– by Rachael Coates-Holland –
As I find myself settling into the new year, I wonder if anyone has really embraced their New Year’s resolutions.
Perhaps you have decided to travel, or spend more time at home, or maybe you’ve decided that this year, for real, you’re going to get healthy and active and stick to it. New year, new you? What does that look like? Is it a new haircut or a new lipstick, or is it a complete wardrobe overhaul?
I’ve decided that I’m going to travel … although I probably should have chosen the wardrobe overhaul because as you can imagine, my closets are stuffed to the brim!
When I think about travelling, I think about long hours spent on a plane, and then I think about what I’m going to wear. Obviously it needs to be something comfortable, but it needs to be stylish too! Doesn’t everyone dress up to sit on a plane for hours?
Well, let me introduce you to the latest buzzword in the fashion world: “Athleisure.” You’re probably asking what the heck
that is. Well, it means you can go the gym or for a power walk with your girlfriends, or sit on a plane for hours, and look super stylish while doing it. It means that gym clothes don’t have to look like gym clothes anymore; Athleisure pieces are designed to support, perform and flatter, from sport to street.
As a fashion buyer, I have the unique opportunity to see what’s up and coming well before it’s up and coming, and Athleisure is something I’ve been excited about since it was introduced to me. I feel like this may be more than just a trend; as more and more people embrace healthier lifestyles, this just makes perfect sense. The search for wardrobe functionality ends here: Athleisure offers flexibility in both your personal and professional wardrobe.
Athleisure allows you to feel comfortable, while still feeling and looking stylish. You’ll find that there are fun prints and colours, but what really excites me is the fit. It tends to be more tailored than traditional workout wear, creating lines and silhouettes that are pleasing to the eye. It really could be worn to the office and then the gym and then out for dinner with your other half. You could choose a great jacket with a sweet peplum detail, a perfect tank to wear with your jeans, leggings that could be worn with tunics and boots, or great short- and-long sleeved T-shirts that can be layered or worn alone. All of these pieces are made with fabrics that wick away and mask sweat.
The search for versatility in our closets will probably always be a struggle, as we are all different in our wants and needs. I think if we embrace the current trend, and look at “workout wear” with a little open mindedness, we may surprise ourselves. Maybe we might just start that New Year’s resolution of becoming a little more active; it’ll be simple when you’re sporting an outfit you look and feel great in!
