5 Easy Ways To Elevate Athleisure
We’re all familiar with those days when you just can’t face wearing anything but leggings or sweats, but what do you do when you need to look more pulled together? There are several styling tricks that will immediately add polish to your trackpants, sweatshirt and sneakers, ensuring you won’t feel scruffy in these sporty staples
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 Hailey Bieber (pictured) and other stylish tastemakers show that athleisure can be elevated to so much more than exercise kit. Spoiler alert: an oversized, sweeping coat and a pair of sunglasses are your best friends here.
Embrace high-low dressing and pair your tracksuit with your smartest items
The base of your outfit may well be a comfortable and very casual tracksuit, but if you contrast it with the smartest items you own, your look becomes instantly more luxe and considered. The three items that will elevate a tracksuit beautifully are as follows: an oversized wool coat (the boxier the better, as proportion is key here), followed by a beautiful leather handbag, such as this Bottega Veneta tote, finished off with a simple baseball cap. This look is lunges-to-lunch at its finest (or lie-in-to-lunch if that’s more your vibe).
The humble fleece has had a fashion upgrade
Some trends take even the most seasoned fashion experts by surprise, and the luxe fleece has been an unexpected but much-loved addition to our winter closets. There are myriad stylish iterations of the practical fleece, such as this plush green zip-up jacket by Holzweiler in collaboration with fashion tastemaker Emili Sindlev. The number-one tip when selecting a fleece is to seek out fashion-forward details, such as bold colors, statement collars and directional pocket placement.
How to style out a hoodie
A hoodie and leggings might sound like the kind of outfit you’d wear to WFH or run errands in and little else, but if you select your pieces carefully, this is the perfect weekend look. Firstly, you want to pay close attention to the proportions – the flared leg of these Girlfriend Collective leggings updates the silhouette, while the oversized fit of this Loewe hoodie makes it instantly cooler, not to mention an ideal layering piece over everything from crisp shirting to cozy thermals. Simply add timeless, elegant accessories – Proenza Schouler’s glossy boots, Jennifer Meyer’s gold hoop earrings and a Saint Laurent leather backpack will ensure this look is perfectly put together.
Accessories are the secret to elevating any athleisure outfit
When in doubt, focus all attention on the accessories, as these can be the key to adding fashionable flair. These sage-green Loewe sneakers are guaranteed to garner plenty of compliments and have very quickly become a cult buy among fashion insiders. Don’t overlook the basics, either, as a baseball cap or pulled-up white socks are small details that can really transform the overall feel of an outfit.
Nothing lifts your look quite like cashmere
Another popular way to elevate athleisure is to take a pair of retro-style trackpants, such as these Adidas Originals electric-blue ones, and a pair of equally standout sneakers, then add an unexpected twist to give it a modern feel. Temper the vibrant hues with a neutral, classic cashmere sweater and elegant shearling coat, and layer gold jewelry on top. This look is all about the unlikely contrast.
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