Say hello to Glam-leisure

Whoever thought yoga pants can’t be worn outside is perhaps living under a rock! From Bella Hadid to Kendall Jenner — style influencers are mixing their gym essentials with everyday clothing. Throw a T-shirt over a sports bra and complete your look with a pair of chic jeggings and heels and you’re party ready. Or layer your gym crop top with a souvenir bomber jacket and add a metallic pleated skirt and embellished sneakers and you’ve nailed the ensemble. From the airport lounges to party hotspots, it’s hard to miss gym essentials making their presence felt like never before. In India, the likes of Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt and Malaika Arora’s girl squad have embraced this mixed marriage of style and comfort effortlessly. This week, Anushka was spotted in a pair of trackpants teamed with a T-shirt and a shoulder bag at the airport as she flew back to the city. Also, the fact that the sportswear has gone unapologetically luxe has added to its appeal. From Stella McCartney’s pullover sweatshirts to Gucci’s gilded sneakers — combining AM with PM never seemed so easy.

Hip-hop inspired 

Designer Surily Goel attributes this trend to the hip-hop movement taking celebrity and style landscape by storm. “The gymwear has become completely acceptable on the streets. One can wear Gucci trackpants even at night along with bomber jackets and sweatshirts,” says Surily.  She recalls that Juicy Couture used to be the go-to athleisure label back in the day, but now every label has toyed with this genre. She adds, “The trousers have become high-waist and one can add a grunge element to any ensemble like a pair of torn sweatpants. Club a long pleated skirt with a sweatshirt or a T-shirt. It’s all about mixing and matching.”

A sliver of neon

Designer Arpita Mehta sees a tinge of neon as a cool accent as metallic hints are synonymous with gymwear. “Flash your midriff in loose tank tops. 

Opt for high-waist leggings, which have a reflective panelling along with a short crop top with a hint of neon on it. Complete your look with a nifty pair of Nike Air Max sneakers.”

Mehta suggests another cool pairing. “A pair of jogger trackpants in a muted colour with a matching sweatshirt on top can be a refreshing idea. Under the sweatshirt wear a strappy sports bra. You can always team it with high platform heels to break the jogger’s look. Always have a great pair of sunglasses on,” she suggests.

Go bold with prints 

With gymwear coming in an array of options like statement-making tribal or animal prints, getting this mix right has become easy. Designer Nishka Lulla suggests wearing a bomber with a pair of tracks and a tee. “The tunic tops work well and can be teamed with printed trackpants. Layer the look with a jacket or tie a sweatshirt around your waist. Alternatively, throw a causal blazer on your gym look,” she shares. In terms of accessories, she suggests a pair of pumps for a dressy look and a satchel or tote to go with it. “A cross body sling and bold statement earrings in a solid colour is an interesting option,” she adds.

Great respite from humidity 

Designer Pria Kataaria Puri on her recent trip to the US picked a lot of T-shirts with sports bras. She observes that they’re super comfortable to battle Mumbai’s muggy climes. “If I am meeting my friends for a casual drive, I’d opt for a sports bra, a sleeveless T-shirt with a logo, wedges, tights and a jacket on top. The cotton lycra is very weather-friendly and also sweat-proof. The gymwear has become acceptable and fashionable thanks to a lot of stars. In fact, it’s more practical than fashionable,” says she. Pria has a huge collection of baseball caps. “I wear them to the gym and you can hang around in it all day.”

Designer Maheka Mirpuri observes that white sneakers have emerged to be the biggest accessories of the season. “I picked up white sneakers from labels like Dolce & Gabanna and Prada on my holidays,” says she.