September 2, 2024 • 34 mins
we traverse the stylish timeline of athleisure, from its sporty beginnings in the late 19th century to its current fashion dominance. Athleisure haters and lovers alike will appreciate our nostalgic nod to pioneering designers like Jean Patou and Coco Chanel, and the game-changing inventions like the rubber-bottomed tennis shoe and Lacoste's polo shirt. Fast forward to the present day, and we cover how the pandemic, social media, and celebrity culture have solidified athleisure as a wardrobe essential. Don't miss my reluctantly appreciative take on athleisure's strides toward sustainability and inclusivity, even if I still claim the title of its biggest skeptic.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi everyone and welcome to Magnifique, your
favorite fashion trend podcast.
I'm your host, gabrielle.
And what the heck is up?
How are we doing?
Today we discuss athleisure andhow it's turned the fashion
space upside down.
And well, if you know one thingabout me, I am an athleisure
(00:22):
hater to my core.
Well, if you know one thingabout me, I am an athleisure
hater to my core.
But the facts presented intoday's episode, I can't dispute
them.
Athleisure is that girl.
But first, throughout the week,I have written down some notes
that I just wanted to talk aboutThings that have been on my
mind.
I titled the notes grievancesGrievances that I like to bring
(00:47):
up on the podcast.
However, none of them areactual grievances.
They are just things I thoughtof.
So if you'd like, you can fillme in on your weekend.
Please go ahead and do that nowor forever.
Hold your peace, because I'vegot a lot to say.
That sounds like such anamazing weekend.
I hope you had the best time.
Thank you for sharing.
(01:09):
That really means a lot.
So, grievance number one I amgoing to go ahead and call them
grievances, even though they arenot.
So gather around the campfire.
Grievance number one I've beenthinking a lot about rage rooms
and how, in theory, they'd bereally fun, but I don't think I
would let myself enjoy them inthe slightest, actually Not even
(01:31):
a little bit.
I think I'd smash stuff and likeget a little giggle.
I don't think it'd be astherapeutic as advertised,
because I just simply would notlet myself do what needs to be
done, which is scream, cry,throw things, scream some more,
(01:52):
break everything.
That's not me.
Let me backtrack.
That is me in my core.
That is not who I like to be.
That is not who I like to be.
I grew up crazy, but I don'tlike to be it.
How about that?
How about that?
Um, so, raid rooms, they'rereally not my thing, but they
(02:13):
sound really fun.
I do think about it a lot, aswell as boxing.
This wasn't on my grievancelist.
We're just going on a tangentnow.
Hang with me, we'll get toathleisure.
Boxing sounds really, reallyfun, and I do think it'd be good
for me to kind of like punchsomething.
Um, however, the actualpunching part feels really
(02:35):
violent and I just don't want todo that.
Again, that is me.
That's not me, though, andspeaking on not being able to do
things, another grievance I hadis therapy would probably be so
great for me.
Um, I don't think I could gobecause I sincerely believe I
would just lie to them.
They'd ask me stuff and I couldsee myself being like and just
(02:58):
completely out of politeness,truly and you know my heart I
could just see myself notdisclosing or pretending like
things are super chill and coolto try to make their life
diagnosing me so much easier andby so much easier I am going to
put on the best show so thatthey think I am normal, but just
(03:18):
need to talk things out.
Sometimes, you know, I'd belike, oh, my day is so good, so
good.
No, no trauma.
Responses came up today,nothing to discuss at all.
I actually haven't beendisassociating and maladaptive
daydreaming since birth at all,um, and I don't feel called out
(03:41):
by every TikTok that I watchdiagnosing me with this, that
and the other.
I just don't ruminate on thatall the time and I don't think
about it often at all andsometimes I don't have a
breakdown, thinking about myentire existence and no, like
I'm chilling.
(04:02):
I also had written down which atherapist would probably like me
to elaborate on further and Ijust simply refuse the fabric
rayon and I have a verylove-hate relationship.
My husband asked me toelaborate on what rayon is, so I
looked up on Google and rayonis a smooth fabric, sometimes
(04:23):
even silky, with a soft texturesimilar to cotton or linen.
The soft fabric has a fluiddrape, which means it hangs
slightly and flows a little bit,rather than being super rigid
and keeping its boxy shape.
I say I have a love-haterelationship because I think
(04:43):
it's such a fun fabric to rub inbetween your fingers.
Whenever I do wear rayon top Ijust so, guys, I can't explain
this I like to rub it in betweenmy fingers and it feels really
nice, the fabric, you know.
(05:03):
Anyway, I hate it thoughbecause of everything else about
it.
Everything else about rayonsucks, and I frequently remind
myself of the time that I triedto iron a rayon top.
It was wrinkly.
What was I to do?
And you know it did moveforward with melting before my
very eyes.
Um, that happened.
(05:28):
You know it did move forwardwith melting before my very eyes
.
Um, that happened.
Um, my last gripe, which is nota gripe in the slightest, but
I've really just been thinkingabout the girly pop music that
has been released throughout theentire year, and I feel like
this is a safe space to give mytop three albums of the year so
far and then we can move on toathleisure.
I'm so sorry for taking up somuch of your time talking about
(05:49):
me.
Number three spot we have MissSabrina with her Ovulation album
called Short and Sweet.
Everybody I've talked to aboutthis album.
I have prefaced with Miss GirlsFeeling Herself and she
uncovered a new level of longingwhich I love, for her really,
really is so awesome.
(06:10):
Number two is miss charlie xcxand brat.
She created a culturalphenomenon and I fear it's
drifting away as summer leavesus.
But brat, summer really revivedindy sleaze, with the
fear-mongering of anotherrecession around looming among
us me thinks that indy sleazeand like god, tier music is only
(06:36):
going to amplify as the economydoes not amplify.
But that's okay, because let'stalk about my number one album
of the year and I implore youall to listen to it right after
this episode because I need thedownloads.
Number one I have Miss Ponytails, ariana Grande, eternal
(06:56):
Sunshine album.
I have no notes.
There's only one skip on thisalbum and it's because I hate
the way that she says ordinaryin her song Ordinary Things.
I just hate the way it sounds.
It's probably a good song.
I've only listened to it oncebecause once I decided I hate
the way she sounds when she saysordinary.
