What is the athleisure trend?

Athleisure: when sport and fashion become one

The athleisure trend was born from the meeting of streetwear and gymwear. As early as the 1980s, there was already talk of aerobic style, a trend revealed by the practice of this predominantly female and very popular discipline. Over time, thanks to the popularity of certain sports such as Pilates and yoga, the term "sporty" became more common. Thus, the athleisure phenomenon has evolved with the times to give rise to comfy silhouettes without forgetting the style. If jogging suits were the king of streetwear in the 90s, they have gradually been replaced by the more shapely and chic leggings, closely followed by bras and sneakers.

It's clear that sportswear has gradually crept into our everyday wardrobe and taken pride of place: tank tops have replaced shirts, cyclists have taken the place of jean shorts and loafers are feeling lonely since they've been relegated to the background by a nice pair of glittery sneakers.

In short, the athleisure trend is becoming a new fashion must-have, just like bohemian chic or normcore. It perfectly represents the era we live in: a need for comfort, cleverly mixed with more chic pieces to avoid laxity in style. Polymorphic, comfortable and adaptable, athleisure allows us to run in style from evening to morning, without ever missing a date or missing a duty as an active and modern woman. No more restrictive clothes and pencil skirts that impede your walk. We dare to wear leggings on a daily basis, but always worn with style so that we don't look like we just came out of a yoga class.

How do you adopt the athleisure trend in your daily life?

The success of athleisure lies in the pieces that make it up: they are so comfortable that the codes of this style are quickly integrated. But beware: it's not enough to just wear pieces from the world of sports to make a successful combination. Not so simple really!

For a perfect athleisure look, you need to focus on the choice of pieces and materials. For example, you can wear a shirt with leggings, but you have to pay special attention to the material of the garment: a shirt made of technical fabric or jersey is preferable.

But to start creating athleisure-inspired combinations, you need to know the must-have pieces in your wardrobe. These clothes (between 5 and 10 pieces) are a great starting point to enrich your wardrobe and start creating looks as trendy as Lady D in a hoodie or as cool as Kendall Jenner in the streets of Los Angeles.

The hoodie (or sweatshirt) will become your new best friend

If there is one piece that is inseparable from the athleisure wardrobe, it is obviously the sweatshirt (or hoodie). Whether you choose a hoodie, with or without a logo, ultra oversized or more fitted... It adapts to all tastes.

The advantage of the hoodie is that it goes with everything. You can easily wear it with a pleated skirt, jean shorts, leggings, a biker, or even a simple pair of tights (if it is long enough).

Regressive yet comfortable, this garment is sure to remind you of your teenage years. If it has a big faded logo or an old school band print, it's even better (and trendier). Don't be afraid to dig through your old trunks to find little gems that, combined with new pieces, will allow you to create a vintage-inspired look that borders on perfection.

A sporty top that goes with everything

In the series of athleisure style essentials, there are also boldly sporty tops that are cruelly comfortable to wear on a daily basis. These include tank tops, ribbed tank tops that are moulded to the body, bras, but also loose, simple T-shirts borrowed from the sports wardrobe.

These pieces have the advantage of being easy to find and to combine. At the top of the list is the white T-shirt we all already have, which will go very well with suit trousers or a blazer. In the end, it's all a question of daring and know-how.

To go further: Create an athleisure look with the Boy Jane De tee.

Sneakers: the centrepiece of a controlled athleisure wardrobe

Sneakers have been the queen of fashionable looks for many years. They are and will remain essential pieces of the athleisure wardrobe, and are a must-have in your shoe wardrobe.

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There are so many sneakers to choose from that it is simply impossible not to find a pair that suits your fashion desires. All the brands try to create the model that you will want to wear all season long. All you have to do is choose the one you like best: the sporty one, the glittery one, the discreet one, the vegan one, the technical one... There is something for every taste and every style.

Resolutely versatile, sneakers adapt to all situations and all seasons. In concrete terms, they can be worn with jeans as well as with leggings. The most daring will even dare to Sneakers with a pantsuit or a long skirt. Feel free to wear your sneakers every day and in all circumstances, whether for a shopping trip in the city or for a business meeting.

Leggings, shorts and cyclists: the cornerstones of athleisure

In the world of fashion, it is often a question of symbols. Athleisure is no exception to this rule: it is easy to talk about a Holy Trinity of leggings, shorts and a cyclist. These three items of clothing are undoubtedly the three pillars of a successful athleisure look.

We wear them every day, without moderation and in association with more urban style pieces. For example, dare to wear a very chic oversized blazer with divinely tight leggings. Similarly, a perfectly ironed white cotton shirt can be worn over a daring cyclist. Thanks to their cruelly sporty spirit, these three basics will certainly allow you to play and master, to perfection, all the codes of the athleisure trend.

Our advice for starting out? First, go for pieces in neutral and classic colours to avoid taking any risks. Then, as time goes by and you get the hang of it, you'll start to go for more fancy ones. Of course, jogging bottoms are even more comfortable than leggings. However, it is a piece that can be difficult to combine. So it's important to get to grips with it before you take the plunge.

These accessories will finish off your athleisure look to perfection

When it comes to accessories, it's all about choosing the ones that will make your athleisure pairing look great. Worn with mastery and balance, they will add the little fashion detail that will make all the difference to your look.

To finish off your outfit, you can put on a headpiece: a cap or a bob, particularly streetwear, will look great. If you're afraid of being cold, don't hesitate to put on a pair of branded socks that go high up on your calf. Finally, to keep out the wind and draughts, a zip-up jacket or a mid-season jacket will do the trick.

Also read: What jacket to wear for mid-season?

What about the athleisure trend for men?

For men, it's the same story: the key pieces in this trend include hoodies, sweatpants, T-shirts and Sneakers. To wear them with elegance, it's important to strike a balance between sporty and casual.

• For example, pair a hoodie with well-fitting jeans and white Sneakers for a casual yet polished look.
• Or opt for sweatpants with a plain T-shirt and denim jacket for versatile athleisure style.
• Don't forget to accessorize with minimalist pieces such as simple watches or caps to complete your outfit without overdoing it.