I'm Fussy About Workout Clothes, But These 10 Legging-and-Top Sets Are Perfect
I’m not sure exactly when my love of activewear began. It could've been when I first started taking my dance training more seriously, or maybe it was post-COVID during which activewear became my daily uniform with nowhere else other than the supermarket or the park to go for our daily outings. Either way, I now have an overflowing drawer of activewear, and I can firmly say that is one of the most-worn and-loved sartorial categories.
That said, there are also many pieces I bought early on that didn’t live up to their waist-cinching, hip-holding and butt-lifting promises or that simply didn’t wear well. Not great for me, but great news for you, as I have now tried and tested pretty much all of the most well-known sportswear brands, and I’m pleased to report I have some firm favourites.
What to look for when shopping for activewear tends to be personal, specifically down to what sport, if any, we are making the purchase for. I always look for medium- to high-impact support in my sports bras, and with leggings, I look for a high waist, zero transparency and compressive fabrics to hold me in, give me confidence and support my back. I also frequently wear my smarter sports leggings with a sweatshirt and crisp white trainers when doing the school run, so I tend to go for block colours rather than prints. Casual and polished is the name of the game.
So whether you're vegging out or hitting your first of Pilates class of 2024, here are my top legging and top sets to buy right now.
Best Legging and Top Sets For Workouts:
The V-waist detail is super flattering and helps to define the waist.
I would also wear these with a chunky knit and boots for errand running days.
These bum-sculpting two-tone leggings get a yes from me.
This cotton top is great for everyday use or low-impact sports like yoga. I love that it has a hidden layer for extra warmth, too.
These cropped leggings are my go-to for yoga classes.
A cosy fleece will be your hero for outdoor workouts.
The pocket for you phone/ keys/ card makes these leggings a winner for me.
Leopard print is making a comeback, so why not use it as a way to update your activewear edit?
I love mismatching different colour tops and leggings to liven up my workout look.
The Align leggings are Lululemon's best-selling leggings for good reason.
Up Next: How to Wear Leggings: 7 Easy Outfits to Try
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Lily Russo-Bah is a London-based freelance fashion editor and the founder of beachwear shopping destination Beachflamingo.com. A fashion expert who started her career at Grazia magazine in 2008, where she worked across both digital and print as fashion editor, compiling shopping pages and styling main fashion, and in 2014 was awarded Gold as one of the top five journalists in MHP’s Journalists to Watch. She is known for her expert eye, compiling killer edits and her obsession with anything pink. She is a self-confessed swimwear obsessive with so many bikinis she doesn’t have the time to count them. From runway trends to the high-street hits you need to add to cart right now, one of her favourite pastimes is spotting the next cult buy and under-the-radar designers. When she isn’t scouring the shops for the next must-have trends, she can be found dancing Brazilian samba and booking her next sunshine getaway.
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