I can't listen to that.
Um, one more thing.
(07:18):
Hear me loud and clear.
The moment Harry Styles drops analbum, I am invoking sexism,
and all of the women on my listget bummed down a peg.
For a British white man tostand at the number one spot,
harry Styles would be in thatspot and I don't care what he
puts out, I don't care, homies,get an agreement nomination for
(07:39):
that.
Based off of my research, hehas a two and a half year album
cycle and the last one came outin the spring, which means this
nun has to come out lateDecember-ish and based off of
his other fall album, which hereleased a single October 13th,
(08:04):
and I think we started gettingteasers in September.
So I'm thinking by the end ofSeptember we might hear
rumblings of a Harry Stylessingle and I'm sorry for the
person I'm gonna become.
That, just that's.
That's that.
Okay.
Enough about me, let's get towhat you all came here for
(08:25):
Athleisure.
Athleisure and I are nemesis,nemesis, nemesis.
That's my nemesis.
I think there are so manybetter ways to dress, but
unfortunately the collectivesociety disagrees with me, and
athleisure is a fashion trendthat is here to stay.
But what exactly is athleisureand what societal implications
(08:49):
has it brought on?
Athleisure is a word mergingathletic wear and leisure wear,
which contradict itself truly.
According to quote-unquotehistorical reports, athleisure
started as a fashion trend tolook athletic without the
presumption of doing anyphysical activity.
(09:11):
They weren't made for theintent to be worn for physical
activity, just to give theillusion.
We're going to hit a couplethrowbacks in this episode, so
first let's throw back to 1979,when the word athleisure was
first used in a Nation'sBusiness Magazine issue
(09:33):
describing the garment and shoesas being for those who wish to
appear athletic, women's wear.
Daily defined athleisure shoesas non-performance styles such
as canvas or suede.
In the late 19th and early 20thcentury, sportswear referred to
interchangeable separates wornby both athletes and spectators,
often made from knit or jerseymaterial to allow freedom of
(09:55):
movement, and Parisian designerJean Petit, credited with
creating the tennis skirt,helped popularize European
sportswear.
And by 1926, fogue noted that asignificant portion of daytime
fashion in Paris weresports-inspired, emphasizing the
(10:17):
practicality and youthfulnessof.
If you remember, in my CocoChanel episode, miss Gabrielle
was largely successful for hersportswear designs that were
revolutionary in the use of thejersey material, which again is
like a soft, breathable,stretchy material, often used
(10:37):
pre-Chanel as like undergarments, like for bras and panties.
While designers like Chanelmaintained couture qualities in
their sportswear, americandesigners like Claire McCardell
and Bonnie Cashin championed amore casual, practical approach.
Their designs, characterized byfunctionality and utilitarian
(11:08):
fabrics, lead the groundworksfor today's athleisure and in
the 40s, mccardell's creationepitomized American sportswear
aesthetics, while Cashin'semphasis on layering and
practicality further advancedthe trends.
Karen introduce her seven easypieces highlighting the
(11:39):
importance of an interchangeable, simple wardrobe, a concept
that resonated strongly with theathleisure movement.
Today, and following kind ofthe same thought, train of
tennis.
In 1892, the firstrubber-bottomed shoe, known as
the tennis shoe, were producedfor athletes to provide better
(11:59):
traction on the tennis courtAround.
The same time, intramuralsports gained popularity at the
US universities, with menwearing their athletic clothes
to class.
The 1920s saw the introductionof the polo shirt.
Any guess who was the one tointroduce it?
How about Lacoste?
Initially designed for tennisplayers as a breathable
(12:23):
alternative for theirlong-sleeve shirts.
It wasn't until later that theywere adopted by proper polo
players and throughout the 20thcentury, new aesthetic clothing
items such as gym shorts andrunning shoes were developed to
meet athletes' needs In the1930s, champion began producing
(12:47):
hoodies for American laborerswho were working in cold
conditions.
Before I move forward, can Ijust have like a little moment
of silence, or just a moment ofrecognition, for when Champion
used to be sold at Walmart?
I used to have a lot ofChampion gear in elementary
(13:10):
school when it was sold atWalmart and then it kind of had
a resurgence in the late 2010s2018-2019, but those bad boys
got expensive.
Listen, the American laborersdeserve to be mad at the prices
of Champion nowadays.
(13:30):
Anyway, the invention ofspandex by DuPont in 1958
further revolutionized athleticwear, providing the stretch and
flexibility foundational tocontemporary athleisure.
Adidas then contributed to thetrend by introducing
sport-to-street track suits in1963, which became a staple in
(13:55):
North American street culture bythe 1970s and gained further
popularity in 1980s hip-hopmusic videos.
The 70s and 80s marked a verysignificant turning point for
athleisure, as exercise becamemore mainstream and apparel
companies began designingclothes specifically for
(14:16):
physical activity.
This is where we really startseeing the modern perspective of
athleisure.
These garments featuredadvanced fabrics with
moisture-wicking, breathabilityand odor-wicking properties.
Over time, athleisure evolvedfrom sports-specific wear to
versatile apparel suitable forvarious activities.
(14:38):
Look at what you're wearingright now.
You might be wearing some formof athleisure Tennis shoes, polo
shirts.
Come on, you're wearing it.
We're all wearing athleisureright now.
Athleisure took on many formsbefore in 2016, when
Merriam-Webster added athleisureto their dictionary.
(14:59):
Its definition is, as quoted,casual clothing designed to be
worn for both exercising and forgeneral use.
It was from here on thatathleisure would begin to take
form as a multifaceted way ofdressing.
Athleisure is everywhere, andas much as she is my nemesis, I
cannot get away from her.
(15:19):
The early 2000s saw a rise ofbrands like Lululemon, which
revolutionized the fashionindustry with stylish workout
clothes that can be worn beyondthe gym, and by 2018, a survey
revealed that upper-income teenswere significantly more likely
to favor athleisure brandscompared to a decade earlier.
(15:41):
High fashion brands alsorecognized the potential of
athleisure collaborating withsports brands for capsule
collections.
Designers like Louis Vuitton,karl Lagerfeld and Gucci
rejuvenated their images bypartnering with brands like
Supreme Vans and Guccirejuvenated their images by
partnering with brands likeSupreme Vans and North Face.
