All About Athleisure: How the Stylish Yet Functional Aesthetic Came to Be

Historically, her outfit of choice may have contributed to her athletic ability. She won Wimbledon six times and garnered 250 championships in her lifetime, according to the Olympics. This display of a practical and youthful approach to sportswear gained the ability to influence fashion outside the sporty realm.

The word athleisure was coined decades after Jean’s design. It combines the words “athletic” and “leisure,” blurring the line that separates the two seemingly contradictory terms. It was first used in the March 1979 issue of Nation’s Business which, according to Merriam-Webster, expounded that “the booming popularity of fitness has given birth to a similar boom in apparel and footwear designed for those who actually participate in sports—and those who just want to look as if they do.” They quoted John Gehbauer, then Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association's Director of Advertising and Promotion, who first said, “The whole athleisure market is in a state of tremendous growth.”

As defined by the mentioned dictionary, “Athleisure refers to casual clothing—like yoga pants, sweat pants, and hoodies—that are designed to be worn both for exercising and for doing (almost) everything else. Athleisure is everywhere these days.” From cycling shorts and flared leggings to windbreakers and crewnecks, athleisure has made its way to wardrobes that merge activewear with everyday clothing.

High fashion played the game of athleisure in modern times. As early as 2008, Adidas tapped into Stella McCartney’s taste and talent for a collection that featured long jersey shorts and hoodies with multiple drawstrings. They’ve remained frequent collaborators since. Another inseparable pair is Puma and Fenty by Rihanna, whose partnership came into view with an edgy 2016 collection of velvet track pants and platform sneakers among others.

And how could we forget Karl Lagerfeld’s collaboration with Vans in 2017? It was composed of 12 black-and-white pieces, including Karl’s chic Parisian take on the famous checkered skate shoe. Gucci also walked new heights when they extended The North Face’s quarter-circle stamp with their famous red and green stripe in 2020, when they released a colorful collection of quilted jackets, shirts, and backpacks perfect for adventures.

The surge of luxury athleisure was more than enough to go for gold and pique the interest of the young generation. It has become an irreplaceable part of today’s fashion and sports industries, being recognized by sports authorities such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games. A prime example would be Lululemon’s Paris 2024 Athlete Kit for Team Canada, where they sported a comfortable and stylish collection of athleisure wear.

Take inspiration from these personalities on how to have a seamless sartorial transition between activities, staying both confident and comfortable.