You guys. It’s a glorious time of year, and an even more glorious time in fashion. You wanna wear a victorian top with bell bottoms? Do it. You wanna rock a vintage sequin blazer and ripped jeans? Do it. You wanna wear a blanket and sneakers? Did it…and I might never change.
Yesterday morning I had 20 minutes to get ready for a semi shi-shi brunch in the Gold Coast. I washed my face, and walked into my closet with a plan: athleisure. What is this? Per wikipedia it’s trend in fashion in which clothing designed for workouts and other athletic activities is worn in other settings, such as during work, casual or social occasions.
As a mom of 1, soon to be 2, I can no longer sacrifice comfort for style which is why this whole athleisure movement is my JAM. I was really worried that it would be a flash in the pan trend, but ladies, you did not disappoint me. Just like the rise of the black yoga pant, we refuse to let this one go. PROMISE ME, YOU’LL NEVER LET GO.
Now before you throw on 4 year old nikes that you ran a muddy 5k in and your college sweatshirt, there are some ground rules to making this look work. The basic tips I follow are:
- Sneaks – they are the star of your outfit, so make sure they look the part. I’m really digging my Adidas these days. I have a pretty monochromatic wardrobe, and these fit right in. If your style is bold, rock some neon or patterned kicks. There are no rules, except they must be so fresh and so clean clean.
- Crisp clothing – no hole-y cat hair covered yoga pants. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune at Lululemon. You can either thrift like I do, or you can buy a cheaper option and just take good care of it i.e. no drying.
TIP: Give faded black leggings new life by washing them, but instead of soap, use black Rit dye. You will be amazed. Just make sure to run your washer with old towels or nothing afterwards to get all the dye out.
- Third piece rule – add one interesting element to your outfit. This is a universal style rule of looking put together. It can anything – a fierce pair of sunnies, a cool bag, a denim jacket, a great puffy vest, etc.
- Styling should be simple and clean – for me this means fresh-face make up and simple jewels.
That’s it! It literally could not be easier or more comfortable. My favorite part of this outfit is my third piece – a GIANT blanket poncho that I scooped at Unique Thrift for $7. It needed some love, like most of our finds, but now it’s good as new….actually better because it’s not.
Now for some enviro truth – this garment has a dark secret. It’s acrylic. What’s so bad about acrylic? Well it’s not readily biodegradable or compostable, and acrylics are made using highly toxic substances that may break down in the landfill, polluting soil and water. Most sustainable bloggers wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole, but we are all about utilizing what is already out there in the world. I think this poncho looks much better on me than in stinky landfill anyway 🙂