We did mention Lose a Lemon andHigh Income Teens.
(16:04):
I have a little section aboutthat in a second, so I'm not
forgetting you.
I do have a tangent to go onAthlete shirt as we know it
today has its roots in acentury-long evolution of
American sportswear,transforming into a unique trend
that emphasizes comfort andleverages advanced synthetic
fibers.
(16:25):
A century ago, clothing choiceswere dictated by specific events
, but modern athleisure catersto those seeking a versatile
wardrobe that can transitionseamlessly from errands to work
to the gym.
I fear gone are the days ofchanging outfits every hour to
match the vibes.
(16:45):
We knew that.
We knew that.
We knew that.
We knew that.
I don't want to come toconclusions and like come to
reality and face the facts.
I'd love to go back to thosesimpler times.
You're telling me I get todebut a new outfit every few
hours.
Count me the frick in, though.
We did discuss in the gildedage episode that only wealthy
(17:10):
and privileged people got tofully participate in that era of
time.
Duh, I know I'd be working at atextile mill, I know, but the
things that I would do to be agilded age socialite is
immeasurable, to speak mygod-given truth.
But as American fashion becameincreasingly sports-oriented,
(17:35):
the industry responded toconsumers' demands for
practicality and style.
In today's fashion landscape,athleisure has become a, if not
the dominant trend, seamlesslymerging athletic wear with
leisure wear to create aversatile clothing and wardrobe
(17:55):
that appeals to our active,health-conscious and style-savvy
society.
This trend phenomenon culturalevolution has blurred the lines
between active wear and casualclothing, allowing individuals
to transition from work to gymto other daily activities.
(18:17):
I've said this like five timesin this episode Asleisure is
that girl.
I hate that girl.
Asleisure garments are designedto provide comfort and ease of
movement while maintaining afashionable appearance, striking
the balance between performanceand style.
Popular items like leggings andyoga pants exemplify this trend
(18:40):
, offering comfort andflexibility through moisturizing
fabrics and various designs.
So various designs would belike sports leggings in
particular.
They are tailored specificallyfor athletic activities, often
incorporating compressiontechnologies to target muscle
support, making athleisure apractical and stylish choice for
(19:02):
modern wardrobes.
The athleisure market, valued at300 billion, continues to grow,
with designers leveragingmaterials that are both
practical and stylish.
Many designers have launchedtheir own athleisure lines or
incorporated some form ofathleisure into their
collections.
(19:22):
So some celebrities who haveentered the market are kate
hudson with her FableticsFabletics is everywhere.
Beyonce's Ivy Park I haven'theard of Ivy Park since they
launched.
Let me know how they're doing.
And Rihanna's Fenty Puma I alsohaven't heard of them since
(19:46):
they launched, but I feel likethat was more recent.
So they launched all of theseto further cement athleisure's
place in contemporary fashion.
It should be noted that anotherathleisure collection that my
husband foams out the mouth foris Easy and Easy Gap from Kanye
(20:08):
West.
He proofread my episode so headded a little note.
He said it's true, guys, I ownover 10 pieces from this
collection and he is on eBayevery day looking for more Yeezy
Gap.
So if you have a plug, abe isyour man.
Popular athleisure items includesomething to the extent of
(20:32):
sweatpants, hoodies, sweatshirts, track pants, high-rise
leggings and or baseball caps.
The movement is supported byadvancements in textile
materials and technical fabrics,making modern activewear more
durable, breathable, lightweight, stretchy and fashionable.
Technological advancements intextile innovation have enhanced
(20:58):
the functionality of athleisuregarments, making them more
breathable, lightweight,stretchy, versatile, comfortable
, durable.
This, that and the other, this,that and the other.
These improvements have allowedathleisure to transition from
gym exclusive wear to acceptableeveryday attire.
(21:18):
Modern athleisure emphasizesfashion over mere functionality,
with different styles anddifferent colors and fabrics.
It should be noted that colorsplay a huge role in kind of the
acceptability of athleisure.
I know we saw its big peak inthe 70s and 80s.
We should also note thedifferent color schemes that
(21:40):
came with the 70s and 80s andhow that differs tremendously
from the trending colors now.
Not that it was like huge, butwe should.
You know, today's colorpalettes are very muted and
neutral and it is easier to getaway with athleisure as it's
predominantly black, white, gray, brown very easy to mix in with
(22:05):
your everyday wear, whereasback in the 70s and 80s it was
if you're wearing athleisure,you're wearing athleisure.
You're wearing a bright redtracksuit, bright blue bodycon
suit with pink leg warmers.
It was harder to mix it witheveryday wear, but the modern
(22:28):
athleisure trend gainedsignificant momentum in the
mid-2010s, building off thewidespread adoption of yoga
pants in the mid to late 2000s.
These garments offered northamerican women the convenience
of wearing the same outfit onmultiple occasions without
frequent changes.
Um, I don't really remember apre-athleisure timeline, so
(22:53):
those more experienced me let meknow your trauma with having to
change your outfit multipletimes a day.
Athleisure really filled a gapin the market by transforming
athletic wear from purelyutilitarian to stylish and
fashionable.
The decline in blue jean salesalso contributed to the
(23:19):
athleisure rise, as it became apreferred choice for casual wear
and young adults andfitness-conscious consumers.
We simply must must discuss theleggings epidemic of the early
2010s.
I remember being in middleschool when I first discovered
that Forever 21 sold leggingsand it was like the go-to place
(23:40):
to get leggings.
It was my first exposure toleggings and we should talk
about how they were sosee-through, so see-through, so
see-through.
Yet every girl wore them out ofthe house and ran them into the
ground.
In high school, I remember myexclusive like uniform as
(24:02):
leggings and a hoodie and myConverse shoes.
Admittedly and embarrassingly,I wore them into the grave.
They were so susceptible toholes, they were the thinnest
piece of fabric you could everhave, but when they got holes, I
(24:27):
just wore black shortsunderneath.
Yeah, it was very evident.
Let's talk about post-COVIDathleisure, though, because
covid really, in my opinion, putthe nail in the coffin for
people nearly exclusivelywearing activewear.
I've said it once and I'll sayit again a million times over
covid was a catalyst for peoplenot being able to dress
themselves.
