, not just reserved for a yoga class – and the likes of Kendall Jenner, Zoë Kravitz and Hailey Bieber show that athleisure can be elevated to so much more than just exercise kit.

A luxe sweatshirt or hoodie is a great throw-on-and-go piece that promises both comfort and style, whether you’re heading straight from the gym to brunch or eschewing exercise altogether in favor of a spot of gallery-hopping. The trick to keeping this sportswear staple refined is to balance the slouchy fit with tailored separates and sleek accessories. Take La Ligne’s ‘Jill’ hoodie, which looks uber-polished styled with Diotima’s wide-leg ‘Planno’ and Dries Van Noten’s leather-trimmed suede sneakers. Alternatively, Aimé Leon Dore’s sweatshirt can easily be dressed up with a crisp shirt layered underneath – TWP’s ‘Next Morning’ style is our current favorite – and styled with luxe leggings and kitten heels. Whichever look you choose, be sure to finish with Savette’s timeless ‘Symmetry’ shoulder bag from our NET SUSTAIN edit.

Didn’t think you could wear a bomber jacket to the office? Think again. This style instantly transforms from casual to polished when paired with tailoring. Known for reworking classic wardrobe staples in directional ways, Sacai’s version is designed with a drawstring peplum hem that creates a beautiful hourglass shape. Slip it on with a crisp white shirt, like Loewe’s layered organic cotton-blend poplin piece, and Maria McManus’s pleated straight-leg pants – both are highlights from our NET SUSTAIN edit. Alternatively, flip the script by dressing down tailoring with a sweatshirt or hoodie, adding a baseball cap and sneakers for good measure.

If lunching in leggings and a baseball cap is not your thing, ’70s-inflected sportswear offers a chic, Lycra-lite approach to off-duty dressing – and captaining the team are track pants, which look effortlessly elegant when worn with knitwear and an oversized coat. Quite possibly the coolest pair to have in your everyday rotation, Wales Bonner’s ‘Mantra’ track pants are traced with red pointelle stripes along the sides and are easy to dress up or down. Heading out? Team them with Lisa Yang’s ‘Kenny’ sweater in charcoal cashmere and heeled sandals by Bottega Veneta, completing the look with Róhe’s trench coat. Alternatively, pair them with the matching track jacket when traveling or lounging at home.

If you’re still thinking about Zoë Kravitz and Hailey Bieber’s looks at Saint Laurent’s spring/summer ’26 show, then you won’t want to sleep on this trend. An ingenious way to elevate athleisure for evening is to take a sporty track top or jacket, such as Sporty & Rich’s cool ‘Devi’ version, and swap your sneakers for standout heels. Gucci’s patent-leather ‘Selene’ mules are timelessly chic and look great paired with a mini skirt, such as Victoria Beckham’s lace and chiffon-trimmed style from our exclusive edit. Finally, add ’90s-inspired sunglasses and minimal gold jewelry – the sculptural shape of Tabayer’s ‘Oera’ earrings makes them a worthy pick. Remember, the trick here is to embrace unlikely contrasts.