Men's Health August 4, 2026 0 Comments

Why Athleisure Giants Are Secretly Dominating the Luxury Resortwear Scene (And What It Means for Your Summer Wardrobe)

Ever wondered if athleisure could actually make the leap from the gym straight to your summer vacation wardrobe without missing a beat? Well, spoiler alert: it totally can — and some of our favorite brands like Lululemon, Vuori, Alo, and Huckberry’s own Proof are proving it in spades. These brands, already kings of comfort and performance, are now sprinkling in resort-ready styles that blend stretchy, breathable fabrics with laid-back summer vibes. We’re talking vacation shorts, button-downs, polos, and even sunglasses that scream effortless cool while keeping you comfortable from beachside to dinner dates. So if you’ve been caught between packing workout gear or something stylish for your next getaway, why not both? Let’s dive into the hottest athleisure pieces that are redefining resortwear in 2024. LEARN MORE

4 min read

Some of our favorite athleisure brands are now offering legitimately great vacation styles.
Lululemon, Vuori, Alo, and Huckberry’s in-house brand, Proof, are front and center.
Alo’s latest sunglasses release and Vuori’s versatile hybrid button-downs are two major highlights.

OUR FAVORITE ATHLEISURE brands are good at what they do, and we test a lot of athleisure from a workout/performance standpoint, but our favorite brands are now becoming a little more eclectic, especially when it comes to summer fits. Lululemon, Vuori, and Alo are already pretty fashion-forward, but they’ve stepped up their game in one key department: resortwear.

Call it resortwear, vacationwear, summerwear, whatever your heart desires. We’re referring to something you’d wear on your next beach trip, on summer dinner dates, or on a night out on the town. It’s the mashup we weren’t fully expecting, but totally here for. The combination of stretchy, breathable athleisure material and summer-friendly style feels right up our alley, and it’s become much more prevalent this year in particular. There are also hints of linen, Tencel, and even some killer new sunglasses we couldn’t resist sharing. Let’s get into it.

Vuori

Hybrid Fit

Vuori Short Sleeve Bridge Button Down

Classic Staple

Vuori Short Sleeve Knit Oxford Button Down

Cool Comfort

Vuori Coast Shorts 7″

Wear with Anything

Vuori Fletcher Chino Pants

Stretchy Fabric

Vuori Aim Elastic Waist Shorts 7″

Lightweight Layering

Vuori Beach Fleece Crew Necke

We’ll start with one of our all-time favorite brands, in general: Vuori. Its Kore shorts, Sunday Joggers, and Strato Tech Tee are always at or near the top of our yearly workout gear rankings, and its latest resortwear releases follow a similar template. Think: stretchy, smooth, and unbelievably comfortable. I love the Short Sleeve Bridge Button Down, in particular. The all-white colorway screams summer, and it’s the perfect blend of Vuori’s classic moisture-wicking, four-way stretch material and elevated comfort. It’s almost as if you bred a classic Tommy Bahama shirt and Vuori’s Strato Tech Tee for the perfect-fitting vacation shirt.

The Fletcher Chino Pants go with just about anything, and stretch woven material gives you a little more room to breathe than your classic chinos. The oatmeal colorway also goes with just about anything. The Coast Shorts are more of your classic cotton shorts, featuring a subtle lived-in look and going great with a button-down. Cooler summer evenings on the East Coast call for some light layering. I love to pack a single sweatshirt on any vacation I take, and the Beach Fleece Crew Neck is my go-to. It’s the perfect weight, and I can wear it with just about anything. It’ll give you a little extra warmth without the unnecessary heft.

Alo

Elevated Polo

Alo Coastline Knit Short Sleeve Polo

Relaxed Linen

Alo Linen Days Short Sleeve Button Up

New Shades

Alo Rectangle Button Up

Everyday Pant

Alo Linen Days Straight Leg Pant

Silky Smooth

Alo Linen Jersey Coastal Short Sleeve Polo

Great for Lounging

Alo Sports Club Sweater Knit Short

Alo has quickly skyrocketed up our athleisure ranks; it also might be the brand that’s arguably done the most outside its comfort zone (pun intended) this summer. This year’s summer drops are a bit of a departure, especially in comparison to some of the other brands listed; Alo has ventured into linen, cashmere, and knit summer styles. It’s even dropped some new sunglasses, and its rectangle shades are a legitimate banger. The shades are handcrafted in Japan and offer anti-reflective back coating and a five-barrel hinge for smooth opening and closing. They’re a solid step up from your classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers.