The covid19 pandemicsignificantly accelerated the
(24:47):
adoption of athleisure,cementing its place in everyday
fashion and, with the shift toremote work, I wish, and the
elimination of daily commutes,traditional office dress codes
have become more relaxed,allowing for more casual,
comfortable attire, attire andsocial media platforms, along
(25:13):
with celebrities, have played acrucial role in promoting
athleisure, showcasing theiroutfits in their daily lives and
transforming the trend cyclesfrom niche to mainstream.
Throughout the pandemic,everybody wore sweatsuits and
Emma Chamberlain rediscoveredflared leggings.
A lot of the clean girlaesthetic is active wear
(25:36):
athleisure.
But, yes, even fashion iconZach Karl Lagerfeld, who once
criticized jogging bottoms, hasnow embraced sports-inspired
collections.
Rip Karl Lagerfeld.
I actually have heard that he'snot a great person.
That's neither here nor there.
(25:56):
I will do an entire episode andwe can figure that out on our
own.
The pandemic also spurred arenewed interest in health and
fitness, further boosting thepopularity of athleisure.
Further boosting the popularityof athleisure.
This trend has become sowidespread that calling it a
trend seems inadequate.
It's a global movement.
It's a cultural fixation.
(26:19):
Athleisure is now acceptable innearly every setting, including
the workplace, as people blendthese pieces with more
traditional fashion items.
From 2012 to 2019, the globalathleisure market grew by 42%,
reaching a value of $270 billion, with continued growth
(26:40):
projected.
Forbes predicts that sneakerswill surpass dress shoes as the
largest footwear category,reflecting the shift toward
styles that combine streetwearand athletic wear.
Um, we do have some concerns ofathleisure.
Critiques of athleisure oftenpoint to the blurring of
(27:01):
professional boundaries in theworkplace, arguing that its
casual aesthetic can underminethe formality traditionally
expected in professionalsettings.
Um, I kind of agree as a hater.
However, speaking facts, withcareful attention to the fabric,
(27:22):
quality and the maintenance ofthe pieces, it is possible to
wear athleisure without lookingunkempt or kind of like raggedy.
And highlighting the importanceof choosing high quality pieces
remains kind of a top prioritywhen deciding if your athleisure
(27:42):
is appropriate to wear to work.
Environmental sustainability isa huge concern, as the
production of athleisuregarments frequently involves
using synthetic products thatcan harm the environment.
The trend's fast-paced nature,encouraging frequent purchases
to keep up with theever-changing styles and trends,
(28:02):
exacerbates issues of waste andoverconsumption.
Additionally, the chemicalsused in athleisure, such as dyes
, solvents and a bunch ofchemicals that I can't pronounce
, have raised environmentalconcerns due to their impact.
In response to that, brandslike Patagonia and Allbirds have
(28:26):
made conscious efforts topromote sustainability by using
eco-friendly materials and greenbusiness practices.
Another criticism of athleisureis that it perpetuates body
standards and exclusivity withinthe fashion industry, many
athleisure brands offeringlimited size ranges and lack of
(28:48):
representation in diverse bodytypes, reinforcing societal
norms of an ideal body,especially in a post-Ozempic
world.
This lack of inclusivityhighlights the need for a
fashion industry to strive to bebetter be better in
representing people, be betterin ensuring all people, of all
(29:09):
different shapes and sizes, canbe comfortable in whatever
you're promoting.
Just be just hey.
Be better, be better, be better.
Um, athleisure is crazy.
Why do I not like it?
It I okay.
(29:30):
It's not that I don't like it,it it's okay.
Here it's too comfortable andthat's a good thing.
But also a bad thing, becausewhen I think of comfort, I think
of being lazy.
So if I'm comfortable, I canlay on the couch, and if I lay
on the couch, I'm laying on thecouch.
(29:51):
So for me to be productive andactive and doing my talk of my
shit, I can't wear leggings.
I mean I can, but then I don'twork.
So you tell me, the popularityof athleisure is set to continue
(30:15):
rising as individualsincreasingly prioritize comfort,
recitality and an activelifestyle and bumbling all those
up into their fashion choices.
The unique blend of sportypracticality and everyday chic
resonates with the modernconsumer.
I mean, we're beingfear-mongered left and right
(30:38):
about a looming recession.
Of course they're going tochoose an economically sound
fashion choice where they canwear it more than once a month.
They're going to choose to weara piece as much as they can
getting their money's worth,which I definitely understand.
I just wish it looked better.
(30:59):
As design choices evolve,athleisure is poised to
incorporate more fashion-forwardinnovations, merging athletic
aesthetics with high-end fashionelements.
Designers will likelyexperiment with new silhouettes,
prints and details to creategarments that support
performance while remainingstylish and on-trend.
Brands like Athleta exemplifiesthis shift, promoting size,
(31:21):
inclusivity and principles ofself-love and confidence,
setting an inspiring example forthe industry.
Despite criticisms regardingprofessional boundaries,
sustainability and inclusivity,the athleisure industry has
shown a readiness to adapt andevolve.
By promoting sustainability,broadening inclusivity and
(31:42):
continually innovating in design, the future of athleisure
appears vibrant and prosperous.
So that's athleisure.
She's cute or whatever.
I still will be its number onehater while wearing athleisure
in my free time, so don'tbelieve everything.
(32:04):
I say um because I'm actually.
I'm not wearing sweatpantsright now.
Usually when I film, I'mwearing sweatpants because I'm
tired.
But yeah, I am athleisure'sbiggest hater just purely
because I want to and I've madeit my personality, so I can't
really go back on it right now.
That's not really in the cards.
(32:28):
I hope you enjoyed this episode.
If you did go ahead and leaveus a rating on wherever you get
your podcasts Spotify, applePodcasts, youtube, I don't know
the radio who's to say.
If you want to keep up with us,we have all of our links in the
(32:49):
description below.
I am putting out a fall fashionguide on my sub stack.
The link is also in thedescription below if you want to
know what's on trend this fall.
You want to know what to wear,what colors are we going for?
Something a little more like onthe nose, rather than the
tiktok predictions that sayburgundies in this fall.
(33:12):
Yeah, hey, we know.
If you want something a littleless vague than that, I got you
on my sub stack.
