Comfy Yet Trendy - How To Style Athleisure-wear

Hi guys! Today’s blog has been inspired by my good friend Michelle’s suggestion: How do you stay stylish while wearing comfortable workout clothing? With athleisure-wear on the rise, it is always good to brush up on styling tips for this new trend to stay looking put together while being comfortable.

Athleisure-wear and streetwear has taken over the fashion industry. Many people opt for stretchy yoga pants and comfortable Nikes on a daily basis. Breathable materials and comfortable clothing are the main focus of many modern consumers, but the trick is, how does one stay on trend while sporting activewear?

A top styling tip no matter what you are wearing is to show off your best assets. Activewear can definitely accentuate certain parts of your body, but activewear can also be bulky and unflattering. My top tips and garment must-haves for athleisure-wear include at least one pair of heather grey yoga pants and one pair of black yoga pants for women, and men should have at least one pair of heather grey joggers and one pair of black joggers to be set for success with activewear. 

But beyond these basic pieces, I highly recommend mirroring your active wardrobe to what your normal wardrobe looks like. If you look better in brights, keep bright clothing consistent with your comfortable clothing. If slim-fitting neutrals is your thing, you probably do not want to dive out of your comfort zone with a neon orange bulky Nike hoodie. 

Another thing to consider is textiles. How do certain textiles make you feel? If dri-fit materials make you itch, try wearing light-weight cotton apparel instead. If you tend to sweat, dri-fit may be for you. Also, basic cotton tee shirts or band tees could suffice to pair up with some active outfits. Cotton is a breathable material and is quite versatile. Dressing down cotton tees to go with a workout outfit is always an option.

Silhouette is a HUGE thing I always discuss with people asking for styling tips. Referencing back to when I mentioned to show off your best assets in this blog, activewear for women should consist of long yoga pants and tighter-fitting tops (possibly a sports bra layered with a loose and breathable tank or tee). Capri active pants cut off legs at an awkward length and tend to make the wearer look bigger and shorter than they are. And even though bike shorts are a fun new trend, they tend to accentuate the thighs and make them look larger, and also stunt one’s height. Keep tops tight or small when compared to other garments you are wearing - it’s all about the booty right now, so that needs to be the part of your outfit most highlighted (keep your tops simple and less bulky). For men, long basketball shorts are officially no longer in vogue. Long shorts for men make the wearer look really short and larger. “Short shorts” that were once all the rage in the 1980s are back! Flaunting your thighs is encouraged now, men! Wearing well-tailored and well-tapered joggers is also a must to look put together while remaining comfortable in your athletic clothing. Lastly, most men want to accentuate their arm and chest muscles, so bulky hoodies or intricate windbreakers are definitely encouraged for your athleisure-wear ensemble. 

Lastly, if you do not intend to go to the gym in your fun, new activewear wardrobe and just want to remain comfy and trendy, try pairing up some practical jewelry and accessories or a full face of makeup with your fun Lulu Lemon outfit. Smart watches and simple chain necklaces add a nice finishing touch (you don’t want too many accessories for an outfit that is supposed to be deemed “relaxed”). A fresh face or a full face of makeup paired with your athleisure-wear outfit also do wonders for your appearance (if you are headed to the gym, PLEASE skip the makeup).

Athleisure-wear is such an exciting yet relaxing fashion trend to hit the runway and the streets, and it can be quite flattering if worn properly. I hope these tips help you remain relaxed and trendy within the evolving fashion world.

Thanks for reading,

Lorraine

How To Style Dark Attire

Hi guys! 

If you are anything like me, you love wearing mostly neutral colors, especially black. Today I will be giving styling tips on how to look put-together and on-trend with all-black and neutral outfits.

First of all, my own personal wardrobe consists of some tans, some pastels, fifty shades of grey, and black on black on black. The age-old fear of blacks not matching is pure nonsense to me, and I actually encourage not matching your blacks exactly - you just have to know how to style them currently to successfully pull it off!

One thing I highly encourage if you are to wear a mostly dark-colored wardrobe is to mix textiles and textures! Keep your outfit interesting; do not wear a plain black cotton tee and plain black cotton leggings (you will look like you rolled out of bed and didn’t think through your outfit past the color scheme). Mix a ripped shirt with a smooth cotton legging or smooth black denim. Wear a black faux fur coat while wearing black pleather pants. Keep your outfits interesting! monochromed outfits do not have to be boring.

Another tip for wearing all black is to play with silhouettes! What proportions for clothing and outfits look best on you? What are your best assets? Highlight those while playing with clothing silhouettes. An example: I personally like wearing a-line dresses (tight on top, flare on the bottom) because I have broad shoulders and am bigger chested in comparison to the rest of my body. Wearing a garment that is the opposite of my own body’s proportions helps even things out. (Also it helps that black is a slimming color anyway). Do not keep your daily outfits looking the same either; wear tight garments one day, wear a long and flowy dress another day. Mix up your wardrobe choices, and the all-black closet will not seem so boring.

Another thing I really encourage for wearing all black is adding layers! Again, mismatching blacks can be a good thing! Try pairing a long charcoal cardigan with a tight black ripped top and a black acid-wash pant. Layering your outfits will give it more dimension, just as mixing textures will.

And lastly, do not be afraid of adding color! Now, I do not mean wear some random shocking orange accessories with your drab attire, but style yourself with some thought. Adding in neutrals that do not clash too much with black is a wise choice. Wearing colorful makeup or a black tee with fun colored graphics are great ideas to spice up your outfits. If you are to add pops of color to your outfits, make sure they are the centerpiece of your look and bring the whole outfit together. Bad example: Bright orange shoelaces on lace-up black vans and an all-black outfit. Good example: Fun and bright graphic on black tee shirt with all black outfit, head-to-toe.

I hope this blog inspires you to have fun with your wardrobe (even if you like to keep it dark like me). Thanks for reading!

How To Style A Dad Bod

Today’s blog is going to offer styling advice for dudes. Dad bods, specifically. This blog post was requested by my good friend John, and I will be explaining how men can style themselves to look put together with flattering outfit choices.

First of all, I am a big advocate for people knowing what silhouette proportions and color proportions look best on them. A key to dressing one’s self in their favor is featuring one’s assets while hiding not-so-desired parts of one’s body. Dad bods typically consist of a dude with possibly some nice facial hair, a beer gut, and skinny legs. In this case, legs are the best feature here.

For styling dad bods, I recommend wearing clothing and garments with vertical lines to seem thinner and longer. Clothing of the same color also helps keep this illusion. An outfit to successfully show off the best assets of a dad bod would include dark straight or skinny pants, smaller looking shoes with not much structure (think Vans, Toms, Converse, anything made of canvas), a dark-colored lightweight top (no heavy textiles), and a straight and somewhat structured denim jacket. Keep your colors cool and monotoned, wear light textiles, and wear vertical lines (denim jackets typically have stitching that run up and down, straight pants keep the movement flowing). 

TLDR; 

Pro-tips and takeaways for styling dad bods: Wear lightweight materials, less-bulky designs and stitching, vertical lines, dark colors, and monotone outfits for illusion of length and height.

Remember, all bodies are beautiful, and even having a dad bod is something to be proud of. Dress with style and knowledge of proportion, and your confidence will be boosted even more.

Thanks for reading,

Lorraine