Athleisure has made a strong stamp on women’s fashion for years and is now a booming part of the retail industry. Unfortunately, it’s also gotten a lot of negative press for being sloppy and unprofessional as we move to a more casual lifestyle. Lately, the common complaint I hear from my clients is that they’re sick of their athleisure and are ready to put more effort into their dressing.

To be honest, I feel that the reason many women grow tired of their athleisure looks is because they’ve also lowered their standards for the clothes that they ‘just work out in’. But I’m here this week to show you that athleisure can be chic… and that stretched out leggings and pilly sweatshirts just isn’t the vibe.

Athleisure makes sense for a lot of lifestyles, and when done intentionally, it can look really pulled together. Here are my tips for achieving that ‘it girl’ vibe in your athleisure looks:

1. Choose to wear athleisure, don’t let it be your default. So many women default to athleisure because it’s ‘easy’. Getting dressed is a skill, and if you’re not doing it regularly, we forget how to do it. As soon as your outfit becomes a choice, you can be more intentional with your style. Unfortunately, to achieve that 'effortless look' you have to put effort in :).

2. Think beyond the black legging. As a millennial, the black legging was a cornerstone to a lot of women’s wardrobes but there are so many other great options! I personally love a sweat jumpsuit, even an active dress! You'll find so many alternatives to black leggings in the looks below. If you're a woman who carries weight in their top half, the wide leg sweatpant is a much more flattering option to a legging to balance your top half.

3. Add a third piece. An intentional, coordinated layering piece can pull a whole look together. Athleisure is typically soft and form fitting, a third piece can add an element of texture, structure and/or visual interest. Think outside a sweatshirt and opt for a cable knit sweater or even an oversized button down. Too hot for a third piece? I love a coordinated sneaker to pull the whole look together.

4. Accessorize. Accessories are always the key to dressing up a look. To keep your athleisure outfit from looking like you're about to hit the treadmill and looking polished, add casual accessories. Dainty necklaces and huggie hoops are great options.

5. Audit your pieces and invest. Athleisure can take a beating... you might work out in it, travel, and run your daily errands. I have seen too often my clients wear their pieces until they're falling apart. If you're wearing your athleisure out of the house, you should treat it just as you would a cashmere sweater. Taking care of your pieces will keep them looking new and keep your looks polished and put together. Get rid of pieces that look worn, don't fit properly or sit unused in your wardrobe. Invest in pieces that light you up!

Shop my curated athleisure looks here.