fashion

With our current state of mind, unprecedented need and inclination towards that perfect amalgamation of comfort and style, it would be easy to profess our undying love to the athleisure trend and even sing it a verse of Lana Del Rey’s song – I will love you ‘till the end of time, I will (wear you) a million years. All kidding aside, the trend that has transcended to what is essentially a global phenomenon and even a lifestyle rather than just a fashion trend, certainly seems to have staying power. However, in these shifty times not even being granted permission into dictionaries can guarantee that something will remain permanent in real life, so let’s take a moment or two to examine what is going on in the fashion world and try to make out whether the future of athleisure is bright or bleak.

Photo by Alexandru Acea on Unsplash

The corporate loosens the strings

The attire of the corporate world looked a lot like the attire worn in movies such as American Psycho. Men wore sharp suits and women wore pencil skirts, blouses and smart fitted blazers, usually topped off with classic pumps for a full professional look. Now, while some companies are still sticking to a strict business dress code, those more in tune with the wants and needs of the younger generation of employees have loosened the strings a bit. Going to work in a nice pair of jeans and smart sneakers topped off with a simple tee and an oversized sporty blazer has become common in many a workplace, and the strings are even looser in millennial-owned companies like Facebook where you would probably be laughed at if you showed up wearing anything resembling corporate attire.

According to BBC, The Society for Human Resource Management tracks how many employers allow workers to dress casually every day, and that figure rose from 32% in 2014 to 44% in 2016 – and let’s keep in mind that the athleisure trend has grown in popularity over the last year and a half, so these numbers are most likely much higher now. So, if the corporate world is willing to bend the rules continuously, it’s safe to assume that athleisure will be safe and sound, at least in the office.

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The emphasis on health and fitness

With the increased popularity of new kinds of sports activities invented by millennials which don’t include only your run-of-the-mill lonely workout time but group activities as well, it’s safe to assume that athleisure isn’t going anywhere in the athletic world either. People want their gym clothes to be functional and made from exercise and sweat-wicking fabrics, yes, but they also want to look good and presentable in front of their peers, and if the mood strikes them, head out to lunch, brunch or just run errands after their workout. This is why a great number of traditional sportswear brands such as Nike, Adidas and up-and-coming Mint Athletic are constantly creating alluring athletic apparel that can be worn to a workout session while leaving you prepared for a last-minute call to lunch. The wellness-oriented population, which is increasing all the time, highly appreciates this mixture of comfort and style, and as long as the fitness and health frenzy is alive, athleisure will be here as well.

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The evolving nature

As we all know by now, athleisure isn’t only about upgraded sweatpants, tracksuits and sleeker sneakers. The trend is constantly evolving, and even luxury brands have dipped their toes in the athleisure pool. Some are creating what can only be described as elegant athleisure, given all the luxurious and not-for-the-gym elements of attire and footwear designed by couture brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Stella McCartney. Even the ever-elegant Chanel came out with a line of sneakers featuring their staple fabrics and patterns, and these will definitely not be used for the gym. High-end designers are taking the athleisure game to a whole new level, mixing tulle skirts with sweatshirts, couture dresses with sneakers – every mixture between sporty and elegant garments you can imagine, they’ll put it on the runway and actually make it wearable.

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The bottom line

Given the fact that athleisure is non-constricting and allows for other trends that are seemingly diametrically opposed to it to come on board and play, we can say with almost absolute certainty that the trend will not only survive but thrive. As long as women can get all dolled up for a date and wear tennis shoes instead of feet-killing heels and look ultra-fashionable, and as long as a man can look smart wearing a hoodie under his blazer when he heads out to work, the trend will remain strong. On top of that, we rely on the so far proven innovativeness of designers to provide us with new and inspiring renditions of not only singular garments but also combinations and mixtures that include athletic pieces we, as consumers, will be here to embrace and rock.

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