By: Marine Elia
Maybe it's a motivator to keep New Year's resolutions alive. Maybe it's to convince others of your athletic prowess. Or maybe it's a status symbol. Although the athleisure fashion trend was deemed worthy of a spot in the Webster’s dictionary, athleisure should be limited to gyms, sports, and any other time when there is actual sweating and physical activity involved. With a possible theory of its conception being seated in the early 2000’s velour tracksuits popularized by California “It girls,” athleisure has taken the the fashion world by storm. Proven by the current non-basketball player teen boy uniform of Nike shorts complete with Nike Roshes,this trend is here to stay. But why are people drawn to wearing clothes in a way that is contradictory to its intended use? The most popular reason for donning yoga pants outside of the yoga studio is the comfort; stretchy, soft fabrics mold to your individual shape. In addition, dressing in exercise wear saves the time and energy of packing another outfit and changing out for a fitness class. Yet this mentality is highly dangerous. If people are becoming too busy to spend five minutes of their time preparing an extra set of clothes, how far into the near future will individuals stop bothering to look professional for business meetings and instead reach for their flannel pj’s to be “comfortable?” If comfort is the main goal of fashion, tossing unique style and individuality down the trash faster than Donatella Versace throws away last season’s clothing, diversity could drown in a sea of uniform clothing. The most evident reason for following the trend is that everyone resembles their fittest self in athleisure. Tight but non-constricting fits with athletic cuts flatter every body type. Athleisure trends can even segue into different age demographics: a 13 year old middle schooler is just as likely to purchase a pair of simple black leggings as a 65 year old is. Its versatile and unisex approach only increases its accessibility and allure. Although trickle-down allows for affordable brands like Target and Old Navy to provide the public with the latest craze for a fraction of the price, athleisure began and continues with a lust for a brand name. At the peak of its popularity, the yoga clothing brand LuluLemon lured customers with its recognizable logo. The sheer number of consumers to the brand contributed to its cult-like reputation for focusing on a select demographic: the well-toned professional elite. Before long, middle school girls were begging their mothers to shell out $100 for a pair of simple, plain black leggings instead of an identical pair--sans logo--from another store with the same level of quality. Even if bougie exercise clothes merited their high prices, how much of a role does quality need to play for clothing items that will be perpetually dirty? The nation’s shift towards living healthy and fulfilling lifestyles packed with hot yoga and freshly pressed green juice has inspired others to join the movement. If fitness is the focus of someone’s lifestyle or even for the beginner fitness gurus, the quick run to the store after a workout is inevitable, but for those whose legging collection surpasses that of their jeans, it's a concerning threat towards individuality and self-expression. The hunger for assimilation into the current fashion climate masks the true styles of people who would be wearing vintage finds if not for their neon running shorts. In a world where renowned fashion houses are promoting couture sneakers, it's impossible to stop this already $97 billion industry. But if in a few years you ever become disillusioned with the constrictive nature of leisurely athletic wear, please don't allow yourself to be seduced by the snug and secure embrace of pajamas.
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