We know that what you wear has an incredible impact on how you feel, which is why we want to dive into the latest style gaining popularity: women’s athleisure. You have probably seen your favorite celebrities and friends wearing casual yet fashionable athleisure outfits, but what is athleisure and how do you perfect a carefree, comfortable athleisure style? Athleisure is more than just a trend, it’s a fashion movement that has created a sector of athletic clothing that allows women to transition seamlessly from exercise to everyday activities without ever having to change clothes. Sounds pretty perfect, right? Finally, clothing and footwear that are created with both functionality, movement, and style in mind so you don’t have to lug around a bag of spare clothes everywhere you go so you can make sure your outfit is appropriate.  

We want to help you understand what women’s athleisure wear is and how to perfect an athleisure wardrobe that fits your lifestyle. We have earned a place in the industry as a trusted resource and with dedicated foot doctors, research teams, and shoe stylists, we work to make sure we have the perfect athleisure shoes for you without sacrificing the support and infrastructure your feet need. Along the way, we’ll educate you on what women’s athleisure wear is and how to curate the perfect athleisure wardrobe that is equal parts fashionable and functional.

 

Women’s Athleisure: Marrying Comfort and Style

Before you get to shopping for the perfect athletic apparel and footwear, let’s, first,  review what athleisure wear is, what it has to offer, and why this is the latest retail fashion movement dominating the industry.

By now we know that athleisure is comfortable clothing that is designed for both exercise and everyday wear, but what makes this kind of style so popular? We know that as a woman, it can feel like you are constantly juggling all of the different responsibilities and roles in your life, everything from being a businesswoman, a partner in a relationship, a mother (whether your babies are human, fur-children, or of the plant variety), a friend, a sibling, and everything in between. It can be incredibly challenging to balance all of these different roles and the time that goes into them while still making time to take care of yourself.

We know it can also feel like all of these different roles require different clothing to accompany them. You want to look professional in the office, put together while running errands, comfortable and functional at the gym, and cute for a night out with friends. This means having a closet that has multiple types of outfits for all of the occasions in your life, which can be expensive and cumbersome. We’ve all been in a situation where you leave the office and head to the gym for a quick workout only to remember that you forgot a change of clothes for the dinner you’re attending after the gym. So what do you do now? Athleisure fashion at its most base level is a response to these types of situations that we as women find ourselves in all the time. Athleisure clothing and footwear make it so you can easily continue from the gym to drinks without needing to change your clothes or feel embarrassed about what you are wearing. With athleisure garments, you’ll feel great with your outfit choice from your morning workout to your family dinner.

We know that women’s fashion and footwear has struggled in the past to make clothing that has style and design while also being comfortable and functional, but athleisure disrupts that challenge and is tailored to the reality of modern women’s lives. Women are busier than ever and need clothing that can be functional, beautiful, and versatile and athleisure products deliver just that. It’s easy to see why women’s athleisure has quickly become one of the most popular styles available!

 

How to Wear Women’s Athleisure

Have you ever fallen in love with a fashion style, went and bought the items you think you need to execute the look, only to arrive home and try them on and realize that you aren’t really comfortable wearing them in your day-to-day life? You’re not alone! We know that understanding what a style is and successfully integrating it into your wardrobe are two different things, which is why we’ve created a comprehensive guide to support you as you wear women’s athleisure fashion. 

At Vionic, we believe that when you are equipped with information, you can choose the right footwear and clothing to address your unique needs. After all, everyone deserves a wardrobe that makes them feel confident and ready to take on the world! To help you find your perfect athleisure style, we have compiled our top tips for mastering women’s athleisure and making sure it works for your lifestyle and activities.

Invest in Supportive, Stylish Footwear

With any outfit, one of the first considerations should be the footwear you’ll pair with it. Everyone loves a great pair of comfortable shoes! Unfortunately, if you feel like the fashion industry does not consider comfort, or the foot health industry does not consider fashion, you’re not alone! Many shoes do not consider the infrastructure and supportive features needed to make sure your foot is properly aligned with your body and to keep you moving wherever your favorite shoes are taking you. For curating the perfect athleisure style, it’s vital to find footwear that provides you the support you need while still being stylish enough to easily transition to brunch or drinks with your friend at a moment’s notice. This is especially important if you experience common foot problems, like plantar fasciitis. No matter what your needs are, we’re here to help!

