My motivation for the gym ebbs and flows—and honestly, a majority of that drive comes down to one thing: how cute my outfit is. Nothing gets me out of bed for an 8 a.m. Pilates class quite like the promise of a cute matching set or a seriously chic pair of leggings that will look just as cool at my post-workout matcha date (thank you, athleisure trend!).
But, of course, style isn’t the only factor when shopping for this category. We still need our leggings and sports bras to do their job—i.e., deliver support, comfort, and performance while helping us look and feel good, whether we’re actually working out or not. Since it’s hard to know which brands actually check those boxes, we’ve done the legwork for you and rounded up the ones that are worth your money.
Without further ado...these are the best athleisure brands money can buy (and our favorite pieces right now to help get your online cart started!). Lululemon really is the gold standard for gym ‘fits. I mean, personally, I’ll never love another pair of leggings quite like the Aligns—they’ve had a chokehold on me for 10+ years.
The buttery-soft fabric is reliably comfortable and actually stays up during a workout (rare), and you won’t have to replace them every year. The brand has graduated beyond just activewear, though. Its Scuba Hoodies, seriously comfy joggers, and the Everywhere Belt Bag have just as much of a cult following.
One thing about Alo: the brand is always going to deliver the hottest colorways—in addition to 10/10 quality and style across the board. Case in point: The brand’s latest fall shade, Rich Bordeaux. The hot new hue (which is seriously trending right now!) comes in so many best-selling styles and a few soon-to-be faves that you can wear everywhere from the gym to the airport to your favorite matcha shop.
Free People’s athleisure line, FP Movement, has the same effortlessly cool vibe, and it’s a dream for anyone who’d rather mix and match their pieces than wear a perfectly coordinated set. We love their slouchy silhouettes, washed colors, bold prints, and of course the cult-fave Hot Shot Onesie and Mountain High Fleece—both of which I just added to my own online cart. On the complete other end of the style spectrum is Vuori, where you’ll find chic, neutral athleisure pieces and almost no logos.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
