As an ex-soccer player, investing in cute workout gear never has never been a priority for me. With all the “free” athletic gear I got from tournaments and mandatory team apparel, I’ve never really had to go shopping for workout gear. Even after I retired my cleats at the end of freshman year of college, I continued to wear all of my loose-fitting, neutral t-shirts with slightly baggy Adidas shorts. Lucky for me, Adidas is making a fashionable comeback, but that’s another story.
Now that I’ve finally come out of the Boston hibernation, I’ve been dying to get more active again. This year, instead of unearthing all of my old exercise clothes, I decided that it’s probably time to join the rest of the fitness world and get some cute gear. Marshalls and Urban Outfitters are by far my favorite choices right now because they have tons of fun colors and designs, without the Lululemon price tag. Unlike the typical active wear shopper, I picked out pieces that I knew I could transition into my everyday wardrobe.
Capri Leggings: I think most of you would agree that when you go shopping for something specific, you always end up leaving with something wildly different. This is especially true for leggings. I had full intentions of scoring some versatile, solid print leggings and instead I walked out with these celestial print beauties. The keys to segueing crazy prints into an everyday outfit are proportion and color. I opted to pair my leggings with drapey silhouettes in neutral colors so that the leggings could do all of the talking, but in subdued way. Consider trying out uneven hemlines, like my maxi dress, or exaggerated slits (which are very on trend this season) with your leggings to give your overall look a little more edge.
Zip up hoodie: Hoodies are a staple in any (in)active person’s wardrobe, more specifically at the gym, on a lazy weekend or when running errands. But with athletic wear becoming more popular each season, it only seems right to give our hoodies a little more love in our everyday wear. My zip up hoodie is the most obnoxious yellow imaginable, but I paired it with some complementing pieces that turned it into an extra touch, rather than a statement piece. I’ve been weary to test out the whole ’90s tying a shirt around your waist thing, but I actually love how this first look turned out. Pro tip: Twist the arms of your hoodie before tying them together for less bulk around your waist. For the second look I decided to toughen up the yellow with a leather jacket and dark printed pants. Not gonna lie, I kinda felt like Justin Bieber a little bit, but I think was a pretty seamless way to integrate a hoodie into my look, without feeling like I was wearing a hoodie. (If that makes any sense at all. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Sleeveless neon top: To stay consistent with the bright and bold active wear choices, we’ll finish up with my only “cute” workout top that I currently own. Obvi, it’s neon pink because for someone who sits in the very back of spin class, a simple lilac or navy color just won’t do. Because this top is super stretchy and relatively form-fitting, I decided it would be best to use it as a layering piece. In my first look I used a statement necklace to cover up the v-neckline of the shirt to make it look less workout, and more casual chic. My second look is a bit more dressed up for either an office setting or a fun dinner date. To play up the colors I kept the green blouse open, so that the pink could peak through. I actually prefer this method with most of my sheer button down blouses because it’s a easy way to add interest to a look, without a bunch of extra accessories. Another thing to keep in mind is the placement of the brand’s logo on the top. Mine was on the bottom left, so I was easily able to cover it up by tucking that side into my jeans.
I hope you enjoyed these tips. Thanks for reading!
