Athleisure has become a big part of men’s casual fashion, blending together the trends of streetwear, activewear, and many more. More people are trying out this style for its chic, relaxed look that is so easy to pull off. Ever wondered how to wear the athleisure trend without looking too tacky or underdressed? We introduce the trend as well as a few tips and tricks to help you pull off the sporty style like a pro.
What is Athleisure?
Athleisure is a portmanteau of the words “athletic” and “leisure”. In the dictionary, its fashion category is defined as “casual clothing designed to be worn both for exercising and for general use.” It is the combination of combining function and fashion together to create a practical and comfortable style that is so well-liked by many people around the world.
More than just a fashion fad, athleisure is an aspirational lifestyle that goes hand-in-hand with relaxed dress codes, enhanced health consciousness, and busier schedules due to its simplicity and versatility. It’s a relatively no-fuss style that is very customizable to be as dressed up or down as you like. The best thing is that you don’t actually have to hit the gym to wear the athleisure trend; you can wear it on your casual days off or when heading into town. You can pull-off the athletic wear by combining function with fashion. Typical yet effective examples would be to use fashion items such as a leather jacket or jeans with functional activewear such as joggers or sneakers. Not only will this give you a practical function, but it will also give you a comfortable and well-balanced appeal.
Some Of The Best Athleisure Brands For Men
Knowing some basic athletic brands will not only guide you to nail the athleisure trend, but it will also help you to invest only in the best items. Check out below some of the best athleisure brands for men that are worthy of your fashion collections.
1. Rhone
Photo from @RhoneApparel FB
Rhone offers some of the most practical activewear that you can wear in between your active workout and being out and about running errands. Rhone’s apparel is perfect for the toughest of your physical activities while still looking cool outside of the gym. From performance shorts to workout shirts, and slim fit shirts with Wicking technology, you can always find the best athleisure clothing in this brand.
2. Tasc
Photo from @tascperformance FB
Tasc Performance offers some of the best athleisure items in the market. Browse through their selection of shirts, pants, and jackets for whether you’re headed to the gym or teeing off at the green. Tasc Performance is a leading brand when it comes to textile development, using responsibly-sourced bamboo and other plant fibers in their fabric. With over 70 years of experience, you can surely rely on their expertise and quality when it comes to their products.
3. Myles Apparel
Photo from @MylesApparel FB
Myles Apparel offers a wide variety of sweatpants, pullovers, workout shirts, and many more that are great for both indoor and outdoor activities. The brand understands and knows what it takes to create a clothing line of simple but functional men’s clothes. It’s a perfect go-to brand if you’re looking for comfortable and practical athleisure clothes for everyday wear.
4. Hanes
Photo from @hanes FB
Hanes is a clothing company that is all about comfort and simplicity. Their clothing options span from shirts and sweatpants to even boxer shorts. They make great staples to add to your wardrobe, whether you feel like lounging in at home or sweating it out. The simple design of their apparel makes them very easy to mix and match to fit your style or the occasion.
5. Public Rec
Photo from publicrec.com
Public Rec’s technical leisure apparel is great for casual wear or for sports. Their selections range from everyday basics to more smart casual clothes so you can easily mix and add on pieces to create your own style. The best thing about their clothes is that they are all made of extremely comfortable materials and come in a tailored fit, perfect for indoor or outdoor wear.
6. Vuori
Photo from @Vuori FB
Vuori is also another young yet leading activewear brand that provides quality sports apparel in the market. Their products are designed for an active lifestyle and clean look, which makes them great options for the athleisure streetwear look. It’s a perfect balance of comfort, performance, and style. Since the brand is relatively new on the athleisure scene, you can expect to find more modern and trendy pieces.
Athleisure Basic Essentials
Sneakers
Photo from pxhere.com
A clean pair of sneakers is one of the must-haves in the athleisure style for its sporty yet casual vibe. Choose sneakers that are chill and comfortable so you can walk around in them the whole day. You can go for a pair of sports shoes or casual sneakers depending on the style you’re going for.
Hoodies
Photo by StockSnap from Pixabay
So if you’re wearing just a simple T-shirt and you want to upgrade into an athleisure look, one of the simplest tricks is to grab your hoodie pullover or jacket. Hoodies are a great addition to your athleisure clothing collection. Not only will it warm you on cooler months, but it will also simply make you look more active while you’re on the go doing some of your errands.
