How do you style athleisure?

“One of my favorite and easiest ways to style athleisure is to wear a cute matching legging/sports bra set and add either a jean jacket, blazer, or bomber jacket on top of the set to give it that pop of fashion,” Somers says. “Some people claim you need to have a balance of loose and fitted pieces, but I love to mix it up. One day I might wear a very loose hoodie and jogger look with a statement purse, and another day I may wear a very fitted jacket with leggings and a pair of combat boots.”

Is the athleisure trend still in style?

One thing about athleisure as a trend is that it’s been around for a few years now. This might have you wondering if it’ll be heading out the door in the months and years to come. But don’t worry—most experts think it’s here to stay, especially as at-home work and at-home workouts continue to gain popularity. Even Peloton has released its athleisure line.

The 12 Best Athleisure Brands in 2023

If there’s any fashion trend from the last few years that is universally beloved, it just might be athleisure. With the combination of athletic and loungewear trends, athleisure is arguably the most comfortable clothing category, no matter how you adapt the style to your fashion sense. If you’re somehow not familiar with athleisure, though, it’s easy to dismiss it as pajama-like or sloppy. Technically, though, the definition of athleisure is pretty straightforward: Athletic wear and leisurewear combined.

In theory, owning clothing that looks just as good in the gym as it does at the office or happy hour is great. In reality, it can be a little more difficult to strike the right balance. If you’re not confident about styling or purchasing athleisure pieces, it can be easy to end up with a look that you don’t feel confident in at all—and no one wants that. To find the best possible options for athleisure, it’s helpful to know which brands are offering the best silhouettes and styles.

Investing in athleisure pieces can offer your wardrobe versatility, so it’s worth choosing pieces carefully. “Instead of wearing heels and restrictive clothing to go grocery shopping you can wear something comfortable, but also stylish and feel very put together,” Buffbunny founder Heidi Somers explains. A coordinated sweatshirt and shorts worn with casual sneakers is a great example and can be found at beloved brands such as Girlfriend Collective, Beyond Yoga, and more.

Our Top Picks

Girlfriend Collective at Girlfriend.com

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Universal Standard at Universalstandard.com

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Fabletics at Fabletics.com

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Beyond Yoga at Amazon

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Mono B at Mymonob.com

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Lululemon at Lululemon

Alo Yoga at Aloyoga.com

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Buffbunny at Buffbunny.com

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In This Article

Our Picks
What To Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Byrdie

Girlfriend Collective

View On Girlfriend.com

Girlfriend Collective reigns supreme when it comes to inclusive, sustainable athleisure. From its loungewear and intimates to its beloved leggings and sports bras, Girlfriend Collective is a brand proving that prioritizing size inclusivity isn’t all that complicated. Plus, the brand releases beautiful, on-trend seasonal colors every few months, which makes owning your favorite items in a ton of colors not only possible but very fun.

Size Range: XXS–6X

Courtesy of Universal Standard

View On Universalstandard.com

Universal Standard is a stand-out brand because of its incredible commitment to size inclusivity (the brand sells up to size 40). But when it comes to athleisure, there's one particular piece of clothing you need to know about: The brand’s Next-To-Naked Bodysuit. Simply Google it and you’ll see the many detailed reviews of the jumpsuit. People are obsessed with it, and there’s nothing quite like it on the market, what with its contoured waistband, adjustable straps, and high neckline for those concerned about coverage and extra support.

Size Range: 00–40

Fabletics

View On Fabletics.com

Odds are, you’ve seen Fabletics on your social media feed recently—and the hype is very real. New styles are released monthly and offered via a subscription service. Byrdie's former Associate Fashion Commerce Editor Erika Reals says the brand made it super easy for her to expand her running wardrobe, both in terms of convenience and affordability. "Not to mention, they offer inclusive size ranges and make pretty much every legging style you can imagine," she adds. If you're someone who wants to experiment with new (but budget-friendly) athleisure, then Fabletics is a good place to start.

Size Range: XXS–4X

Beyond Yoga

View On Amazon View On Beyondyoga.com

Beyond Yoga is known for its buttery soft, form-fitting material called Spacedye, and let us tell you it is good. "[Its leggings] are buttery soft and extremely comfortable; I could wear them all day and even to bed, which I have done a few times when I'm too lazy to grab my PJs," says Commerce Director Jessica Mahgerefteh.