At Vionic, we’re passionate about creating footwear that combines fashion-forward style, high-quality materials, and pioneering biomechanics technology to deliver you beautifully made athleisure footwear that provides unparalleled support and comfort. Our mission is to create footwear that hugs your arches like a natural footprint giving you comfort while still being aesthetically appealing enough to elevate even your most relaxed outfit! The key to nailing any athleisure outfit begins with your footwear, so make sure to pick styles that are functional for the activities you will be doing, such as walking and studio workouts. You’ll also want to make sure that the shoes you select have the support you need to stay comfortable and moving all day long.

Choose Timeless Silhouettes

When looking for the perfect athleisure arsenal, it’s important to be selective about what styles and cuts you choose to integrate into your wardrobe. We recommend choosing timeless silhouettes that will stay fashionable and fitting through more than just one season. For example, light cotton tees that are form-fitting, but loose enough that you feel comfortable actually working out in them and sweatshirts that have a flattering cut and are cozy to wrap yourself in after a workout class. Pieces like these will last from season to season and be cute and functional to wear once the trends of the season have passed. Timeless silhouettes should be tailored to your body, what you feel comfortable in, and what you are going to be doing. Think simple, functional clothing items that will be the basis of your athleisure wardrobe and that give you the opportunity to build off of.

Skip the Trendy Athleisure Outfits

We know it can be tempting to buy the latest trendy outfits and items, but we recommend staying away from trendy activewear so that you aren’t left with a bunch of items that you find yourself considering giving away every time you clean out your closet. Athleisure is all about being fashionable and functional, but even in this style, there can be outfits that look great in photographs but aren’t really functional for use in day-to-day life. Trendy athleisure items will be temporary fixtures in your closet that will go out of style once the trend shifts, leaving you with money invested in items you won’t actually get much use out of. When you’re building your athleisure wardrobe, we recommend looking through outfits you love and weeding out the ones that feature overly trendy products or swapping them out for more functional options that will be useful for the long-term.

Always Consider Practicality

A big part of the allure of athleisure clothing and footwear is its practicality. When you are choosing athleisure clothing, you want to make sure that it is functional and useful for your life and the activities you do frequently. Do you take a long walk every day after work? Make sure you invest in supportive walking shoes with a simple, elegant design to ensure you are always ready to head out for a walk at a moment’s notice. Do you head to a pilates class every morning before the office? Choose athleisure clothing that has enough stretch to allow you to move comfortably and perform all of the movements in your class without needing to constantly adjust. We all have different activities that allow us to stay fit and healthy, so make sure that as you think about building your athleisure arsenal you consider the activities you love and build your wardrobe around those.

Select Styles You’re Comfortable With

Comfort is always of the utmost importance and comfort looks different for every single person. For some of us, we will never really feel comfortable wearing a sports bra and high-waisted leggings to a fitness class or for a walk. We need a cozy shirt to feel truly comfortable. For others, a cute sports bra and soft leggings may be the perfect athleisure outfit to wear or pack for a hike with friends. For some, the best athleisure pants may be knit joggers, while for others it may be high-waisted running crops. Comfort is deeply personal when it comes to fashion and we know there is no one-size-fits-all. When you are looking for athleisure items to incorporate into your closet, it’s important to be realistic about what you are really going to be comfortable wearing. There’s no sense in buying items that you think look adorable on other people if you are never going to feel truly comfortable wearing them. Select styles you are comfortable with to make sure every piece you buy is functional, comfortable, and a truly viable option.

Aim for Versatility

When it comes to athleisure, versatility is a great way to get more for your money. Choose items of clothing and footwear that are multi-functional and can easily transition between different types of activities to make sure you aren’t stuck buying different items for everything in your life. A cute pair of leggings, supportive walking shoes, and a sweatshirt make a perfect outfit for the gym, a fitness class, grocery shopping, drinks with friends, and so much more. We recommend targeting outfits like this to make sure all of your outfits are useful for several different activities and occasions so you can get the full benefits of athleisure style.

Have Fun and Experiment!

Last but not least, have fun and experiment with your athleisure style! For so many of us, athleisure is the solution to one of our most common annoyances: not having clothing and footwear that truly meets the needs of our lives while still being comfortable, fashionable, and functional. Try a new style of yoga pants that you’ve never worn before to see if they are a comfortable. Incorporate a sweatshirt with a new neckline to switch it up from your standard hoodie. Athleisure is all about you and what works for your life, so be sure to have fun and experiment with all of the different styles and types of athletic shoes and athleisure clothing that are available to curate an athleisure wardrobe that is multi-faceted, fun, and comfortable!

 

Keep exploring our blog for more on the best athleisure shoes and outfits for women!