What could be more comfortable than swapping your jeans for sweatpants after a long day at work? Whether you’re looking forward to a nice lazy evening or heading out with friends, athleisure clothing has almost become a natural part of our leisure wear. Yet you don’t have to stick to the stereotypical tracksuit with sneakers. Both people and brands continue to push the boundaries and experiment to combine style and comfort. Athleisure is a trend that is increasingly influencing everyday life. In this article, we will address several topics on this subject.
What is athleisure for men?
Athleisure is a combination of two words, namely ‘athletic’ and ‘leisure’. It is a style of clothing in which the line between sportswear and leisurewear is blurred. You could also call it ‘sporty leisure’. Athleisure clothing can be recognized by its material, such as fleece and stretch (elastane), among other things. There is also a distinction made between sportswear (clothing designed for specific sports) and activewear (clothing for an active lifestyle), but in practice these terms overlap. Wearing athletic clothing outside of the gym and sports field is not new. Famous sportswear brands such as Champion hoodies and Lacoste polo shirts have become part of the street scene. Yet it is notable that since we all worked from home during the Covid-19 pandemic, the appreciation for sportswear is more visibly expressed.
How do you wear athleisure?
There are several ways to incorporate athleisure into your wardrobe. You can go for subtle additions like a sporty polo shirt or cardigan paired with a striking pair of chinos. But bold combinations such as a hoodie with slacks are also stylish, provided you pay close attention to the fit of the garments. Others use the famous bright colors of sportswear to put together a striking outfit. In addition, a smooth cap and sneakers never look wrong. The most important thing to keep in mind is that athleisure is always customized. What looks good on one person, may not necessarily be the case for you. This makes it a personal style in which you can express yourself.
When do you wear athleisure?
As a trend athleisure is focused on comfort without skimping on quality and style. For example, sustainability is increasingly the focus when producing sports- and activewear. Clothing brands like Superdry and Hugo Boss make products specifically designed to be worn both inside and outside the gym. In addition, in most workplaces you have the freedom to dress more informally. Nevertheless, for business and formal occasions, it is still wise to be dressed in a neat and presentable way (unless athleisure is the dress code of course 😉). On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with adding a sporty note to your outfit when going out, on vacation or at a family barbecue.