Size Range: XXS–4X

Mono B

View On Mymonob.com

Mono B is known for its high-performance activewear options that are soft and comfortable enough to transition to life outside of the gym or yoga studio. Plus, Mono B is pretty affordable, so it’s great for those who are on a budget. The brand’s ultra-soft sweatshirts, for example, range from roughly $30 to $70, for example. Its only drawback? The small size range.

Size Range: S–L

4.8

Lululemon

View On Lululemon

No athleisure brand list is complete without modern classic Lululemon. The brand is famous for its Align leggings but has a lot more to offer, from training gear for high-intensity workouts to a newly expanded sizing and many, many color options.

Size Range: 0–20 with additional length options depending on the style

Old Navy

View On Gap.com

If you want size-inclusive, super budget-friendly athleisure, opt for Old Navy. The brand’s Extra High-Waisted Leggings, for example, come in five colors and have more than 3,000 positive reviews. They're also only $27, so you can snatch up several of them. They'll save you on those busy weeks and help you put off laundry day.

Size Range: XS–4X, plus tall and petite

Athleta

View On Gap.com

If you look up any Athleta piece, in particular, odds are you’ll see hundreds of positive reviews along with it. That’s because the brand specializes in supportive and stylish clothes for a variety of workouts. Like Old Navy, it offers a fairly wide size range, making it inclusive of most shoppers.

Size Range: XXS–3X, plus tall and petite

Alo Yoga

View On Aloyoga.com

Alo Yoga has long been a favorite of It-girls Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber, so you know it’s the brand to wear if you want to look cool. While the brand’s size range could be more inclusive, its well-reviewed pieces make it a promising option for those who fit the current size range.

Size Range: XXS–L

Buffbunny

View On Buffbunny.com

Buffbunny is for anyone who is constantly looking for functional athletic wear for intense workouts. We appreciate its thick and supportive seamless leggings, for example, which are great for heavy weight-lifting. (They appear to hold you in without digging.) Other star elements include the brand's Elysium quick-drying fabric for cardio workouts and the NuBre fabric that's breathable and flexible enough for pilates, yoga, and distance walking.

Size Range: XXS–XXXL

Melt Fit

View On Meltfit.com

Melt Fit combines a lot of different factors that make it an A+ athleisure brand: Trending styles, quality designs, size inclusivity, and unique silhouettes. Not only does the brand sell your classic staples, like leggings and shorts, but it also has coordinating accessories for the gym, like gloves and waist-trainers (though we would encourage you to read up before purchasing one).

Size Range: S–3XL

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom

Looking for a brand with thousands of positive reviews? Check out Zella, an athleisure brand sold by Nordstrom. The brand’s leggings alone have more than 7,000 positive reviews. Then there is its collection of joggers, hoodies, tank tops, and skirts (among other things), which generally boast 4- and 5-star reviews.

Size Range: XS–XL

What to Look for When Buying Athleisure

Form and function

According to Somers, finding athleisure that’s going to work for your style and wardrobe comes down to a handful of factors. Qualities like “functionality, breathability, versatility” as well as fabrics that are durable, flattering, and make you feel confident are at the top of Somers’ list when it comes to designing and choosing athleisure. Basically, if you're comfortable in the clothes, then you'll want to wear them often. And if they blend well with what's already in your closet, you will wear them often.

Practicality

To ensure you're making a practical choice, try to picture how you'll wear a given piece. And if you don't have anything in your closet, perhaps reconsider it. Or, if you love it enough, try to find another piece to match it. As time goes on, you can keep your eyes out for more fashion items to switch up your look.

FAQ

How do you style athleisure?

“One of my favorite and easiest ways to style athleisure is to wear a cute matching legging/sports bra set and add either a jean jacket, blazer, or bomber jacket on top of the set to give it that pop of fashion,” Somers says. “Some people claim you need to have a balance of loose and fitted pieces, but I love to mix it up. One day I might wear a very loose hoodie and jogger look with a statement purse, and another day I may wear a very fitted jacket with leggings and a pair of combat boots.”
Is the athleisure trend still in style?

One thing about athleisure as a trend is that it’s been around for a few years now. This might have you wondering if it’ll be heading out the door in the months and years to come. But don’t worry—most experts think it’s here to stay, especially as at-home work and at-home workouts continue to gain popularity. Even Peloton has released its athleisure line.

Why Trust Byrdie

Olivia Muenter is a fashion commerce contributor for Byrdie, and she has been published in Refinery29, Bustle, Fashionista, Glamour, and Woman’s Day, among others. Her search for this piece covered athleisure brands of all types. For criteria, she evaluated customer reviews, return policies, variety of inventory, and overall shopping experiences.

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