Looking for outfit ideas for a laid-back look? Whether you’re gearing up for a weekend getaway or headed out to brunch, casual sporty outfits ensure you’re ready for anything. If you’re searching for a little fashion inspiration to help you reassess your wardrobe and reinvent your style with new pieces, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve put together a fashion-forward list of casual sporty outfits for ladies.
From tracksuits to bike shorts, we’re exploring timeless fits and the latest trends to help you find the right looks for your active and comfortable lifestyle. Plus, we’ll offer tips for feeling your best in any outfit. Read on to discover cute sporty outfits for any occasion, and remember, the first rule of fashion is to have fun.
The Rules of Sporty Chic Fashion
There are many directions you can go with when putting together cute sporty outfits. Mainly, you should wear clothes and shoes that are comfortable, practical, and easy to move around in but that are also cool and contemporary.
Footwear is an essential component of the sporty chic look. With most outfits, a pair of
casual sneakers are your best bet. In some instances, recovery shoes like our Rejuvenate Recovery Sandal can work, just as long as a sporty element is mixed in. Active sneakers comfortable mom shoes, and other comfortable walking shoes for women are also solid options.
The idea is to create a casual sporty outfit that’s equal parts laid-back, sporty, functional, and chic. When you walk out the door, your ensemble should look intentional yet chill. This might sound like an oxymoron, but we promise, it’s not that complicated.
7 Cute Casual Sporty Outfits
1. Head-to-Toe Athleisure
You’re probably wondering, what is athleisure? Functional and comfortable, athleisure is a 21st-century style that only continues to grow each year. This signature look takes gym clothes up a notch. Athleisure pieces have a sporty element that makes going from your workout class to running errands a breeze. What could be better than taking the performance fabrics used in activewear and matching them with the fit and comfort of your loungewear?
Staples of athleisure include:
- Joggers – Don’t call them sweatpants or track pants. These cushiony soft, flexible, and stylish pants are the biggest fashion development of the last 10 years. Of course, joggers have been around a lot longer than that, but since the early 2010s, they’ve officially ascended the thrown as the have-to-have-it athleisure wear.
- Yoga pants – As the fashion item that helped usher in the athleisure trend, yoga pants remain a tried and true way to remain comfortable and fashionable. Even if you don’t know downward dog from mountain pose, you can still rock a pair of yoga pants—whether you’re going for a run or picking up a few staples from the grocery store.
- Sneakers – Athleisure sneakers design can range from futuristic to vintage. You can go with a minimalist design or opt for bright and bold colors to make a statement with your shoes. There’s no definitive athleisure shoe, but we recommend choosing footwear that’s comfortable and supportive. You should feel like you’re walking on air from the gym to the office. One of our most popular sneaker styles is 23Walk 2.0 sneaker. Made with breathable materials and a durable outsole, this shoe provides the support you need on a daily basis.
Made with performance fabrics, athleisure apparel can make you look and feel relaxed. Match these picks with tanks, tees, or long-sleeve shirts in a similar material. If you go for high-waisted workout tights or leggings, consider a sports bra for a casual and cute athleisure look.
If the weather is cooling down, don’t forget about outerwear. A zip-up track jacket, hoodies, sweater, or even a leather jacket can look great on top of athleisure.
2. Oversized Tee and Leggings
Looking to cast an eye-catching silhouette? Don’t underestimate the power of an oversized graphic tee with leggings. The big on top and small on the bottom look can give a hip and modern feel to any outfit.
Oversized t-shirts are on-trend for men and women right now, and we’re here for it. Consider these tips for rocking the athleisure look:
- Dark leggings – While bright leggings can be striking and impressive, we’d recommend a more subtle choice. Opt for versatile dark hues like black, gray, or navy. Another option is biker shorts, which have become a go-to street style for women in recent years.
- Bold tees – Your t-shirt can be any color, pattern, or print you want, so why not go bold? Beat-up, vintage band T-shirts, hand-dipped tie-dyes, or even neon could make your outfit one of a kind. Just make sure it’s an oversized cut, not just a few sizes up from the size you usually wear. Oversized shirts tend to be shorter than regular tees and boxy rather than baggy.
