Fashionable, fashionable athletic wear is becoming more popular. It’s not about fashion, but it’s also about feeling good. It doesn’t matter if you are working out or just relaxing; you want to feel good.
Miriam Fried is a personal trainer in New York City. She founded MF Strength. “If your clothing isn’t comfortable, doesn’t breathe well, or is constantly falling, it can distract from your workout and make your experience less enjoyable.” Daniella is a professional powerlifter and vice president of The Hybrid Gym Group. You will feel more confident in your ability to perform if you feel great and look good in your activewear.
Fried says that different exercise methods can require additional clothing. Fried adds that other exercise modalities can require different attire.
We spoke to industry professionals — Olympic athletes, highly sought-after trainers, and instructors about the brands they use at work and when they relax. These 12 activewear brands are a great way to update your wardrobe and look good while you work out.
Alo Yoga
Alo Yoga was created in 2007 as an activewear brand specifically for yoga lovers, but it has since evolved into one beloved by everyone from the barre-obsessed and Pilates loyalists to celebrities as a street style option. And there’s an excellent reason for that. The brand’s super-soft and comfortable activewear is the most luxurious-feeling gym clothing you’ll ever wear. It was a favorite mentioned by some experts we spoke with. “Alo Yoga activewear is great quality, flattering, and lasts a long time,” shares Emily Pareti, a yoga and aerial instructor based in New Jersey. In fact, Alo Yoga (and the brand’s leggings in particular) is her big splurge when it comes to all things activewear.
High-Waist Airlift Leggings
Pareti loves the brand’s High-Waist Airlift leggings. These leggings are buttery soft and supportive. They feel like a second skin. The material is also so flattering you can pair these leggings easily with a crop top.
High-Waist Solid Vapor Leggings
Rachel Prime is a Boston-based yoga and barre instructor who loves the brand’s High Waist Solid Vapor leggings. They are more compressive than comparable Lululemon Leggings, so she keeps them for high-impact workouts or when she needs a bit of a hug from her leggings.
High-Waist Airbrush Leggings
We also wanted to mention the High-Waist Airbrush legging, which is Alo Yoga’s most iconic. It’s constructed from Alo Yoga’s Airbrush fabric, which features moisture-wicking antimicrobial tech. This is the ideal option for taking you from the gym to anywhere, and it has been spotted in celebrities such as Gigi Hadid.
Wellness Bra
The brand’s versatility is best displayed in the Wellness Bra. The bra offers medium support, making it ideal for barre or yoga. It also looks great as a traditional sports bra. We love the trendy ribbed material and the universally flattering cut.
Cover Tank
The Cover Tank, a brand-bestselling tank, is the ideal everyday tank. It’s super soft, cropped at the right length, and cute enough to go from yoga to the café around the corner.
Lululemon
Lululemon Leggings are a great piece of activewear for branding. For its trendy look and soft materials, Lululemon’s athletic wear is a favorite among runners, yogis, and other influencers.
Align High-Rise Pant
“Lululemon has been my go-to,” shares Prim. Prime’s Align High Rise Pant has been my go-to for years. We also named them the best leggings. She shared that she has several pairs of leggings that have been through many workouts and washes and still look great. They are versatile and comfortable. I wear them for teaching, exercising, leisure, and travel.
Align Reversible Bra
Prime wears a few Lululemon sports bras in rotation. She says that they offer excellent support and don’t dig in. She shares that you can shop by size, activity, and level of support. This helps you find the right option for you. The Lululemon Align reversible bra is a popular brand. It’s versatile and perfect for yoga, with two styles at one price! Made from the same Nulu material that the brand’s Align Pant.
As a Cloud Bra
The Like a Cloud Bra is another popular sports bra. It’s a stylish bra that can be worn all day and is low-impact.
Athleta
Athleta has been a beloved brand in activewear, especially when it comes to high-performance and stylish pieces. Veronica Pome’e, a professional model, shared that they provide modern, high-quality, durable, versatile, and stylish products for women of all sizes. The brand offers a range of leggings, including the Salutation Stash Pocket II 7/8 tight — our pick for the best overall legging — and the Salutation Stash Pocket II 5 Inch Short — or the perfect sports bra (we love the Exhale Bra), which are simple but beautiful pieces that will work well no matter what you do.
Pome’e also loves Athleta. She shares that Athleta values plus-size women through inclusive 1X to 3X sizing, which other major fitness apparel brands lack. Athleta is a brand that offers tall and petite styles.
Ultra High Rise Elation Tight
Pome’e’s must-haves for fitness include the Elation tight, a soft, high-waisted legging made of Athleta’s second-skin-like Powervita fabric. The Solace bra is also made from the same Powervita fabric. And the Kinetic Waist bag, a stylish, practical fanny bag that’s perfect for running errands or going to the gym, is the Kinetic Waist bag.
