Whether you work from home, never stopped going into your workplace, or are among the millions of Americans now facing the reality of the daily commute once again, you’ll likely be hesitant to prioritize formality over comfort when it comes to your personal fashion.
If you’re curious about styling athleisure outfits for work, read on for our series of tips that are guaranteed to suit anyone from office employees to healthcare workers and beyond.
1. Comfort Can Always Be Stylish
If you’re unsure what to wear to work that’s both comfortable and fits in your office dress code, aim to strike the perfect balance between ease and professionalism. This might be the single most essential philosophy behind the rise of the athleisure trend. The movement to prioritize comfort over traditional notions of formal fashion has coalesced around a growing acceptance of more casual outfits at work.1
If you don’t know how to wear athleisure outfits to work, there are a few simple rules you should keep in mind. Because athleisure wear unites the sleekness and simplicity required for workout clothing with the standards for comfort we all want while lounging in the comfort of our homes, it presents countless unique style options for workers to incorporate into their office wear attire. Additionally, a pair of stylish and comfortable work shoes can elevate any look while keeping you on your feet for the long haul.
As you begin to make athleisure workwear fashion choices that work for you, it’s important to remember that comfort and style are not mutually exclusive. You can, at least, in this case, have your cake and eat it too.
For example, a pair of elevated kicks like our Winny Sneaker designed for comfort and support could stand out nicely with a light high neck mini dress or a simple blouse with black leggings.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Mix and Match
Pivoting to athleisure wear for work doesn’t mean you have to get rid of your formal business attire altogether. In fact, it’s clear that workers are looking for how to dress up in activewear in order to retain comfort in more traditional work environments.
Fortunately, plenty of athleisure pieces are designed with dressing up in mind, allowing you to mix and match different parts of your wardrobe without losing that seamless look you wanted all along.
If you work in an office that requires you to wear a blazer or even a pantsuit, you could try matching a flowy and breathable athleisure blouse with some sporty slip-on platforms like our Kearney Platform Slip On Sneaker.
However you choose to mix and match, just remember that athleisure is infinitely adaptable to your unique workplace and work clothes needs. For example, if you work in administration at a busy hospital, requiring you to be on the go at all times, you might want to try a tasteful slip-on sneaker to keep your feet supported and ready for anything.
3. Use Layering to Your Advantage
Athleisure style is preeminently adaptable to your professional comfort needs. In fact, just because you’re sporting athletic wear doesn’t mean you’re only wearing hoodies or sweatpants to the office. You can mix and match traditional office wear with athleisure pieces to create a comfortable yet polished look. One way to incorporate athleisure styles into work clothing is to wear layers, either by alternating between form-fitting and looser pieces or by layering your more casual clothing with formal options.
Layering can be one of the easiest solutions to the question of how to wear athleisure styles to work. For example, match a pair of comfortable leggings with a simple t-shirt and a chunky sweater when it’s cold out, or try the same with a tunic-length tee in the warmer months. Complete your stylish and comfortable athleisure outfit with a denim jacket or bomber and maybe a pair of rubber-soled traditional leather sneakers like our Colbie Slip On Sneaker.
Layering isn’t just convenient. It’s also incredibly trendy and conducive to keeping your wardrobe sustainable.2 By finding new and exciting ways to incorporate older casual clothing, you avoid contributing to the fashion industry’s often negative impact on the environment while ensuring you get the most out of your hard-earned money.
4. Mix Fabrics to Optimize Comfort and Creativity
Athleisure clothes come in many technical fabric options. All of these are designed with both comfort and performance in mind, striking the perfect balance between sporty and comfy without sacrificing style in the process.
Some of these technical fabrics include:
- X-Static – Invented by Noble Biomaterials, X-Static uses strands of interwoven silver and nylon yarn to decrease static and provide antimicrobial resistance to bacteria, helping its wearer naturally reduce odor. Additionally, X-Static has been found to provide effective resistance against human coronavirus OC43.3
Bamboo – Fabrics blended with all-natural bamboo fibers provide a sustainable solution to the common problems of breathability and odor faced by any athleisure wearer. This type of premium fabric is particularly attractive to consumers looking for new ways to cut down their carbon footprint by leading eco-friendly lives.
Nylon – Originally a silk substitute, nylon has since proven to be one of the most versatile and inexpensive performance fabric options for athleisure clothing. Nylon is uniquely breathable and quick-drying, making it an ideal choice for both workouts and your lengthy commute.
