Kim Kardashian made headlines when she was first seen in athleisure wear with her hubby Kanye West. Soon celebs from Selena Gomez to RiRi were blowing hot in their tracks and jumpsuits. Closer home, Bollywood actors like Sonam Kapoor, Jhanvi Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Malaika Arora, Kareena Kapoor, Tiger Shroff and Alia Bhatt are all just as fascinated with the idea of gym wear given how often they’re spotted flaunting their fit bodies in those. Then there are laymen flaunting their jazzy gym wear at clubs, bars, golf games, yoga and sometimes on ‘Casual Fridays’ at work! So we decided to explore this obsession among celebs and fashionistasfor this trend.
Trending casually
Garima Behl Sapra, AGM at Lotto, thinks the trend may have come about so people could wear these clothes at multiple occasions without having to change — in other words, greater convenience without carrying an extra outfit. “And then it allows you to mix your sportswear with your personal style. For example, pair your full-length formal suits and short dresses with sneakers. Or style your while your gym leggings with longer tops, shirts or crop tops. Men can flaunt sweatshirts, jogger pants and basic gym tees to work or causal get-togethers post work,” says Garima.
Jhanvi Kapoor
In fact, designer Charu Parashar believes that the athleisure market may grow to US $560 billion by 2024.“It’s no surprise that street couture, hip-hop fashion and yoga trends are adding to the athleisure market growth. People are seeking clothing that’s easy to wear and doesn’t involve huge carbon footprints. There’s a lot of research and innovation going into the fabric used to ensure comfort. ‘Gen Z’ loves this trend because it’s easy and comfy, and athleisure is like wearing your attitude on your sleeves. This cultural and financial shift is here to stay,” says Charu.
Kareena Kapoor Khan
Scream fashion, softly
While versatility is the key to appeal to young fashion lovers, many people are making a conscious effort towards leading a healthy life are also investing in a range of ‘activewear’, defined as the ‘new semi-casual’.
As a tip, designer Pawan Sachdeva suggests an infusion of asymmetrical cuts and structured fits with different prints to create new looks. “Opt for garments that keep you comfortable and stylish at once. If you want to make a cheerful statement, pair brighter colours or neon hues like orange, green and yellow with subtle solid shades,” says Pawan.
Radhika Apte
Abhishek Yadav, design head at Spykar Lifestyle, doles out a few more tips on how to style your gym wear for day-to-day events. “When it comes to outfits for gym, denim is the last thing that comes to mind; however, one can choose the GYM JNS,which are designed like track pants with the durability of denim. Team them with simple graphic tees with slogans and matching sneakers and wear them to the gym, movies, parties or even when you’re hanging out with friends,” suggests Abhishek.
The good sport
Keeping in mind the growing demand, many brands are already creating separate lines to cater to this segment. These sporty garments are comfortable, usually stretchy, casual and athletic-looking. And these are mostly the go-to for those who don’t want to put in a lot of effort to create a new look. Nelson Jaffery, head of design at Liva, Birla Cellulose, offers an insight into the fabric that goes into these clothes before offering style tips. “For such style, fabric plays an important role. Soft and eco-friendly fabric adds to making you feel more comfortable. Presently, fabrics like viscose and modal, which are eco-friendly, sustainable fabrics, are preferred in athleisure wear,” he says.
As for the options to choose from, Nelson suggests sweatpants, yoga pants, leggings, joggers and shorts. “Undoubtedly, leggings/yoga pants are the new jeans for women and can be styled in endless ways. Pair them with a sporty bag, sneakersand sunglasses to complete a sporty look,” adds Nelson.
