Vancouverites! Finally, our time has come. We pioneered the athleisure trend with our shameless sporting of yoga pants at every opportunity, and now it’s taking over the world.
Labels like Alexander Wang and Stella McCartney have always used sporty elements in their designs, but now everyone from Dior to DKNY is at it — heck, even Hèrmes has made a backpack for spring/summer.
There are two approaches to the look. Stylist Nadia Albano says one way is to make classic fashion pieces in technical materials (think neoprene or spandex). You also get traditional athletic wear such as joggers or track jackets made from non-sporty materials like linen, silk or cotton.
It’s easy to find athleisure pieces on the high street; Aritzia has even launched The Constant, an entire collection of them. But it’s much harder to wear them and not look like you’ve gone straight from gym to cocktail bar and couldn’t be arsed to get changed.
How to get it right? Albano says it’s all about incorporating it in small doses.
“For example, start with something like a bomber jacket, which can be styled with a classic pencil skirt and dress shirt for the office,” she says. “Perhaps accessorize your outfit with a backpack rather than a tote purse and white-soled tennis sneakers instead of loafers with your cropped trousers.”
You don’t need a gym-toned bod to pull off the look. Albano says it’s all about proportion and structure.
“For example, if you're full figured and want to rock a satin, wide-legged tracksuit, add a great strappy heel and wear the jacket unzipped to expose the neckline. Alternatively, you could pair the jacket with a structured pencil skirt and a blouse to show off your hourglass shape nicely.”
According to Albano, the key pieces for athleisure in 2017 include bomber jackets, track shorts, and backpacks. We’d add oversized sweatshirts, sporty tank tops and sneakers to the list. These are our faves.
Organic Cotton Sweatshirt 207, $68, Oak + Fort and Oakandfort.ca
Studio Double Zip Bomber Jacket, $199, Zara and Zara.com
The Constant Alwin Short, $48, Aritzia and Aritzia.com
Apex Dayton Backpack, $219, at Roden Gray, J2 and HerschelSupply.com
Nike Classic Cortez Leather Sneakers, $95, at Hudson’s Bay, Thebay.com, and other Nike stockists.
Lorna Jane Surrender Tank, $49.99, at Lorna Jane Vancouver (321 Water Street)