Polyester – Made from plastic, polyester is simply everywhere. Known for its lightweight durability and resistance to wrinkles, polyester is a great, cost-effective choice for any of your athleisure apparel needs.
Spandex – Perhaps the most iconic of athleisure clothing fabrics, spandex provides unbeatable comfort and stretchiness to such ubiquitous pieces as leggings and sports bras. To those in the know, spandex is much, much more than those cheesy, intoxicatingly colorful workout videos of the 1980s would have you think.
By mixing technical fabrics, you provide depth and texture to your layering while ensuring maximum usage of all your capsule wardrobe items. Try dressing up a pair of quality high-waisted leggings or yoga pants with a denim jacket or bomber, or throw that sleek leather jacket you’ve been dying to wear over a breathable athleisure dress.
As with all workwear trends, athleisure clothes should be both convenient and versatile, allowing you to work comfortably, efficiently, and confidently all day long.
5. Keep Colors and Patterns as Simple as Possible
If you want to dress up your athleisure pieces to suit a business casual look, you might try avoiding some of the more vibrant, colorful, and busy styles available. Remember, you’re trying to look professional and stylish without sacrificing comfort.
We’re not saying you should only wear monochrome outfits or that you shouldn’t look beyond the usual suspects of blue, black, grey, and brown. There are plenty of tasteful and unique color options to suit your athleisure apparel needs, especially among the less-vibrant shades of yellow, red, purple, and green.
While some patterns, such as polka dot, striping, checked, and even floral, are certainly acceptable in most workplaces, you’ll probably want to avoid such options as camo and tie-dye when it comes to wearing athleisure wear in the office. Additionally, it’s always best practice to avoid logos wherever possible. If you’re ever unsure about what to wear to work, a quick review of your company’s dress code can provide clear guidance and help you dress with confidence.
6. Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize!
Just because you’re choosing comfort doesn’t mean you should limit your style options. That means accessorizing however you would with more formal workplace wardrobe options.
Don’t be afraid to add a pair of earrings or a simple gold necklace to your cute athleisure outfit. Stay in-season with a matching winter hat and glove combination, or with a great pair of designer sunglasses. You can even carry your cute clutch or trusty leather tote with you as you navigate your way to the workplace.
The customization options are endless and truly depend on personal preference or whatever trend you’re looking to emulate. What’s important to remember is that comfort can always be stylish. We know we’re repeating ourselves here, but we think this is absolutely essential to making athleisure work for your workplace.
7. Make Your Shoes a Statement
Shoes might be the most exciting possibility athleisure has to offer. Gone are the days of unbearable heels and tiny flats which offer as little comfort as they do support. Wherever and however you work, there are plenty of options for you in terms of versatile footwear suitable for the office, the train, the hospital floor, and even your own home.
If you’re in need of something formal for the fall and winter months, why not make a statement with a pair of weather-resistant, ankle boots like our Aria Wedge Ankle Bootie? If you can afford to dress down a little, you might want to try some modern leather sneakers complete with soft orthotic inserts like our Kearney Platform Lace Up Sneaker.
Make Athleisure Work for You with Vionic
With so many stylish options available, there’s never been a better time to bring athleisure into your work wardrobe. Whether you’re starting a new job or simply want to elevate your everyday at-home workwear, athleisure offers a perfect blend of comfort and versatility that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle.
Athleisure is all about comfort from head to toe—step into Vionic’s digital showroom to find the perfect fit to complete your day-to-day athleisure look. With so many stylish shoes designed with Vio Motion technology, you’ll be strutting with style and comfort no matter where you’re headed.
Sources:
- Kale, Sirin. ‘Why should I have to work on stilts?’: the women fighting sexist dress codes.” The Guardian. 11 July 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/11/why-should-i-have-to-work-on-stilts-the-women-fighting-sexist-dress-codes
- Kale, Sirin. “The layering secret: how to get a whole new wardrobe from your old clothes.” The Guardian. 22 Septebmer 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/sep/25/the-layering-secret-how-to-get-a-whole-new-wardrobe-from-your-old-clothes
- “X-Static fabric tests effective against coronavirus.” Innovation in Textiles. https://www.innovationintextiles.com/xstatic-fabric-tests-effective-against-coronavirus/
- “Athleisure Trend Accelerates During Lockdown.” Direct Commerce. https://homeofdirectcommerce.com/news/athleisure-trend-accelerates-during-lockdown/
- “Athleisure wear: A trend movement in the fashion and sportswear industries.” Heuritech. https://www.heuritech.com/blog/articles/athleisure-wear/
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