Yeah, next week we're going totalk about the 2018 baddie
aesthetic epidemic.
It was a time to be alive.
I urge you to come back nextweek and hang out and, until
(33:33):
then, have a good week.
Try not to crumble under thecrippling anxiety of capitalism.
Bye, queens, love ya.
Hi everyone and welcome to Magnifique, your
favorite fashion trend podcast.
I'm your host, gabrielle.
And what the heck is up?
How are we doing?
Today we discuss athleisure andhow it's turned the fashion
space upside down.
And well, if you know one thingabout me, I am an athleisure
(00:22):
hater to my core.
Well, if you know one thingabout me, I am an athleisure
hater to my core.
But the facts presented intoday's episode, I can't dispute
them.
Athleisure is that girl.
But first, throughout the week,I have written down some notes
that I just wanted to talk aboutThings that have been on my
mind.
I titled the notes grievancesGrievances that I like to bring
(00:47):
up on the podcast.
However, none of them areactual grievances.
They are just things I thoughtof.
So if you'd like, you can fillme in on your weekend.
Please go ahead and do that nowor forever.
Hold your peace, because I'vegot a lot to say.
That sounds like such anamazing weekend.
I hope you had the best time.
Thank you for sharing.
(01:09):
That really means a lot.
So, grievance number one I amgoing to go ahead and call them
grievances, even though they arenot.
So gather around the campfire.
Grievance number one I've beenthinking a lot about rage rooms
and how, in theory, they'd bereally fun, but I don't think I
would let myself enjoy them inthe slightest, actually Not even
(01:31):
a little bit.
I think I'd smash stuff and likeget a little giggle.
I don't think it'd be astherapeutic as advertised,
because I just simply would notlet myself do what needs to be
done, which is scream, cry,throw things, scream some more,
(01:52):
break everything.
That's not me.
Let me backtrack.
That is me in my core.
That is not who I like to be.
That is not who I like to be.
I grew up crazy, but I don'tlike to be it.
How about that?
How about that?
Um, so, raid rooms, they'rereally not my thing, but they
(02:13):
sound really fun.
I do think about it a lot, aswell as boxing.
This wasn't on my grievancelist.
We're just going on a tangentnow.
Hang with me, we'll get toathleisure.
Boxing sounds really, reallyfun, and I do think it'd be good
for me to kind of like punchsomething.
Um, however, the actualpunching part feels really
(02:35):
violent and I just don't want todo that.
Again, that is me.
That's not me, though, andspeaking on not being able to do
things, another grievance I hadis therapy would probably be so
great for me.
Um, I don't think I could gobecause I sincerely believe I
would just lie to them.
They'd ask me stuff and I couldsee myself being like and just
(02:58):
completely out of politeness,truly and you know my heart I
could just see myself notdisclosing or pretending like
things are super chill and coolto try to make their life
diagnosing me so much easier andby so much easier I am going to
put on the best show so thatthey think I am normal, but just
(03:18):
need to talk things out.
Sometimes, you know, I'd belike, oh, my day is so good, so
good.
No, no trauma.
Responses came up today,nothing to discuss at all.
I actually haven't beendisassociating and maladaptive
daydreaming since birth at all,um, and I don't feel called out
(03:41):
by every TikTok that I watchdiagnosing me with this, that
and the other.
I just don't ruminate on thatall the time and I don't think
about it often at all andsometimes I don't have a
breakdown, thinking about myentire existence and no, like
I'm chilling.
(04:02):
I also had written down which atherapist would probably like me
to elaborate on further and Ijust simply refuse the fabric
rayon and I have a verylove-hate relationship.
My husband asked me toelaborate on what rayon is, so I
looked up on Google and rayonis a smooth fabric, sometimes
(04:23):
even silky, with a soft texturesimilar to cotton or linen.
The soft fabric has a fluiddrape, which means it hangs
slightly and flows a little bit,rather than being super rigid
and keeping its boxy shape.
I say I have a love-haterelationship because I think
(04:43):
it's such a fun fabric to rub inbetween your fingers.
Whenever I do wear rayon top Ijust so, guys, I can't explain
this I like to rub it in betweenmy fingers and it feels really
nice, the fabric, you know.
(05:03):
Anyway, I hate it thoughbecause of everything else about
it.
Everything else about rayonsucks, and I frequently remind
myself of the time that I triedto iron a rayon top.
It was wrinkly.
What was I to do?
And you know it did moveforward with melting before my
very eyes.
Um, that happened.
(05:28):
You know it did move forwardwith melting before my very eyes
.
Um, that happened.
Um, my last gripe, which is nota gripe in the slightest, but
I've really just been thinkingabout the girly pop music that
has been released throughout theentire year, and I feel like
this is a safe space to give mytop three albums of the year so
far and then we can move on toathleisure.
I'm so sorry for taking up somuch of your time talking about
(05:49):
me.
Number three spot we have MissSabrina with her Ovulation album
called Short and Sweet.
Everybody I've talked to aboutthis album.
I have prefaced with Miss GirlsFeeling Herself and she
uncovered a new level of longingwhich I love, for her really,
really is so awesome.
(06:10):
Number two is miss charlie xcxand brat.
She created a culturalphenomenon and I fear it's
drifting away as summer leavesus.
But brat, summer really revivedindy sleaze, with the
fear-mongering of anotherrecession around looming among
us me thinks that indy sleazeand like god, tier music is only
(06:36):
going to amplify as the economydoes not amplify.
But that's okay, because let'stalk about my number one album
of the year and I implore youall to listen to it right after
this episode because I need thedownloads.
Number one I have Miss Ponytails, ariana Grande, eternal
(06:56):
Sunshine album.
I have no notes.
There's only one skip on thisalbum and it's because I hate
the way that she says ordinaryin her song Ordinary Things.
I just hate the way it sounds.
It's probably a good song.
I've only listened to it oncebecause once I decided I hate
the way she sounds when she saysordinary.
I can't listen to that.
Um, one more thing.
(07:18):
Hear me loud and clear.
The moment Harry Styles drops analbum, I am invoking sexism,
and all of the women on my listget bummed down a peg.
For a British white man tostand at the number one spot,
harry Styles would be in thatspot and I don't care what he
puts out, I don't care, homies,get an agreement nomination for
(07:39):
that.
