The term Athleisure has been around for quite a while, and with the rise of more casual dressing, wearing athletic or workout clothing for everyday life has become de rigueur in this day and age.
On the flip side is a rise in workleisure, wearing polished garments rendered in performance fabric. Another term to understand workleisure is “business comfort.” Think softer fabrics and looser fits for traditional office-place garb. More and more brands are offering up soft, stretchy, and simple work-friendly attire.
Aside from the tailored items made from durable, more forgiving fabrics commonly used in active and loungewear, the trick to workleisure is how to style these garments. Here’s a rundown of tips, brands, and tricks for building your workleisure uniform.
First up, the pull-on pant. Most work outfits require pants, and pull-on pants are worklesiure’s answer to your working-from-home sweats. Easy, soft pants have come a long way from said sweats and yoga pants to more tailored and sleek silhouettes. Old Navy’s High-Waisted Pull-On Pixie Super Wide-Leg Pants are cut like a wide-leg trouser but with an elasticized waist rendered in a cotton rayon blend for an easier fit than the standard zipper and button closure. It even has front pockets and a smooth front panel for a flattering shape. Coming in six shades from Soft Bronze to Black Jack, this easy, yet profesh, bottom can pair with a button-down, blazer, and loafers for a more traditional workplace, or sneakers and a sweater for a casual, yet polished office look.
For an elevated, sleeker take on workplace pull-on pants, check out Commando’s Wide Leg Neoprene Leggings from Nordstrom. These fitted leggings with the flared leg in essence, masquerade as traditional black trousers. The higher waist allows you to wear a cropped shirt, like Lands’ End’s No Iron Boxy Cropped Shirt, and a kitten heel for a slightly off-kilter (in a good way) office look. Just be careful with proportion with a tighter-fit pull-on pant. You’ll want to balance the bottom with a looser, oversized top, and a heeled shoe helps elongate the leg.
Speaking of legs, with the arrival of warmer weather, you may be ready to unleash your gams on the job. If dresses and skirts are appropriate at your workplace, then the workleisure style has you covered. Uniqlo’s Ultra Stretch Dress, with its nylon blend material featuring dry technology and cool-to-the-touch stretch fabric, is a loose fit-and-flare silhouette. High tech meets classic construction in this easy-to-wear frock that comes in seven different colors and sporting pockets! This is a great summer workwear piece; you can layer with cardigans for AC or wear with a sporty sandal for running errands. I also love the idea of belting this dress and wearing pointy-toe flats for an elegant take on workleisure.
Knit dresses also serve as a workleisure staple. A knit can be a T-shirt-style fabric, as well as sweater material. Obviously, for the current season, you’d want to lean toward the tee, but keep on the lookout for savings on sweater dresses for next fall and winter. In terms of tees, for a laidback work environment, look to J.Crew Factory’s Striped Tie-Waist Mini Dress. The adjustable tie at the waist allows you to cinch this garment and gives it a bit more polish than a shift-style t-shirt dress. An even sleeker take is Abercrombie & Fitch’s Side-Knot Knit Mini Dress. Both styles have a built-in structure that again makes them a bit more workplace-appropriate. Wear both with a huarache-style flat for a fun summer feel.
Besides wearing classic office garments rendered in performance or softer fabric, another way to approach workleisure is by mixing in casual, softer pieces with standard office wear. Take a suit, swap the shirt for a tee, and dress shoes for clean, unscuffed sneakers, and you’re achieving workleisure excellence. Depending on the dress code you’re navigating, another style hack is a trouser short, with a short sleeve patterned blouse, sneakers again, and a neoprene cardigan. On the reverse side, take athleisure pieces and style them with dressier accessories. A fitted jogger pant with loafers and a blazer, or a track-style windbreaker with a shift dress and low pumps. It really depends on the colors and patterns of each piece as to whether you can pull off these style juxtapositions.
If the idea of workleisure appeals to you, now is the season to experiment with it. Many workplaces have a more casual dress code during the summer months, and with folks taking vacations at varying times, offices tend to be a bit more laid back. The key to workleisure, no matter the season, is finding the comfort spot between work attire and leisure while still being appropriate.
