Matching Athleisure Sets Are In - Here's How To Wear Them

Today, more people are choosing to dress for their own comfort — but that doesn't mean they have to be slacking in the fashion department. "As the modern woman continues to take a laidback, effortless approach to their activewear styling, we will continue to see customers gravitating toward sets that can be worn during and after their workout," Jon Schwartz, founder of workout apparel brand Splits59, tells The Zoe Report.

Nothing says comfortable yet put together like a matching athleisure set, and those who were looking for a comfy and cute outfit during the COVID-19 pandemic can attest to that. From the start of the pandemic to lockdowns, athleisure sets saw an 84% jump in sales, as reported in an analysis of 17,000 brands by True Fit's Fashion Genome (via Forbes). The hype never really died down. It has only seemed to increase, with more people wearing athletic sets out of the house. Luckily, with simple tweaks, athleisure sets are easy to elevate for fashion-forward wear beyond the home office or the gym.

If you have been on social media anytime in the past year, you have probably seen girls talking about their "clean girl" aesthetic. The aesthetic overall consists of neutral and minimal makeup, hair, and fashion. Many who appreciate the look have also brought it into their athleisure looks. To wear an athleisure set the clean girl way, pick a neutral set and top it off with gold jewelry, a slick back bun, and dewy makeup.

If you are looking for a way to incorporate the Y2K trend into your athleisure looks, look no further than styling a velvet tracksuit. To give your velvet tracksuit more of an early 2000s flare, style it with other Y2K accessories such as wrap-around sunglasses, a claw clip, and a mini purse. If you are looking to show a bit more skin, wear your track jacket unzipped over a tiny tank top.

Bike shorts and a sweatshirt were the late Princess Diana's most iconic athleisure combination. Take a page out of her book when you re-create this look yourself with a matching, monochromatic twist. Create your matching set with an oversized sweatshirt and bike shorts in the same color. To make this look even more noteworthy, try accessories in the same color as well.

Embrace your athleisure by elevating it with traditionally fussier pieces. Matching athleisure sets are often considered the "put together" version of traditional athletic clothing, but it never really looked like it should be on a runway — until now. Blazers with bike shorts, blazers over hoodies, and blazers with sweatpants; we have seen it all. Why not throw a blazer over your matching athleisure set for the ultimate model-off-duty look?

If you are looking to spice up your athleisure look but want to remain laid-back, throwing on an oversized cardigan or outerwear could be the solution. "Throw a chambray shirt, denim jacket, or blazer over any lounge for an instant on-the-go look," Holly Shapiro, creative director of fashion brand Splendid, tells Marie Claire.

Just like with any look, accessories can make or break an athleisure outfit. They are the key to taking the outfit from slouchy to slaying. Some of our favorite accessories to pair with athleisure include a puffer vest, tiny sunglasses, and a mini bag. We especially love these with a sweatsuit as they elevate the pieces from a casual outfit to an Instagram-worthy look.