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Has there ever been a better time to be an athleisure fan? There are trendy activewear brands popping up seemingly every day, and you can hardly scroll through Instagram without running into ads for the sleekest and chicest new leggings and sports bras. The best part? Most sportswear brands now create styles that look just as good while you’re out and about as they do in the gym, so you can wear them from barre class straight to the bar.
Best Best Activewear Brands at a Glance
Best Overall: Lululemon
Best Size Inclusive Options: Girlfriend Collective
Best for Teens: Alala
Best for Stylish Activewear: Splits 59
Best for Bras: Set
Best Athleisure Dresses: Aerie
Best for Maternity: Beyond Yoga
Most Affordable: All in Motion
Best for Leggings: P.E. Nation
Best Luxury Activewear Brand: Varley
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Traditional brands like Nike and Adidas are still leaders in the activewear space, but there’s also a plethora of fashion-meets-function brands looking to fulfill your stylish sportswear needs. The huge amount of choices is a blessing and a curse: we have more options than ever when it comes to workout wear, but sifting through all the brands to find your new personal fave can get a little overwhelming. Which fitness brands offer the best blend of style, performance, and value?
To help steer you in the right direction, we’ve put together a guide to 13 must-know activewear lines — some brand new, others with more than a decade in the biz but whose clothes you may not have in your collection yet. Whether you’re loving those perfectly matching workout sets or just looking for some new leggings and sports bras to pair with your old t-shirts, these brands will get you looking good and feeling good during your next sweat session. (Or grocery run, or work meeting, or girls’ night… We’re all about versatility over here.)
Originally posted on StyleCaster. A version of this article was originally published in November 2016.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Lululemon is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
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Lululemon
Image Credit: Lululemon Lululemon is the best place to find everything you need to stock your activewear closet. You can find the most comfortable leggings that fit like a glove, supportive sports bras, cute tanks, accessories, and more. If you’re looking for some new items, take a look at Lululemon’s new Glow Collection, which features even smoother fabrics and support “that transcends all your training sessions,” per the brand.
We can’t stop eyeing the Glow Up Super-High-Rise Tight, which comes in bright colors and a few muted tones for those who like to mix and match leggings with other pieces in their closet. The tights hold you in where you need it without being too restrictive. Better yet, they add a defined and sculpted look that can’t be beat. You can also pick up a comfortable onesie, made for training.
Glow Up Super-High-Rise Tight$118
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Lululemon Glow Up Onesie 6″
Image Credit: Lululemon -
Girlfriend Collective
Image Credit: Girlfriend Collective Girlfriend Collective is an ethically-made brand that creates seriously good activewear. One of our favorites? The Dylan Tank Bra, which functions as a sports bra and a long tank, so you can pair it with high-waist leggings for full coverage. And if you’re craving the smooth, sleek bodysuit look, the versatile Ava Bateau Bodysuit is calling your name.
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Girlfriend Collective Ava Bateau Bodysuit
Image Credit: Girlfriend Collective -
Alala
Image Credit: Alala Alala makes athleisure that’s sophisticated and functional, and we can’t get enough of it. Reviewers love the brand’s bestselling Eclipse Bra, describing it as “incredibly comfortable” and supportive enough for high-intensity workouts. Then there’s Alala’s edgy Mirage Tight, which includes mesh ribbing up the sides to keep you cool and looking trendy while you sweat.
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Alala Mirage Tight
Image Credit: Alala -
Splits 59
Image Credit: Splits 59 Looking to add sleek, simple silhouettes to your workout wardrobe? Splits 59 has you covered. The Easton Rigor High Waist 7/8 Leggings give you a comfy and sporty look for the gym, while the Cait Rigor Bra is a sleek and supportive fit for your high-impact workouts.
Easton Rigor High Waist 7/8$138
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Splits 59 Cait Rigor Bra
Image Credit: Splits 59 Splits 59 Cait Rigor Bra$82
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Alo
Image Credit: Alo Alo is our go-to for cute and functional workout clothes, and recently the brand has expanded into casual shirts, coats, and accessories too. The Dreamscape Button Down Long Sleeve combines Alo’s comfortable, lightweight fabric with a timeless style you can wear to work or throw on over your workout gear on the way to the gym. Another great gym-to-street piece? The cozy and super-flattering Airbrush High-Waist Bootcut Legging, which we love in classic black.
