While summer's workout look was all about cropped sports bras and matching twin sets, next season's trends are diving deeper into throwback territory (harbingers of which have already started appearing in the form of bodysuits and retro sneakers).
Not that your leggings drawer will be kicking it old school entirely—plenty of modern design elements are also expected to enter the mix. Two words: contour leggings. So, what's this fall's fitness fashion forecast?
Scroll down to see what buyers from buzzy brands—like Carbon38, Bandier, and Bloomingdale's—predict will be major trends in the months ahead.
1. Denim leggings
Believe it or not, "jeggings" could be making a comeback, according to Jennifer Bandier whose eponymous activewear boutique is a go-to for splurge-worthy wardrobe upgrades. “Denim-esque leggings are going to blow up this fall,” she predicts. “We've been slowly getting in more and more throughout the summer, but we're definitely seeing it as a major trend.” Her fave? A reversible high-waist legging from WITH.
2. '80s varsity inspired looks
The other athleisure trend Bandier expects to be big for fall: “vintage, preppy-but-wearable [separates] with primary color accents.” Looking for first-round draft picks? Check out this zip-up from Aviator Nation.
"Hoodies and sweatshirts are getting a feminine twist with lace-up, ruffles, and cut-out details."
3. Ultra-active swimwear
The big fall buy for luxe e-tailer Matches Fashion has been, interestingly, active swimwear—technical one pieces, bikinis, paddle suits, and rash vests in splashy patterns. (Makes sense given the number of aquatic workouts, er, making waves right now.) “We've found more and more that our customers are interested in practical and stylish swimwear to support their active water-based lifestyles,” says its studio buyer Chelsea Power. She points to Aussie label The Upside’s printed paddle suits and, for colder water, skiwear brand Perfect Moment’s “technical, yet stylish” neoprene swimwear.
4. Color-blocking
This trend's a carryover from summer, but Power says fall’s version is more akin to contouring for your legs thanks to tonal palettes and flattering designs. It's intended to “compliment your silhouette with strategically angled shades,” she explains. Early adopters can find on-point options from No Ka’Oi and LNDR right now.
5. Corseting and lace-up details
You could chalk this one up to the Kardashian effect. But the high fashion-athleisure creative exchange taking place right now is equally as responsible for the buzz here. "The corset detail we’re seeing on the runway appears throughout active,” says Stephanie Dardenne, Carbon38’s director of merchandising. And it's not just your leggings, either. "Hoodies and sweatshirts are getting a feminine twist with lace-up, ruffles, and cut-out details,” says Susan Marasco, fashion director of ready-to-wear at Bloomingdale's.
For more activewear inspo, here are the major fitness fashion moments from beloved BFF movies and workout style ideas channeled from the female characters on Game of Thrones.
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