Athleisure is not the same as workout gear. Today, I’m sharing the difference between the two and how to still look cute (and comfortable!) when rocking athleisure, especially as the weather starts to cool off. I wear athleisure at least once or twice a week while working from home (here’s my work from home setup). And I’ll share some affordable picks from Amazon, along with a few notes from when I’ve tried the more expensive version and liked it more. Let’s dive in!
I have more tips below on how to make a cute athleisure outfit, but let’s start with the picks!
The #1 pick from Amazon’s athleisure is the HeyNuts leggings. These are 90% as good as Lululemon Align leggings, truly! I have them in a few different colors because I wear them so often. There are a couple of different “fits”. The Pure&Plain are the best for athleisure, and if you want a pair with more compression, try the Workout Pro fit. I prefer those for actual workouts. Most recently, I bought the dark green colorway, and they’re so flattering! I have a size XS in these. The outfit below consists of the HeyNuts leggings, a Zella nylon vest from Nordstrom, my favorite long-sleeve tee from Amazon, and New Balance 327 sneakers.
I have a full review of my favorite Amazon leggings linked here, and I also shared how to style leggings for all occasions – even a date night or the office – here.
I looked high and low for a good long-sleeve tee this past year and finally found it on Amazon. To make any cute athleisure look happen, you need simple long-sleeve tees to wear underneath your outer layers. This specific white ribbed tee is amazing because it’s fitted but and somewhat thick. You can’t see my bra through it, which is essential to me. I wear a size small in this top.
Since when did we start calling yoga pants “flare leggings?!” I’ve always referred to wide-leg stretchy leggings as yoga pants. Regardless, they’re essential for great winter athleisure. It’s nice to venture away from the ever-classic leggings. This pair fits me perfectly (which is rare when you’re 5’1″). I ordered a size XS in the 29″ inseam. I’ve included some photos below where you’ll see these flare leggings.
Another pair of pants you must grab from Amazon this year! This pair of wide-leg lounge pants is a perfect look for less for the Vuori Villa Wideleg pants. They’re smooth and cozy in the best way, but the fit is flattering too. My only qualm with these is that they’re long on me (normal, when you’re 5’1″), so I have to roll the waistband once. But that hasn’t stopped me from wearing them! I have a size small.
If you want more loungewear options, read this post with my favorite cute (and cozy, duh) loungewear finds.
Even though it’s starting to cool off a bit, if you live somewhere that stays decently warm in the winter, you’ll love this Varley lookalike two piece short set. I have the light blue colorway and wear it non-stop in spring, summer, and fall. It’s a sweat set material, so it’s super comfortable, but the cut and the fact that it’s a matching set makes it feel super polished and on-trend. I wear a size small.
If you’ve ever been to Lululemon, you have seen the swarms of women trying to get their hands on the Scuba pullover. It’s one of the most popular items each year, and Amazon has a great lookalike. This cropped pullover from Amazon looks very similar to Lululemon but the price tag is much cheaper – AND there are more color options. I have a size medium since I bought it while pregnant. I’d take a small now!
This is another simple purchase that makes athleisure outfits just a tad bit chicer. The mock neck on this sweatshirt gives it a trendy element that you’ll find on very expensive Isabel Marant sweatshirts. The fit is oversized and covers your bum in leggings, and the neckline gives it interest. I wear a size small in this.
This long puffer vest caught my eye earlier this fall when I realized it would be a great length for covering my bum in leggings. There are so many times where I want to go on a walk, when it’s cold but not cold enough for a full-on coat. Enter this cute vest! I got the army green, and it’s even better in person. I have a size small.
I shared a full round-up of my favorite puffer coats here on the blog.
Another vest purchase I made this fall! I love that this puffer vest has cap sleeves and a belt. It’s a bit more feminine than the longer vest (which feels more athletic to me). The fit isn’t as long as the other vest I bought, and I love having the variation.