Based off of my research, hehas a two and a half year album
cycle and the last one came outin the spring, which means this
nun has to come out lateDecember-ish and based off of
his other fall album, which hereleased a single October 13th,
(08:04):
and I think we started gettingteasers in September.
So I'm thinking by the end ofSeptember we might hear
rumblings of a Harry Stylessingle and I'm sorry for the
person I'm gonna become.
That, just that's.
That's that.
Okay.
Enough about me, let's get towhat you all came here for
(08:25):
Athleisure.
Athleisure and I are nemesis,nemesis, nemesis.
That's my nemesis.
I think there are so manybetter ways to dress, but
unfortunately the collectivesociety disagrees with me, and
athleisure is a fashion trendthat is here to stay.
But what exactly is athleisureand what societal implications
(08:49):
has it brought on?
Athleisure is a word mergingathletic wear and leisure wear,
which contradict itself truly.
According to quote-unquotehistorical reports, athleisure
started as a fashion trend tolook athletic without the
presumption of doing anyphysical activity.
(09:11):
They weren't made for theintent to be worn for physical
activity, just to give theillusion.
We're going to hit a couplethrowbacks in this episode, so
first let's throw back to 1979,when the word athleisure was
first used in a Nation'sBusiness Magazine issue
(09:33):
describing the garment and shoesas being for those who wish to
appear athletic, women's wear.
Daily defined athleisure shoesas non-performance styles such
as canvas or suede.
In the late 19th and early 20thcentury, sportswear referred to
interchangeable separates wornby both athletes and spectators,
often made from knit or jerseymaterial to allow freedom of
(09:55):
movement, and Parisian designerJean Petit, credited with
creating the tennis skirt,helped popularize European
sportswear.
And by 1926, fogue noted that asignificant portion of daytime
fashion in Paris weresports-inspired, emphasizing the
(10:17):
practicality and youthfulnessof.
If you remember, in my CocoChanel episode, miss Gabrielle
was largely successful for hersportswear designs that were
revolutionary in the use of thejersey material, which again is
like a soft, breathable,stretchy material, often used
(10:37):
pre-Chanel as like undergarments, like for bras and panties.
While designers like Chanelmaintained couture qualities in
their sportswear, americandesigners like Claire McCardell
and Bonnie Cashin championed amore casual, practical approach.
Their designs, characterized byfunctionality and utilitarian
(11:08):
fabrics, lead the groundworksfor today's athleisure and in
the 40s, mccardell's creationepitomized American sportswear
aesthetics, while Cashin'semphasis on layering and
practicality further advancedthe trends.
Karen introduce her seven easypieces highlighting the
(11:39):
importance of an interchangeable, simple wardrobe, a concept
that resonated strongly with theathleisure movement.
Today, and following kind ofthe same thought, train of
tennis.
In 1892, the firstrubber-bottomed shoe, known as
the tennis shoe, were producedfor athletes to provide better
(11:59):
traction on the tennis courtAround.
The same time, intramuralsports gained popularity at the
US universities, with menwearing their athletic clothes
to class.
The 1920s saw the introductionof the polo shirt.
Any guess who was the one tointroduce it?
How about Lacoste?
Initially designed for tennisplayers as a breathable
(12:23):
alternative for theirlong-sleeve shirts.
It wasn't until later that theywere adopted by proper polo
players and throughout the 20thcentury, new aesthetic clothing
items such as gym shorts andrunning shoes were developed to
meet athletes' needs In the1930s, champion began producing
(12:47):
hoodies for American laborerswho were working in cold
conditions.
Before I move forward, can Ijust have like a little moment
of silence, or just a moment ofrecognition, for when Champion
used to be sold at Walmart?
I used to have a lot ofChampion gear in elementary
(13:10):
school when it was sold atWalmart and then it kind of had
a resurgence in the late 2010s2018-2019, but those bad boys
got expensive.
Listen, the American laborersdeserve to be mad at the prices
of Champion nowadays.
(13:30):
Anyway, the invention ofspandex by DuPont in 1958
further revolutionized athleticwear, providing the stretch and
flexibility foundational tocontemporary athleisure.
Adidas then contributed to thetrend by introducing
sport-to-street track suits in1963, which became a staple in
(13:55):
North American street culture bythe 1970s and gained further
popularity in 1980s hip-hopmusic videos.
The 70s and 80s marked a verysignificant turning point for
athleisure, as exercise becamemore mainstream and apparel
companies began designingclothes specifically for
(14:16):
physical activity.
This is where we really startseeing the modern perspective of
athleisure.
These garments featuredadvanced fabrics with
moisture-wicking, breathabilityand odor-wicking properties.
Over time, athleisure evolvedfrom sports-specific wear to
versatile apparel suitable forvarious activities.
(14:38):
Look at what you're wearingright now.
You might be wearing some formof athleisure Tennis shoes, polo
shirts.
Come on, you're wearing it.
We're all wearing athleisureright now.
Athleisure took on many formsbefore in 2016, when
Merriam-Webster added athleisureto their dictionary.
(14:59):
Its definition is, as quoted,casual clothing designed to be
worn for both exercising and forgeneral use.
It was from here on thatathleisure would begin to take
form as a multifaceted way ofdressing.
Athleisure is everywhere, andas much as she is my nemesis, I
cannot get away from her.
(15:19):
The early 2000s saw a rise ofbrands like Lululemon, which
revolutionized the fashionindustry with stylish workout
clothes that can be worn beyondthe gym, and by 2018, a survey
revealed that upper-income teenswere significantly more likely
to favor athleisure brandscompared to a decade earlier.
(15:41):
High fashion brands alsorecognized the potential of
athleisure collaborating withsports brands for capsule
collections.
Designers like Louis Vuitton,karl Lagerfeld and Gucci
rejuvenated their images bypartnering with brands like
Supreme Vans and Guccirejuvenated their images by
partnering with brands likeSupreme Vans and North Face.
We did mention Lose a Lemon andHigh Income Teens.
(16:04):
I have a little section aboutthat in a second, so I'm not
forgetting you.
I do have a tangent to go onAthlete shirt as we know it
today has its roots in acentury-long evolution of
American sportswear,transforming into a unique trend
that emphasizes comfort andleverages advanced synthetic
fibers.