With oversized shirts, you’ll want to make sure the rest of your clothes have a slim fit. In other words, we don’t recommend wearing baggy sweatpants with an oversized graphic tee because it can make the outfit look sloppy instead of intentional.
For your shoes, there are a couple of routes you can take. men’s comfortable sneakers, women’s casual sneakers or other supportive active shoes are excellent choices. When pairing oversized tees and leggings, we love finishing the look with a pair of our classic Winny Sneakers. That said, sporty, slide walking sandals can also pair nicely if the weather permits.
3. Sweatshirt and Running Tights
Oversized t-shirts and sweatshirts are all the rage right now, and they’re the perfect thing to wear over a pair of high-waisted leggings. For a sporty look for any casual outing, we recommend an oversized sweater or hoodie with yoga pants. Though yoga pants come in almost any color and print you can imagine, lighter hues tend to look more like workout leggings. To nail a sporty vibe, opt for navy blue, charcoal gray, or black leggings. Underneath the sweatshirt, throw on a simple fitted tee, cami, or compression tank.
As for the sweatshirt itself, you’ve got options. With dark, neutral yoga pants, you can select a similar color or contrast with a lighter hue. We love the look of retro-style hoodless sweatshirts, but you can definitely wear a hoodie if that’s your vibe. For footwear, how about a pair of lace-up active sneakers, like our Walk Strider Sneaker? They’re versatile for any outfit, not to mention trendy and totally functional. If it’s cold out, a knit beanie can really pull this athleisure wear together.
To get the sporty-casual dress code just right, we suggest the following:
- Performance materials – Comfortable, durable, and downright flattering, performance tights are a premium choice for this look. Compression materials are great, and they can have a nice flattering sheen—just make sure you’re plenty comfortable and don’t feel too constricted.
- Layer up – Ensure you’re not sweating if the temp starts to heat up. We’d encourage a stretchy cami, compression tank, or a fitted cotton tee as a base layer. As for your sweatshirt, a fitted zip-up hoodie is a good choice, but we also like hoodless pullover sweatshirts in regular and oversized cuts.
As far as colors go, the possibilities are endless. All black can make for a chic and understated look, while neutrals can create a relaxed, earthy vibe. You could even sport the colors of your alma mater for a little school spirit.
As for your shoes, a pair of cute active sneakers are an excellent option. Casual slip-on sneakers or high-top bootie sneakers are also a solid choice.
4. T-Shirt and Jeans
Versatile and classic, jeans and t-shirts go together like peanut butter and jelly. When it comes to casual attire, jeans look good on everyone and pair impeccably with a perfectly fitted tee.
Today, your options for jeans are extensive and include:
- Skinny
- Ripped
- Straight
- Cropped
- Distressed
- High-waisted
Not to mention the variety of washes, colors, and detailing.
T-shirts are just as multifaceted, and we recommend exploring options like:
- The basic tee – Keep things minimalist with a solid color tee made from quality materials. White is the classic choice, but sage-green, beige, and mauve could elevate your look to the next level.
- Exercise tee – Sweat-wicking, breathable, and fitted, an athletic t-shirt can add bring a sporty flair to this look.
You can mix and match these outfits with tennis shoes or trainers. Squeaky-clean white sneakers can pair perfectly with a t-shirt and jeans sporty outfit. Our Kearny Platform Lace Up Sneaker is ideal if you’re looking for a stylish shoe that doesn’t compromise on comfort.
5. Shorts and a Jacket
Shorts are an activewear piece that has made its way into women’s fashion—they’ve even been featured on the runway in recent years. Another sporty look we adore is bike shorts with a leather jacket. With the right material, cycling shorts can be surprisingly comfortable and even slimming, as many are high-waisted and made with compression materials. A majority of shorts you’ll find will come in black, and you can’t go wrong there. Other colors are great too, as long as you’re mindful of clashing.
For this sporty ensemble, we strongly suggest wearing sneakers—even if you have no plans to get on a bicycle.
