Women's Health May 8, 2026 0 Comments

Unlock the Secret Athleisure Brands Every Woman Will Be Wearing in 2026—Fashion Editors Spill the Game-Changers!

Have you ever found yourself reaching for your “workout clothes” just to realize you’ll probably never break a sweat in them? Guilty as charged — and it turns out, I’m not alone. Millennials and Gen-Zers alike are rocking leggings and matching sets beyond the gym, blurring the line between exercise wear and everyday style. This shift, which kicked off around 2020, birthed the athleisure trend: activewear that’s both functional and fashionable. Brands like lululemon, Alo, and Vuori have mastered this balance, creating pieces that perform under pressure but look effortlessly chic for whatever your day throws at you. If you’ve ever wondered which athleisure brands truly deliver on comfort, style, and versatility, stick with me — I’ve done the legwork so you don’t have to.

LEARN MORE

6 min read

A large percentage of my wardrobe could be classified as “technically workout clothes,” whether or not I actually wear them to break a sweat. And it’s not just me: Most millennials and Gen-Zers wear leggings and matching sets far beyond the gym. Circa 2020, a generational fashion shift took place, creating a new category of dressing that blurs the line between gym gear and everyday style. Enter: Athleisure. For years now, our favorite workout brands (like lululemon, Alo, and Vuori) have been making performance-ready styles that look great wherever you go.

Best Athleisure Brands for Women

The activewear-inspired casual pieces have evolved over the years, from dated and frumpy (sorry) to well-fitting and timeless. I’ve tested my fair share of yoga pants, sweatpants, and workout tops, but not all of them make the cut for my everyday wardrobe. But the ones that do are comfortable, flattering, and, dare I say, chic.

What to Consider

Material

Athleisure clothes don’t need the same level of performance features as your gym gear. There’s often lots of overlap between the two, though, so you should still prioritize breathable, moisture-wicking, durable, and comfortable fabrics.

Elastane/spandex: This is a lightweight, stretchy fabric that will give your clothing that elastic feel. This is especially useful for workouts that require a lot of stretching (like yoga or Pilates), even if it’s just in front of the TV.
Nylon: A soft, stretchy, and durable fabric that’s moisture-wicking—perfect for when you want to stay dry and keep sweat stains at bay—whether that’s while working out or running errands.
Polyester: This fabric naturally repels water, wicks sweat like a pro, and dries quickly. It’s also lightweight, breathable, and durable—plus, it won’t shrink or wrinkle easily.

How You’ll Wear the Items

If you’re looking to add pieces that double as workout gear, keep an eye out for fabrics that are moisture-wicking and breathable. Options like the Nulu fabric from Lululemon will be comfortable for low-impact workouts (think: yoga, Pilates, hot girl walks!). If you’re looking for true loungewear that’s more structured than your standard sweatpants, soft cotton and relaxed silhouettes will do the trick. Styles like Vuori’s bodyskimming Performance Joggers still show off your frame, while being less compressive and restrictive than leggings.

Price

Some athleisure brands can get a little pricey (hi, lululemon and Vuori). But we recommend them because they’re long-lasting, and they feel stretchy and soft rather than heavy and constricting. If you’re looking for something more affordable, check out Amazon’s workout clothing brands, like Crz Yoga, which has many stylish options for less than $50.

How We Chose

As a Women’s Health style writer, I practically live in activewear and athleisure. When we first put together this guide in 2024, style and fitness editors spent months testing the bestselling styles from the most popular activewear labels. For this 2026 update, I spent over a year re-examining my faves, along with newer brands making a name for themselves with trendy, high-quality pieces. Not to toot my own horn, but if there’s anyone qualified to find cute athleisure pieces, it’s me—I’ve mastered the art of styling leggings, zip-ups, sneakers, and even sweats for the office, dinner and drinks with the girls, date night, and beyond. That’s how I narrowed down this guide to a tight edit of the 10 best athleisure brands (along with some of my fave pieces from each brand to help you get started).

Best Overall: Vuori

I’ve been testing activewear for years, but it wasn’t until I joined the team at WH that I gave Vuori a shot—and now, it’s one of my all-time faves. The Cali-label is known for its DreamKnit fabric that performs under pressure but feels like loungewear. The lineup features a range of both streamlined and flowy cuts that pair well with even business casual pieces—plus, they have tons of cute outerwear to complete your fit.

Read More: Vuori Review

Vuori Daily Layered Tank

Vuori Performance Jogger

Credit: Vuori

Vuori Renew Trainer Shell

Crz Yoga makes some of the best workout clothes on Amazon we’ve tested—it punches way above its price point with quality and style that rivals more expensive competitors in the activewear space. The brand has tons of super-cute pieces like wide-leg pants, cropped tees, and strappy sports bras. While the items are a bit more bare-bones athleisure, I love that almost all of their pieces are available in a ton of colors, making it super easy to put together a matching workout set.