(16:25):
A century ago, clothing choiceswere dictated by specific events
, but modern athleisure catersto those seeking a versatile
wardrobe that can transitionseamlessly from errands to work
to the gym.
I fear gone are the days ofchanging outfits every hour to
match the vibes.
(16:45):
We knew that.
We knew that.
We knew that.
We knew that.
I don't want to come toconclusions and like come to
reality and face the facts.
I'd love to go back to thosesimpler times.
You're telling me I get todebut a new outfit every few
hours.
Count me the frick in, though.
We did discuss in the gildedage episode that only wealthy
(17:10):
and privileged people got tofully participate in that era of
time.
Duh, I know I'd be working at atextile mill, I know, but the
things that I would do to be agilded age socialite is
immeasurable, to speak mygod-given truth.
But as American fashion becameincreasingly sports-oriented,
(17:35):
the industry responded toconsumers' demands for
practicality and style.
In today's fashion landscape,athleisure has become a, if not
the dominant trend, seamlesslymerging athletic wear with
leisure wear to create aversatile clothing and wardrobe
(17:55):
that appeals to our active,health-conscious and style-savvy
society.
This trend phenomenon culturalevolution has blurred the lines
between active wear and casualclothing, allowing individuals
to transition from work to gymto other daily activities.
(18:17):
I've said this like five timesin this episode Asleisure is
that girl.
I hate that girl.
Asleisure garments are designedto provide comfort and ease of
movement while maintaining afashionable appearance, striking
the balance between performanceand style.
Popular items like leggings andyoga pants exemplify this trend
(18:40):
, offering comfort andflexibility through moisturizing
fabrics and various designs.
So various designs would belike sports leggings in
particular.
They are tailored specificallyfor athletic activities, often
incorporating compressiontechnologies to target muscle
support, making athleisure apractical and stylish choice for
(19:02):
modern wardrobes.
The athleisure market, valued at300 billion, continues to grow,
with designers leveragingmaterials that are both
practical and stylish.
Many designers have launchedtheir own athleisure lines or
incorporated some form ofathleisure into their
collections.
(19:22):
So some celebrities who haveentered the market are kate
hudson with her FableticsFabletics is everywhere.
Beyonce's Ivy Park I haven'theard of Ivy Park since they
launched.
Let me know how they're doing.
And Rihanna's Fenty Puma I alsohaven't heard of them since
(19:46):
they launched, but I feel likethat was more recent.
So they launched all of theseto further cement athleisure's
place in contemporary fashion.
It should be noted that anotherathleisure collection that my
husband foams out the mouth foris Easy and Easy Gap from Kanye
(20:08):
West.
He proofread my episode so headded a little note.
He said it's true, guys, I ownover 10 pieces from this
collection and he is on eBayevery day looking for more Yeezy
Gap.
So if you have a plug, abe isyour man.
Popular athleisure items includesomething to the extent of
(20:32):
sweatpants, hoodies, sweatshirts, track pants, high-rise
leggings and or baseball caps.
The movement is supported byadvancements in textile
materials and technical fabrics,making modern activewear more
durable, breathable, lightweight, stretchy and fashionable.
Technological advancements intextile innovation have enhanced
(20:58):
the functionality of athleisuregarments, making them more
breathable, lightweight,stretchy, versatile, comfortable
, durable.
This, that and the other, this,that and the other.
These improvements have allowedathleisure to transition from
gym exclusive wear to acceptableeveryday attire.
(21:18):
Modern athleisure emphasizesfashion over mere functionality,
with different styles anddifferent colors and fabrics.
It should be noted that colorsplay a huge role in kind of the
acceptability of athleisure.
I know we saw its big peak inthe 70s and 80s.
We should also note thedifferent color schemes that
(21:40):
came with the 70s and 80s andhow that differs tremendously
from the trending colors now.
Not that it was like huge, butwe should.
You know, today's colorpalettes are very muted and
neutral and it is easier to getaway with athleisure as it's
predominantly black, white, gray, brown very easy to mix in with
(22:05):
your everyday wear, whereasback in the 70s and 80s it was
if you're wearing athleisure,you're wearing athleisure.
You're wearing a bright redtracksuit, bright blue bodycon
suit with pink leg warmers.
It was harder to mix it witheveryday wear, but the modern
(22:28):
athleisure trend gainedsignificant momentum in the
mid-2010s, building off thewidespread adoption of yoga
pants in the mid to late 2000s.
These garments offered northamerican women the convenience
of wearing the same outfit onmultiple occasions without
frequent changes.
Um, I don't really remember apre-athleisure timeline, so
(22:53):
those more experienced me let meknow your trauma with having to
change your outfit multipletimes a day.
Athleisure really filled a gapin the market by transforming
athletic wear from purelyutilitarian to stylish and
fashionable.
The decline in blue jean salesalso contributed to the
(23:19):
athleisure rise, as it became apreferred choice for casual wear
and young adults andfitness-conscious consumers.
We simply must must discuss theleggings epidemic of the early
2010s.
I remember being in middleschool when I first discovered
that Forever 21 sold leggingsand it was like the go-to place
(23:40):
to get leggings.
It was my first exposure toleggings and we should talk
about how they were sosee-through, so see-through, so
see-through.
Yet every girl wore them out ofthe house and ran them into the
ground.
In high school, I remember myexclusive like uniform as
(24:02):
leggings and a hoodie and myConverse shoes.
Admittedly and embarrassingly,I wore them into the grave.
They were so susceptible toholes, they were the thinnest
piece of fabric you could everhave, but when they got holes, I
(24:27):
just wore black shortsunderneath.
Yeah, it was very evident.
Let's talk about post-COVIDathleisure, though, because
covid really, in my opinion, putthe nail in the coffin for
people nearly exclusivelywearing activewear.
I've said it once and I'll sayit again a million times over
covid was a catalyst for peoplenot being able to dress
themselves.
The covid19 pandemicsignificantly accelerated the
(24:47):
adoption of athleisure,cementing its place in everyday
fashion and, with the shift toremote work, I wish, and the
elimination of daily commutes,traditional office dress codes
have become more relaxed,allowing for more casual,
comfortable attire, attire andsocial media platforms, along
(25:13):
with celebrities, have played acrucial role in promoting
athleisure, showcasing theiroutfits in their daily lives and
transforming the trend cyclesfrom niche to mainstream.