Dreamscape Button Down Long Sleeve$118
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Alo Airbrush High-Waist Bootcut Legging
Image Credit: Alo High-Waist Bootcut Legging$108
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Sweaty Betty
Image Credit: Sweaty Betty Whether you need a new gym bag, a winter-proof hoodie, or a lightweight tank for your next Vinyasa class, Sweaty Betty has you covered. The Power 7/8 Workout Leggings are a great place to start, with fun patterns, sweat-wicking fabric, and butt-sculpting seams, and the super-soft Escape Italian Fleece Hoodie is a good choice for chilly outdoor workouts.
Power 7/8 Workout Leggings$108
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Sweaty Betty Escape Italian Fleece Hoodie
Image Credit: Sweaty Betty Escape Italian Fleece Hoodie$74
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Beyond Yoga
Image Credit: Beyond Yoga Fitness lovers adore Beyond Yoga for its stretchy, ultra-soft fabric and simple, flattering fits. We can’t get enough of the Spacedye Out Of Pocket High Waisted Midi Legging (yes, it has pockets), which matches perfectly with the Spacedye Slim Racerback Cropped Tank for the cutest, comfiest workout ‘fit you could ask for.
Spacedye Out of Pocket High Waisted Midi Legging$99
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Beyond Yoga Spacedye Slim Racerback Cropped Tank
Image Credit: Beyond Yoga Spacedye Slim Racerback Cropped Tank$68
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Aerie
Image Credit: Aerie For athleisure that doesn’t cost as much as your monthly membership, check out Aerie’s cool, affordable selections. The You Serve Pleated Dress is a cute choice for court sports, or errands, while the Real Me Apron Mini Dress provides light support for your next yoga class.
The You Serve Pleated Dress$38, was $75
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Aerie Real Me Apron Mini Dress
Image Credit: Aerie Aerie Real Me Apron Mini Dress$56, was $75
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All In Motion
Image Credit: All In Motion Don’t sleep on Target’s performance offerings — All in Motion has a wide range of leggings, tanks, hoodies, and more, and an equally wide range of sizes. The prices are a major draw, too. Start with the Everyday Soft Cami Support Tank Top and Everyday Soft Ultra High-Rise Bike Shorts for a seamless athleisure look.
Everyday Soft Cami Support Tank Top$20
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All in Motion Everyday Soft Ultra High-Rise Bike Shorts
Image Credit: All In Motion Everyday Soft Ultra High-Rise Bike Shorts$20
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P.E. Nation
Image Credit: P.E. Nation P.E Nation has mastered the edgy, sporty side of athleisure. For proof, look no further than the Aussie brand’s sleek and chic Distortion Sports Bra, with its standout strappy detailing. You can also get your racing stripes on with P.E Nation’s Wander high-rise Wander Full Length Leggings.
Distortion Sports Bra$75
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P.E. Nation Wander Full Length Leggings
Image Credit: P.E. Nation Wander Full Length Leggings$75
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Vuori
Image Credit: Vuori Buttery soft fabrics that move with you, gorgeous colorways, and a fit that couldn’t be more flattering? Vuori’s got it all. We love the AllTheFeels Legging in this pretty periwinkle shade, which is perfect for everything from yoga to weightlifting. And you can’t go wrong with the comfy, supportive, matches-with-everything Villa Textured Cropped Tank.
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Vuori Villa Textured Cropped Tank
Image Credit: Vuori Vuori Villa Textured Cropped Tank$68
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Set
Image Credit: Set If you love the matching sports bra-and-legging look, you’ll love SET. The soft and stretchy Airluxe Breathe Flex Bra is a good choice for yoga and Pilates (and how cute is that blue color?), and we love the Classic Pocket Sweatpants as a comfy option when you’re out and about or couch-potato’ing.
Airluxe Breathe Flex Bra$55
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Set Classic Pocket Sweatpants
Image Credit: Set Classic Pocket Sweatpants$85
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Varley
Image Credit: Varley Based in LA, Varley is all about classic, elevated looks, and that extends to the brand’s activewear section too. The Varley Let’s Go Elsie Bra features soft, supportive fabric for your next Pilates class, and the Lucy Knit Top is the perfect oversized add-on for work or the gym.
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Varley Lucy Knit Top
Image Credit: Varley Varley Lucy Knit Top$108
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Tully Lou
Image Credit: Tully Lou Billed as “Australia’s Favorite Leggings,” Tully Lou blends gym-ready activewear with fashionable street styles to create an edgy, contemporary look. The brand’s Compression Active Pant is super-soft and promises to stay in place through all your squat sets. Pair it with the Malibu Longline Crop for a cute and functional gym outfit.
Tully Lou Compression Active Pant$82
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Tully Lou Malibu Longline Crop
Image Credit: Tully Lou
