Gone are the days of wearing an old college T-shirt and leggings as workout wear.
Fashion stylist and image consultant Heather Rae Mitchell explains, “We use our workout clothes as a way to further motivate ourselves—we want something nice to look back at [in the mirror] while squatting instead of sweat stains staring back at us. Function and style are exactly what we women look for when shopping for new activewear.”
Although Lululemon‘s signature hoodies and fitted black pants have become the uniform for women who like to stay fit, it’s time to step away from the crowd and consider some of these new styles.
Kings of Cole and Aviator Nation are the comfy sweats favored by both celebrities and the trainer to the stars, Tracy Anderson. Wear these with a fitted tank at the gym; then pair the colorful bottoms or hoodie with a cute tee post workout.
Photo by Karsten Staiger for Kings of Cole.
Luxury activewear label Lucas Hugh is designed by former swimwear designer and Alexander McQueen intern Anjhe Mules. The clothing was exclusively worn by Jennifer Lawrence and the other tributes during training sessions in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” making it so popular, it can be hard to get your hands on. A test-run by Self magazine proved this line isn’t just high fashion; it’s high function.
For the rockstar in you, Koral Activewear’s edgy metallic sports bras and leggings are so cool you’ll want to wear them outside the gym.
Pictured: Koral Activewear Chi Tanktop and Celestial Capri
If you favor pilates, yoga, or barre classes, Nancy Rose Performance may be your new preferred brand. The swingy jackets and high-style printed tops will take you from your class straight to lunch.
For high-performance pants, try Under Armour, specifically their ColdGear Fitted Leggings. The fabric wicks moisture from the skin while circulating your body heat, and UV protection means you don’t have to smear on sunscreen before hitting the streets.
15 Love Apparel’s pants are the standouts of this sportswear line. The Compression Capri has piping detail that shows off the contours of your body and the best-selling Slim Legging comes in fun colors and tie-dye prints.
All of the Mika Yoga Wear line is fantastic, but we especially love their sports bras, which offer support and sizing for women with a larger cup size. The straps on many of the styles can be changed around for different styles.
Pictured: Mika Yoga Wear Copper Serene Top and Copper Kiki Short
The right pump-up tunes are instrumental to a great workout, but no one needs to hear your jam.Handcandy Earbuds aren’t your regular headphones. Beaded straps come in a variety of styles and keep these ear buds in reach at all times.
For your more intense workout session, MEElectronics M6 Sports In-Ear Headphones are noise isolating, comfortable, and best of all, will not fall out of your ears during your workout.
Pictured top right: Koral Activewear Saucy Top