Throughout the pandemic,everybody wore sweatsuits and
Emma Chamberlain rediscoveredflared leggings.
A lot of the clean girlaesthetic is active wear
(25:36):
athleisure.
But, yes, even fashion iconZach Karl Lagerfeld, who once
criticized jogging bottoms, hasnow embraced sports-inspired
collections.
Rip Karl Lagerfeld.
I actually have heard that he'snot a great person.
That's neither here nor there.
(25:56):
I will do an entire episode andwe can figure that out on our
own.
The pandemic also spurred arenewed interest in health and
fitness, further boosting thepopularity of athleisure.
Further boosting the popularityof athleisure.
This trend has become sowidespread that calling it a
trend seems inadequate.
It's a global movement.
It's a cultural fixation.
(26:19):
Athleisure is now acceptable innearly every setting, including
the workplace, as people blendthese pieces with more
traditional fashion items.
From 2012 to 2019, the globalathleisure market grew by 42%,
reaching a value of $270 billion, with continued growth
(26:40):
projected.
Forbes predicts that sneakerswill surpass dress shoes as the
largest footwear category,reflecting the shift toward
styles that combine streetwearand athletic wear.
Um, we do have some concerns ofathleisure.
Critiques of athleisure oftenpoint to the blurring of
(27:01):
professional boundaries in theworkplace, arguing that its
casual aesthetic can underminethe formality traditionally
expected in professionalsettings.
Um, I kind of agree as a hater.
However, speaking facts, withcareful attention to the fabric,
(27:22):
quality and the maintenance ofthe pieces, it is possible to
wear athleisure without lookingunkempt or kind of like raggedy.
And highlighting the importanceof choosing high quality pieces
remains kind of a top prioritywhen deciding if your athleisure
(27:42):
is appropriate to wear to work.
Environmental sustainability isa huge concern, as the
production of athleisuregarments frequently involves
using synthetic products thatcan harm the environment.
The trend's fast-paced nature,encouraging frequent purchases
to keep up with theever-changing styles and trends,
(28:02):
exacerbates issues of waste andoverconsumption.
Additionally, the chemicalsused in athleisure, such as dyes
, solvents and a bunch ofchemicals that I can't pronounce
, have raised environmentalconcerns due to their impact.
In response to that, brandslike Patagonia and Allbirds have
(28:26):
made conscious efforts topromote sustainability by using
eco-friendly materials and greenbusiness practices.
Another criticism of athleisureis that it perpetuates body
standards and exclusivity withinthe fashion industry, many
athleisure brands offeringlimited size ranges and lack of
(28:48):
representation in diverse bodytypes, reinforcing societal
norms of an ideal body,especially in a post-Ozempic
world.
This lack of inclusivityhighlights the need for a
fashion industry to strive to bebetter be better in
representing people, be betterin ensuring all people, of all
(29:09):
different shapes and sizes, canbe comfortable in whatever
you're promoting.
Just be just hey.
Be better, be better, be better.
Um, athleisure is crazy.
Why do I not like it?
It I okay.
(29:30):
It's not that I don't like it,it it's okay.
Here it's too comfortable andthat's a good thing.
But also a bad thing, becausewhen I think of comfort, I think
of being lazy.
So if I'm comfortable, I canlay on the couch, and if I lay
on the couch, I'm laying on thecouch.
(29:51):
So for me to be productive andactive and doing my talk of my
shit, I can't wear leggings.
I mean I can, but then I don'twork.
So you tell me, the popularityof athleisure is set to continue
(30:15):
rising as individualsincreasingly prioritize comfort,
recitality and an activelifestyle and bumbling all those
up into their fashion choices.
The unique blend of sportypracticality and everyday chic
resonates with the modernconsumer.
I mean, we're beingfear-mongered left and right
(30:38):
about a looming recession.
Of course they're going tochoose an economically sound
fashion choice where they canwear it more than once a month.
They're going to choose to weara piece as much as they can
getting their money's worth,which I definitely understand.
I just wish it looked better.
(30:59):
As design choices evolve,athleisure is poised to
incorporate more fashion-forwardinnovations, merging athletic
aesthetics with high-end fashionelements.
Designers will likelyexperiment with new silhouettes,
prints and details to creategarments that support
performance while remainingstylish and on-trend.
Brands like Athleta exemplifiesthis shift, promoting size,
(31:21):
inclusivity and principles ofself-love and confidence,
setting an inspiring example forthe industry.
Despite criticisms regardingprofessional boundaries,
sustainability and inclusivity,the athleisure industry has
shown a readiness to adapt andevolve.
By promoting sustainability,broadening inclusivity and
(31:42):
continually innovating in design, the future of athleisure
appears vibrant and prosperous.
So that's athleisure.
She's cute or whatever.
I still will be its number onehater while wearing athleisure
in my free time, so don'tbelieve everything.
(32:04):
I say um because I'm actually.
I'm not wearing sweatpantsright now.
Usually when I film, I'mwearing sweatpants because I'm
tired.
But yeah, I am athleisure'sbiggest hater just purely
because I want to and I've madeit my personality, so I can't
really go back on it right now.
That's not really in the cards.
(32:28):
I hope you enjoyed this episode.
If you did go ahead and leaveus a rating on wherever you get
your podcasts Spotify, applePodcasts, youtube, I don't know
the radio who's to say.
If you want to keep up with us,we have all of our links in the
(32:49):
description below.
I am putting out a fall fashionguide on my sub stack.
The link is also in thedescription below if you want to
know what's on trend this fall.
You want to know what to wear,what colors are we going for?
Something a little more like onthe nose, rather than the
tiktok predictions that sayburgundies in this fall.
(33:12):
Yeah, hey, we know.
If you want something a littleless vague than that, I got you
on my sub stack.
Yeah, next week we're going totalk about the 2018 baddie
aesthetic epidemic.
It was a time to be alive.
I urge you to come back nextweek and hang out and, until
(33:33):
then, have a good week.
Try not to crumble under thecrippling anxiety of capitalism.
Bye, queens, love ya.
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