Sweatpants
Photo from wallpaperflare.com
Pair your sneakers with a comfortable pair of sweatpants with all your regular casual clothes to instantly make your outfit look more casual and sporty. Sweatpants are not only the best apparel during your cardio workouts, but they’re also easy enough to put on for other casual regular activities. Choose sweatpants that are neutral in color to make them easy to wear with any outfit
Workout Shorts
Photo from pikrepo.com
For some, workout shorts are more preferable than sweatpants for their comfort and functionality. They are a lot more freeing to move around in and can even show off those leg and calf muscles. Even in colder weather, you can still wear shorts out by wearing them with leggings to keep yourself warm.
Tips to Wearing An Athleisure Style
Now that you know where to find some of the best athleisure items, you need to know how to wear them properly to fully nail the athleisure look. Here are some of the basic tips to help you look stylish in your sportswear.
1. Observe proper proportion
The key to the athleisure style is that it should look comfortable so not everything has to be tight-fitting or perfectly tailored. Know your own fitting and know what works best on your body. Pair slim-fitted pieces with looser ones so you can achieve that balance of relaxed and sleek styles in your outfit.
2. Take note of color coordination
Black or white can easily be paired with any design or color. However, feel free to add some color to your outfit as well. Play around with different shades to see which ones tie in the best with one another. That said, avoid using multiple colors at the same time; two to three shades of color are usually enough to keep your outfit from looking too wild.
3. Choose your style for the occasion
Although athleisure can be good for general or daily use, it’s not always the most appropriate on some occasions. If it’s for daily tasks like commuting around the city or buying something in the convenience store, then it should be fine. The athleisure outfit is not the most ideal attire for work and other more formal events such as a wedding or job interview, which might call for a smart casual or business casual dress code.
4. Keep your pieces on trend
Just like any other fashion trend, the athleisure style is bound to keep on evolving and it will continue to be that way in the future. The items that are considered stylish and practical will change from time to time. Keep your pieces on-trend and stay connected to your favorite brands for new releases.
5. Accessorize
If you feel your athleisure outfit is lacking that little “oomph”, go ahead and accessorize. It could be a hat, a bag, a sweatband or any form of jewelry. Just don’t overdo it; you want just enough to complement your outfit but not outshine it.
6. Combine with other casual clothes
The athleisure style doesn’t mean you have to go all the way wearing sportswear from head to toe. You can elevate your athleisure outfit with most of the clothes you already have. Get creative and mix in elements from your regular casual attire, like a leather or denim jacket or trench coat. This is not only an effective trick that always works, but it’s also economical.
7. Add some variation
This is a useful trick that can make your athleisure outfit look more interesting. Experiment with clothes in different patterns and materials to add some visual “texture” to the whole look. The best thing about the athleisure trend is that the possibilities are endless so you are free to create your own unique style.
What You Should Avoid With This Style
1. Don’t use it as an excuse to be lazy
Although an athleisure style creates an active and on-the-go look, it should maintain a neat and clean style. Avoid wearing ill-fitting or old clothes that look too well-worn for outdoor wear. You shouldn’t look too casual to the point that you look like you just rolled out of bed. The ideal athleisure look should look stylish and relaxed but not sloppy.
2. Don’t overdo it
You don’t have to wear athletic wear all the way, unless of course if you intend to just work out in the gym. If you just want to achieve an athleisure style outside the gym, then wearing two or three athleisure essentials will work just fine.
3. Don’t compromise performance over comfort
If your athleisure outfit gets in the way of you performing certain tasks, then you need to look at how to make the proper adjustments. For example, if you’re wearing a pair of jeans to go for a run, you might want to consider that those jeans might not be as comfortable to run in. Keep in mind that the athleisure trend is more of a lifestyle than just a fashion trend so take into account what you’re doing that day and adapt your dressing accordingly. The athleisure look is how you make of it; there’s no right and wrong in this style.
Athleisure has truly become a global phenomenon and we don’t see it slowing down in the near future. The casual style of dressing is becoming more and more varied as trends change and the athleisure trend is one of those fusion trends that have emerged as a result. With more brands hopping on the athleisure trend by introducing sports elements in their outfits, there is still so much room for this style to expand and evolve in the years to come.