Read More: Best Crz Yoga Workout Clothes

Crz Yoga Strappy Longline Sports Bra

Crz Yoga Pima Cotton Sleeveless Crop Tank

Crz Yoga Butterluxe No Front Seam Leggings

As the original yoga brand that put everyday athleisure on the map, lululemon remains one of the most popular activewear labels and is behind some of our editors’ favorite leggings, sports bras, and sneakers. Where more affordable brands stick to basic silhouettes, patterns, and colorways, lulu switches up its aesthetic by staying ahead of trends (like with their leopard print activewear and 90s vintage-inspired pieces). But lululemon offers more than just activewear—you can shop loungewear, workwear, and chic outerwear, too. I love the comfy fabrics, flattering silhouettes, and versatility—lululemon’s site lists what each item is designed for, which makes it easy to shop for whatever your closet needs.

lululemon Nulu Twist-Front High-Rise Tight

Credit: lululemon

lululemon Swift High-Rise Wide-Leg Pant

lululemon Nulu Twist-Back Tank Top

I’m quite literally obsessed with FP Movement and have been wearing pieces from the line while traveling, running errands, brunching, and even working them into my office outfits. The label has such a unique flair that sets it apart from other athleisure brands, whether it’s a strappy detail, contrasting colors, or baggy silhouettes. I’ve especially been loving the oversized Icon Tee layered over a bright tank, along with the Hot Shot Easy Pants (so comfy) or a pair of baggy jeans.

FP Movement All Star Solid Shorts

Credit: FP Movement

FP Movement Never Better Squad Tank

Credit: FP Movement

FP Movement Intercept Short Sleeve Pullover

Credit: FP Movement

True to the label’s name, Beyond Yoga’s pieces are perfect for yoga practice and low-impact exercise—but we love its styles for lounging and daily wear, too. The label makes some of the softest pieces I’ve ever worn—especially those in the signature Spacedye fabric, like the Spacedye Caught In The Midi Legging and Spacedye Slim Cropped Tank. It’s my go-to brand for comfy basics, since it focuses on simple styles in a super wide range of colors.

Beyond Yoga Fade Out Mid-Rise Short

Beyond Yoga Spacedye Caught In The Midi Legging

Credit: Beyond Yoga

Beyond Yoga Fade Out Full Zip Hoodie

We’re fans of Year of Ours’ stylish, athletic pieces that lean into the super trendy vintage aesthetic with layered designs, contrast piping, and more structured or looser silhouettes. You can easily incorporate tons of these styles into your day-to-day wardrobe, like the Football Sweatpant paired with a plain white tank or Year Tennis Windbreaker with leggings or biker shorts.

Year of Ours Ribbed Layered Legging

Credit: Year Of Ours

Year of Ours Football Sweatpant

Credit: Year Of Ours

Year of Ours Ribbed Layered Bralette

Best Variety: Rhone

I love Rhone’s running shorts and workout leggings, but the brand has so much more to offer than gym-ready activewear. Give their site a scroll, and you’ll find a variety of dressy basics (like the tailored Horizon Trouser and Horizon Short), lounge shorts and tees, athleisure dresses, and everyday basics.

Rhone Beach Terry Hoodie

Credit: Rhone

Rhone Retro Revive™ Dress

Rhone Beach Terry Short

Best Classic Styles: Nike

It’s no surprise Nike made this list, since the brand has been around for what feels like ages and has all your sportswear needs covered from head to toe (literally). The flared sweats are easy to throw on after an intense workout, during a warm-up, or on WFH days when I want to be cozy—and the brand has been releasing some trendier athleisure lately, like the Mid-Rise Woven Shorts and colorblocked Dri-Fit Tank Top.

Nike Light-Support Sports Bra

Nike Essentials Mid-Rise Woven Shorts

Nike Jordan Flared Pants

Now 34% Off

Founded in 2013, Mate The Label is making waves on social media right now for its stylish activewear basics. The brand leans into seamless designs, organic fabrics, and a vintage-inspired look and feel that gives the line a nostalgic vibe that’s somehow still super timeless.

Mate the Label Organic Stretch Contrast Unitard

Mate the Label Organic Structured Cotton Striped Cropped Tee

Mate the Label Organic Stretch Contrast Biker Short

Best for Pilates: 437

If you’re into the Pilates Princess aesthetic, 437 is the label for you. These pieces look the part—think seamless crops, contrast bras, wraps, and matching leggings—but also show up once you hit the mat or reformer with comfy, performance-ready fabrics. I’ve been wearing the V Legging, Ballet Tank, and Ballet Wrapin the Clay and Cream colorway—the wrap is the perfect stylish layering piece that gives the perfect amount of coverage for the arms and shoulders.

437 The Studio Wrap

The Leisure Pant

437 The Ballet Tank

Shop Other Activewear We Love

Shop Women’s Health’s Training Guides

Women’s Health Strong & Fit After 40

Women’s Health The Woman’s Guide To Strength Training: Dumbbells

Women’s Health The Woman’s Guide to Strength Training

Shannen Zitz is the Associate Style & Reviews Editor at Women’s Health, where she covers all-things sneakers and activewear. Previously, she was an assistant editor at Prevention. Shannen graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a bachelor’s degree in English. If she’s not reading or writing, you can probably find her frequenting the skincare and makeup forums on Reddit or hogging the squat rack at the gym.

Christian is the Style and Reviews Director at Men’s Health and Women’s Health, where he oversees shopping and style content for both brands. He started his magazine career as an accessories assistant at Vogue, and has since held editorial roles at Tatler Asia and The Manual. When he’s not online shopping, you can find him on long walks with his two corgis.