Another pair of leggings I own and love are these pink CRZ leggings. They’re slightly thinner than the HeyNuts pair, so I didn’t buy them in black, but I just had to have them in hot pink. I actually got the matching tank with them. However, when I wear them for athleisure, rather than pilates or the gym, I pair them with a white tee. I have a size XS.
I carry my Amazon belt bag almost every time I wear an athleisure outfit. It’s practical AND trendy, which is a rare combo, ha! I compared it to the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag and they are almost identical, other than the Lululemon logo, so I highly recommend the Amazon version since it’s easier to find in stock and much cheaper! The one below is Lululemon because it was more conveniently located when I took these photos. You can see some snaps of the Amazon version on me in this belt bag review and comparison.
I have two favorite pairs of sneakers for athleisure outfits. This pair of New Balance 237s is such a cute option for athleisure because they have a little bit of height and they’re sporty but not in a super athletic, “I work out in these” type of way. They also come in a ton of colors! Since they’re an older model, you can find a ton of them on major sale.
The other pair of sneakers I love are the Cloudnova Form sneakers from On. I got mine from ShopBop, where you can use your Prime shipping perks! They’re SO comfortable (and have amazing arch support) and cute as can be.
First, let’s start with the basics. Is “athleisure” even a real word? Actually, yes, according to Miriam Webster.
Since the term athleisure is relatively new, it’s totally fair that some may not even know what it really means! Essentially, the term athleisure refers to clothing that’s comfortable and athletic but also cute and pulled together enough to wear in public. And in my mind, it doesn’t count if I can’t wear sneakers with it.
Sure is. And I don’t see it going anywhere for a WHILE.
My wardrobe is slowly filling up with matching workout sets, lounge pants, and cute pullovers, so I feel like I’ve finally found my groove in terms of my activewear style. And let’s be real: the timing couldn’t be better, considering I have a wild toddler and 8 month old to chase around.
In general, athleisure outfits are fashion-forward, pulled together, and can be worn appropriately in public, while athletic wear is worn for workouts. But honestly, I don’t believe in strict “rules” for fashion. There are many pieces in my closet that I could wear for a workout and also wear as a cute outfit. And depending on what kind of workouts you do, you might have a ton of crossover. However, as a runner, there are some things I wear for workouts that I absolutely wouldn’t wear as “street style,” like my running shoes. I find that running shoes aren’t usually very cute (and my running shoes are strictly for runs, which helps them last longer), so I have a pair of cute (non-running) sneakers that I wear with athleisure outfits.
While you could wear the same clothes for workouts that you also wear as athleisure, my personal differentiation, and what helps me feel cute and polished, is NOT wearing the same clothes for workouts that I wear as cute athleisure. I need the mental separation between the two in order to feel like I’m polished in my athleisure. I’ve also found that HOW I wear an outfit dictates if it’s athleisure or workout gear. I always style my hair and put on at least a little makeup so that I feel pulled together for the day.
Again, there are no rules. You do you!
If you’re working on building out an athleisure wardrobe, here are the staples I’d start with:
Absolutely! I love to wear my Align leggings and yoga pants in the cooler months for athleisure outfits, especially as an alternative to baggy sweatpants. And I also find that their Scuba pullover is a much cuter option than wearing any of my old hoodies.
I’ll continue to add to this post as I find more great pieces! I hope you find a couple fashionable pieces to add to your athleisure style.
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5 responses to “Amazon Athleisure Outfits (that are cute & comfortable)”
Love your style! Such cute and cozy styles. All about the turtlenecks 🙂
My wallet is about to hate me hah! I’ve been searching for more joggers. Thank you!!
Love these!! Thank you for the post!!
Hello! I loooove these looks, thank you! Do you happen to know the name of the coral Alo Yoga sweatshirt you posted in the first look? The link is expired.
Thank you, Much appreciated!
Lovely cute summer workout clothes. Can be for causal outings too.