There are a lot of ways to explore this sporty style combo, and the following are just a few of our favorites:
- Denim shorts and vinyl jacket – Casual and rugged, denim shorts are a summer staple. To up the sportiness, pair them with a vinyl or nylon jacket.
- Bike shorts and corduroy jacket– Explore some comfy textures and fresh trends. Bike shorts bring the sportiness while a corduroy jacket can offer a casual-cool sporty vibe to this simple look.
- Running shorts and bomber jacket –With a modern throwback, this look offers a retro sporty vibe with a modern attitude. Explore cool tones or go all out with wild prints and colors.
Under the coat, we’d suggest a simple tank or a fitted tee. Of course, the possibilities for this style never really end. You may find yourself exploring different types of leather jackets, windbreakers, or even a raincoat with sporty shorts.
For footwear, we definitely recommend sneakers. If you wear sandals, you might look like you’re dressing for winter on top and summer from the waist down. To complete the look, throw on a baseball cap.
#6 Sports Wear
Show your love of the game by introducing some sportswear into your wardrobe. After all, professional athletes shouldn’t have all the fun.
Wondering how to take some style off the field and bring it into your outfits? Try on some of these options:
- Jerseys – Support your team and create a fresh look. No matter your sport of choice, jerseys can add an inspired addition to your wardrobe. We recommend pairing jerseys with tights or denim shorts to bring a casual angle to this sporty look.
- The tennis skirt – Even if you’re not out on the courts, the tennis skirt is a highly underrated garment. Not only is it cool, comfy, and sporty, but it’s a totally on-trend to the piece of the season.
These looks are easily paired with athletic sneakers or even chunkier boots. And don’t forget to accessorize with some sporty socks.
#7 Tracksuits, Sweatsuits
One of the simplest (and coolest) casual sporty outfit ideas is a coordinated tracksuit. Aside from an undershirt and shoes, this effortless look relieves you from making any additional fashion decisions. Coordinated tracksuits and sweatsuits are having a moment in both women’s and men’s fashion.
Tracksuits and sweatsuits are super comfortable and cozy—and the last thing you want to do is ruin the experience of wearing them with a pair of uncomfortable shoes. Sneakers are the way to go here, but not just any sneakers. Comfort and support are crucial, and with Vionic tennis shoes, you can count on both. Lace-up casual sneakers or bungee-tie trainers will complete the look.
So what does it take to rock a full tracksuit? Besides confidence, we recommend the following:
- Pick your pattern – Houndstooth, plaid, stripe, or polka-dot, matching sets are an opportunity to explore unique patterns and designs. You’re guaranteed to match so you can feel free to explore adventurous prints.
- Try a looser fit – Tracksuits and sweatsuits should feel comfy and casual, which means you can give yourself a little breathing room. Don’t choose an oversized or baggy sweatsuit, just ensure there’s plenty of room for you to relax.
- Keep your shoes understated – The suit is the center of attention so keep your shoe game a little on the quiet side. Solid colors and minimalist designs are a smart pairing for this look.
Vionic: Smart Footwear for Every Look
Already planning your next look? Hopefully, these recommendations have inspired your imagination and sent you into the closet with a fresh perspective. Whichever ensemble you choose, Vionic has the stylish footwear to go with it.
We carry women’s shoes and men’s footwear in a wide range of designs, colors, and materials. Best of all, every pair of Vionic shoes is made with our cutting-edge Vio-Motion Support technology. This means they have unmatched stability, arch support, and comfy cushioning, all of which are hidden within the design of the shoe.
Are you ready to start curating a sporty casual look that aligns with your personal vibe?
Sources:
- Business Insider. Sweatpants Are The Hottest New Trend In Menswear. https://www.businessinsider.com/jogger-pants-are-taking-over-menswear-2014-8
- Forbes. The Rise Of Athleisure In The Fashion Industry And What It Means For Brands. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2021/05/03/the-rise-of-athleisure-in-the-fashion-industry-and-what-it-means-for-brands/?sh=96335843ae0c