Fitness is Fashionable
April 2017
When the fitness and fashion worlds collided, they produced the hottest trend yet. Get started on athleisure with every fashion girl's 'it' item — leggings.
Fitness today is getting more social. Running is no longer a solo affair; it’s a workplace activity during lunch or in the evenings — just like hitting the gym is becoming a group sport with yoga, spinning and kickboxing classes. Whatever the workout arena of your choice may be, you can’t deny that fitness is now a see-and-be-seen activity, which means people want to dress the part.
The meeting of fitness and fashion has birthed a niche fashion segment that industry insiders like to call ‘athleisure’. Think of it as high street fashion with built-in comfort and performance. Trainers still top this category but leggings come a close second, with Nike CEO Mark Parker famously calling them “the new denim”.
A debate rages on about whether leggings should be worn as pants, so here’s our take: if they’re see-through, they should be layered under a tunic or a longer top to cover your derrière. A visible panty line is also a no-no, so make sure you choose the right knickers!
With those basics sorted out, let’s start putting together some athleisure inspired looks!
Black is back
You don’t have to look like a professional athlete to rock athleisure. Women love the style for its versatility — day to night, office to gym. For your next night out, start with a pair of classic black leggings. The whole idea is to play with shapes and textures, so experiment with structured or flowy tops for different silhouettes and add heels for a polished finish. Going monochrome earns you extra style points in our books too!
Get the look with adidas Wow Drop Tights ($99). The fitted design stays close to your body and visually lengthens your legs. Plus, it’s high-performance activewear that lets you hit the gym one day and the club on another.
The grown-up hippie
While the all black ensemble is chic, this grown-up hippie look screams fun, fun, fun! When sporty leggings made the crossover to the fashion world, they knew they were in for a dramatic makeover. You can find faux leather, monogrammed and even ripped leggings today, but we stand behind printed leggings as an effortless way to update your weekend wardrobe.
Fall back on your fashion fundamentals and pair psychedelic leggings with a plain, neutral top. Add a bomber jacket and a pair of sneakers, and you’re all set!
This pair of leggings from Mizuno ($119) is the perfect example of the updated, grown-up hippie look.
Create your own style
Pulling off any athleisure look is about feeling comfortable and confident, so don’t let yourself be limited by ‘rules’. Channel your inner yogi with head-to-toe yoga wear or mix and match your favourite pieces with leggings — an oversized button-down shirt is subtly sexy while a chambray top is cool and laidback.
For more style options, check out homegrown brand Vivre Activewear for a mind-boggling range of printed yoga pants that will help you put together multiple looks that score big on both style and function.
Shop with us:
adidas
Bugis+ #02-10/11
IMM #01-123
Plaza Singapura #02-09
Westgate #04-25
www.adidas.com.sg
Mizuno
IMM #01-03
Lot One Shoppers’ Mall #02-11/12
Plaza Singapura #03-13
Westgate (Sports Town) #03-34
www.mizuno.asia
Vivre Activewear
Bugis Junction #03-17
www.vivreactivewear.com