By Gretta Monahan
It’s no secret that athleisure has won the hearts and minds of people across generations and time zones. But as we get closer to summer, it amps up its ability to inspire us to get outside and get moving. So it only makes sense that we incorporate it into all levels of our wardrobes, adding informal fun to formal looks, with details and embellishments that cross over from the yoga studio to work and nights on the town.
This season there’s a slew of new comfy, cool gym glamwear to get us in the mood to get moving — even if we never set foot near the gym.
Zara has reached into the revved-up sweatshirt area in a big way this season, and its pieces can be worn with everything from flowy linen skirts to work pants. One that’s especially cute: the line’s Contrasting Embroidered Sweatshirt ($45.90 at zara.com) in a bold mustard color, sporting the unequivocally happy word “LOVE” across the chest in the biggest letters possible.
H&M’s current collection of detailed sweats works with all kinds of pieces, taking any look and making it cool and comfy. Take the Sweatshirt With Lacing in khaki green ($29.99 at hm.com). With dropped shoulders and wide sleeves sewn up with satin ribbon laces, it’s a perfect foil for white jeans or a silk miniskirt all summer, and would even look killer with a black leather pencil skirt later on in the fall.
One collection I’m loving that’s worthy of runway to workout: Marc Jacobs has dreamed up tons of funky looks straight out of a ’70s gym. On runways, he sent out waist packs, track pants, oversized sweatshirts, embellished sneakers and unisex spa slides galore. Check them out at marcjacobs.com.
And in that same ’70s-inspired vein, along come the retro-chic Active Pinstripe-Trim Dolphin Shorts ($14.90 at forever21.com). They’re reminiscent of the old Adidas shorts that were everywhere several decades ago, in a French terry stretch-knit and an elasticized drawstring waist, pinstripe-trim side panels and a dolphin hem. Sure, you can wear them running or to the beach if you want, but they’re also an adorably clever statement on hot summer days for brunch, topped with a loose-fitting, one-shoulder, light-weight T-shirt and sporty wedges.
