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 balancing its slouchy fit with tailored separates and sleek accessories. Take Aimé Leon Dore’s ‘Unisphere’ hoodie, for example, which looks uber-polished when styled with Toteme’s pleated straight-leg pants and Dries Van Noten’s leather-trimmed suede sneakers. Alternatively, Anine Bing’s appliquéd ‘Miles’ sweatshirt can easily be dressed up with a crisp shirt layered underneath – Calvin Klein Collection’s ‘Frances’ style is our current favorite – and paired 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 combines a traditional style with an inverted pleat at the back to modernize the overall shape. Slip it on with a crisp white shirt, Loewe’s leather-trimmed burgundy pants and JW Anderson’s ‘Loafer’ shoulder bag. 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. Gucci’s jersey track pants are quite possibly the coolest and coziest pair to have in your everyday rotation, featuring the brand’s iconic stripes on an elasticated waist. Heading out? Team them with Lisa Yang’s ‘Kenny’ sweater in charcoal cashmere and heels by Loewe. Alternatively, style Sporty & Rich’s track pants with an oversized shirt by Toteme and finish with Burberry’s classic trench.

Still thinking about Zoë Kravitz and Hailey Bieber’s looks at Saint Laurent’s spring/summer ’26 show? 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 Saint Laurent’s embroidered striped version – and swap your sneakers for standout heels. Saint Laurent’s patent-leather ‘Babylone’ mules are timelessly chic and look great paired with leather pants, such as Agolde’s ‘90s Pinch Waist’ style from our NET SUSTAIN edit. Finally, add oval-frame sunglasses and minimal gold jewelry – the sculptural shape of Anita Ko’s diamond-encrusted ‘Bamboo’ earrings makes them a worthy pick. Remember, the trick here is to embrace unlikely contrasts.