I personally love its Linen Days Short-Sleeve Button-Up and Coastline Knit Short-Sleeve Polo. The linen shirt is ultra-soft and manages to keep its shape better than most. It also features Alo’s relaxed fit, which works especially well on a vacation-friendly shirt. The knit polo boasts a slightly more elevated look. It’s lightweight, soft, and made out of 100 percent cotton. Both shirts pair well with the Linen Days Straight Leg Pant or the Sports Club Sweater Knit Short for a casual, yet stylish beach-friendly vibe.

Lululemon

Classic Camp Shirt

lululemon Lightweight Camp-Collar Shirt

Quick Drying

lululemon Airing Easy Camp-Collar Shirt

Your Next Everyday Short

lululemon EasyFive Relaxed-Fit Short 9″

Drawstring Convenience

lululemon Unshaken Relaxed Pull-On Short 9″

Best for Golf

lululemon Water-Repellent Golf Pullover

Best Summer Slides

Lululemon Restfeel Men’s Slide

lululemon is sort of the OG in this department, but this year’s summer fits take it to the next level. I typically like to size up in lululemon for a more relaxed fit, and I think that applies here as well. The Camp Collar shirt is a summer staple, and Lululemon’s is a fantastic hybrid piece. It’s made from a lightweight, moisture-wicking material akin to its workout styles, but features a resort-friendly, casual look. It goes great with the EasyFive Relaxed-Fit Short (available in 7- and 9-inch lengths). These shorts feature the brand’s proprietary Cotton-Blend Utilitech Twill Fabric, which combines classic cotton comfort with a subtle hint of stretch.

The Water-repellent Golf Pullover has been on my radar for a while. I haven’t personally tested it yet, but short-sleeved windbreakers have made a comeback on the course, and this one can be worn on or off it. The pullover features snap closures at the front and is meant to be worn as a lightweight summer layer, but it’s subtle enough to rock as a relaxed-fit style on your next vacation. I’d suggest going with the Oakwood Tan for the latter.

Proof

Performance Meets the Beach

Proof Airweave Performance Shirt

Best Summer Polo

Proof 72-Hour Merino Polo Shirt

Best Long Sleeve

Proof Solas UPF Shirt

Now 41% Off

Comfortable Chinos

Proof Rover Pant

Now 31% Off

Best Swimsuit

Proof Performance Lined Swim Trunk – 5″

Now 21% Off

A Stylish Tank

Proof Airweave Tank

Proof might be one of the lesser-known brands on this list, but it’s quickly become an editor staple. If you’re not familiar, it’s the performance leg of Huckberry’s array of in-house brands, and it makes a ton of great gear for the gym, outdoor hiking, and everything in between. We’d consider this “in between.” The Airweave Performance Shirt combines moisture-wicking performance with a casual, resort-friendly look. It’s a little more form-fitting, but in the best kind of way; it’s relaxed in the midsection and tight around the biceps. It’s now available in a limited-edition Will Bryant Print, which is probably the most fun colorway to date.

The 72-Hour Merino Polo Shirt is a great way to rock a polo without working up a sweat. Merino fabric is perfect for the summer, and this shirt combines the classic polo look with lightweight comfort. The 72-Hour Merino Tee is one of our favorite heavy-duty T-shirts, and this checks a lot of the same boxes. And if you’re looking for swim trunks that look great and offer a ton of support, the 5-inch Performance Lined Swim Trunks are the perfect solution. You can rock these around the resort all day long.

Tim Kohut is the Deals and Trends Editor for Popular Mechanics, Men’s Health, Best Products, and Runner’s World. He has extensive product review and gear coverage expertise, particularly in tech, home, auto, and health. Tim was previously the Deputy Commerce Editor of The Drive and a Commerce Editor at BGR. He’s also overseen gear coverage and strategy at Popular Science, Bob Vila, Outdoor Life, and Field and Stream. He has a strong affinity for cats, Batman, and early 90’s Nicolas Cage films, in that order.

Eunice Lucero-Lee is the Deputy Editor, Deals and Trends, for Best Products, Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Biography. Her obsession with beauty and pop culture keeps her on top of the latest trends and viral online finds, which can also be seen in her work spearheading the Hearst Enthusiast Group’s sales and deals content. Her editorials have been featured in publications like Cosmopolitan, Esquire, The Numinous, woman&home, and Sparkling, among many others. A former music editor, she pioneered Asia’s first-ever English-helmed K-Pop magazine and has extensive experience with celebrity profiling and red-carpet reportage. She is based in Manhattan where she watches Scandi-noir crime procedurals with her cat.