How to Look Put Together in Athleisure
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Among my friends, few style topics are as polarizing as athleisure outside the gym. For every person put off by the brunch neighbor in a full Gymshark outfit, there is another woman lamenting the burden of having to wear anything but. When I switched from styling celebrities like Rebecca Hall and Alicia Keys for the red carpet to working privately with accomplished women navigating busy careers and changing lives, I found a recurring brief among them:Help me style and wear my trove of athleisure.
In 2020, like many of my clients, I succumbed entirely to the allure of all athleisure, all the time. I transformed from a high-heel-addicted typical fashion type to exclusively wearing head-to-toe matching Pangaia sweat sets. (Did you know the brand makes them for every season, so you can just wear one color for the entire year in different variations of pants and top lengths?) As someone who lived through that, I want to make the case that this styling request is reasonable as a matter of both prudence and liberation.
In the first case, athleisure is expensive. Picking through a client’s selection of WARDROBE.NYC sweats and hoodies, Live the Process tights and crop tops, and Vuori running shorts, I want them to find ways to continue to wear and enjoy these pieces. Even for pieces that are less expensive, clothing should be worn as frequently as possible. As for liberation, athleisure unshackled us from the tyranny of pinching waistbands, too stiff shirts, and dresses that don’t allow your body the full range of movement. Period bloating was easier to manage, and reminders of body fluctuations ceased to be a daily occurrence. Running from home to subway to store to subway to home was less cumbersome; carting children around the place was too. We should not easily surrender the soft, stretchy fabric gains made during this time.
As many of us feel a returning urge to “dress up,” I think we can evolve into a style that is practical and comfortable while being put together and stylish. Most of my clients already own the pieces they need to make their athleisure feel more polished like a sharp blazer or an elegant boot. And as the weather cools, it’s an especially good time to layer softer athleisure pieces with something more structured. Here’s how I help my clients (and myself) do exactly that.
For reference, I typically wear a U.S. size two and am five feet, three inches. If I’m between sizes or unsure, I usually size up for a more relaxed fit.
Add structured or tailored pieces
Styling athleisure, and good style in general, is about contrast and balance. A lot of sportswear is made of light, breathable fabrics, and pairing it with pieces that add some heft and structure is a nice complement to the fabric — using sports fabrics as you would a delicate fabric like silk, rather than a sweat-wicking utilitarian one. The risk with sportswear and tracksuits is frumpiness so pairing softer sports pieces with tailored pieces can also give the look a more streamlined silhouette.
Shorts with a trench
I love the color and weight of theseUniqlo men’s running shorts(size L; they are actually pilfered from my partner’s workout drawer). This structured knitted tee fromThe Frankie Shopadds an element of luxe to the look. I like to wear sports shorts with a heel and structured T-shirt. I’ve had theseChanel heelsfor almost 13 years and they remain as sturdy and comfortable as ever (thanks to regular maintenance fromThe Leather Spa). I think the look works just as well with theseSebago loafers.The Frankie Shop trenchoffsets the boxiness and gives some length to the look, even with flats.
Sweats and a blazer
These croppedJames Perse sweatsare actually the most comfortable sweats I’ve ever worn. They are light and soft, but not so soft that you start to feel sweaty and gross after a while. Adding thisZara blazerwith a strong shoulder and aChanel shoethat follows through the “pointiness” of the shoulder puts a nice structured border around the pants. I’m also wearing a super soft tank fromBassike, but a button-up shirt or a light knit would also work well.
Sweats with a long coat
Everything about this look is extremely comfortable, but it doesn’t read as sloppy. TheseVarley sweatsare light and soft, but slim enough that they don’t feel like they are gathering in unflattering places. TheWARDROBE.NYC merino sweateris a solid winter staple that I return to year after year. It has a weight that is luxurious and sturdy. My cashmereAnother Tomorrow coatsimilarly gives some structure to the look, while also being comfortable to wear, and these soft leatherLe Monde Béryl flatsadd a chic touch and are great for walking in all day long. The all-black column under the long coat helps prevent frumpiness that could come from a sweater and track pants together. This would look really great with a black pump, for anyone who is happy in a heel. You could also layer a button-up shirt underneath and let the collar and cuffs show for a graphic finish.
Use your workout gear as an underlayer
Workout tights and tops are designed to be both comfortable and flattering, and given that, I think they should infiltrate our day-to-day dressing as much as possible. I recommend that my clients use their favorite leggings and tops as base layers for other looks, especially styles made of a heavier fabrication and that aren’t ribbed. Leggings that are ribbed or too thin can read as long johns more than leggings as pants.
Leggings with a blouse
I love the stirrup detail on theseSPLITS59 tights(Live The Processalso has a really good version) and like to pair them with a button-up shirt or blouse (this is a silk blouse fromSézane), myAnine Bing blazer, andSebago loafers. Or with just a button-up shirt knotted at the waist and low heels. My personal preference with leggings is to wear T-shirts, button-up shirts, or jackets that are quite long, but I’ve seen women embrace the high-waisted shape of leggings and look fetching doing so.
A sheer top over a sports bra
People seem to be divided about the return of the capri but I, for one, welcome it. Here I am wearing a Vuorisports braandleggingslayered with aCarine Gilson sheer lace top, myLouis Vuitton heels, Zara blazer andCarolina Herrera bag. I don’t typically like to wear very tight or sheer things out, but the sports pieces as the base layer somehow make it a less intimidating choice.
Pair it with something unexpected
If I had to define what makes an outfit appear put together versus not, it’s less about the exact outfit configuration, and more about a recognition that the person put thought into their look. I think usually when people say they want to feel more put together — that would be every client I’ve ever had — what they’re really saying is, “I need help or permission to make clearer choices around my clothing.” Unexpected pairings are a simple way to make dressing playful, and give an outfit a sense of intentionality, and, therefore put-togetherness. I love to wear my PANGAIA sets with stiletto heels, for example, because it is easy and unfussy, but a clear choice.
Shorts and a silk scarf
I resolved recently to start wearing more silk scarves and have been encouraging all my clients to do the same. The color palette of thisNili Lotan oneis a nice addition to almost any outfit. I like the mix of daintyAeyde heelswith thecashmere La Ligne poloand theVarley shorts. The look feels so soft and luxurious on the skin and is effortless to wear on-the-go.
A jacket over a hoodie
There’s just the right contrast of fabrics and colors in this outfit. It has an assortment of textures between the jacquardBalenciaga skirt, the nylonRag & Bonebomber (another item from the men’s section) and the softMatteau cotton hoodie. MySebago loaferskeep the look from feeling too sporty (though I would gladly wear it with myVeja sneakersfor a weekend kids’ playdate). I encourage my clients and my friends to be playful with their looks and experiment with unusual pairings of fabrics and colors. This look would also work with a blazer instead of the bomber and a pair of heeled boots for a night out for drinks with friends.
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