In a recent article, InStyle said for the first time in history Athleisure (yes, it is the new word for athletic wear) was surpassing jeans as the top fashion trend.
And that baffled me, because trends usually go…school girls, gay men, college girls, random people with a pulse, and then moms. But this article clearly stated that teens and early 20-somethings are embracing a new fashion staple, the phenomenon known to all modern moms as…
YOGA PANTS.
In all seriousness, Athleisure has become more and more fashionable in the last 15 years.
For example, the only Athleisure I can remember in my college days was an oversized sweatshirt with stretched out sweatpants. And I sure didn’t wear them ANYWHERE outside of my apartment (unless I was hungover, but that is another story).
What is Athleisure?
In my mind, this Athleisure thing started with Sharon Stone wearing a GAP black t-shirt with a Valentino skirt at the 1996 Oscars. (She followed it up by wearing a GAP white button down shirt with a Vera Wang skirt in 1998.)
Then it was coveted Juicy Couture sweatsuits (circa 2000). I had girlfriends running around in tracksuits that looked like Velvet Jones’ workout wear and were as expensive as a Marc Jacobs suit.
Stores devoted to Athleisure like Athleta, Lululemon, and GAP FIT and brands like Nike, Reebok, and The North Face have made “workout wear” something that isn’t just for the gym, but for everyday.
The times, they are a changin’.
And before you say, “THANK GOD, someone said it’s perfectly fine to wear my yoga pants EVERY.SINGLE.DAY! See, Henry, everyone is doing it, it’s all the rage,” know that I’m not that person.
This isn’t an excuse to dress lazily for life, but a chance to rev-up your current rotation of active wear and add some elements that take it from frumpy mom fashion to sporty mom fashion. Because let’s be honest, for something that you’ll wear three days a week, it’s worth the investment.
Here are some of the Athleisure items I’m in love with right now. (Just scroll over them and they will tell you the price and the store – cool huh?)
As a blogger (and mom), there are times I never get out of my yoga pants, so it is nice to know that it is acceptable to go to Costco to pick up a rotisserie chicken so we have something for dinner. That being said, it is a slippery slope…like I don’t want to see Athleisure at a fine restaurant, a wedding, or in a job interview.
(Yep, call me old fashioned, but I don’t believe your should wear jeggings to an interview.)
So what do you think? Do you think the definition for what is athleisure is correct? Is it a passing phase or is it here to stay? Could it simply be an excuse to not get ready every day? Leave a comment and let me know!
