The Trend That's Poised to Be the Next Athleisure

Predicting that any singular aesthetic will stand to replace athleisure is kind of a big claim to make. We saw the rise of leggings, joggers, and tracksuits take such a Millennial Pink–level hold on the trend cycle, which is to say a really, really strong hold on trends. Don't get too worried if you're among the hoards of spandex-clad athleisure fans, though, as it's not going anywhere anytime soon. Instead, we're seeing a micro-trend bubbling up that's on the verge of blowing up.

But where leggings and sneakers defined athleisure, canvas "carpenter" pants and heavy-duty boots define 2018's workwear trend. Grounded in utterly practical items, it's a trend that's inspired by everything that serves a clear function. The antithesis of fashion for the sake of fashion. Make no mistake, as the issues currently plaguing the American political climate have put a sinister veil over the country. And since fashion always finds a poignant way of addressing the cultural zeitgeist, it's almost as if a shift toward the pragmatic is our way of arming ourselves for the worst-case scenario. I think the emergency clothing that appeared in Calvin Klein's F/W 18 collection reflected this sentiment beautifully.

To explain everything that defines the workwear aesthetic, we'd also like to CC you on our breakdown of skater, streetwear, and Hypebae style, all of which share overlapping themes like an emphasis on tougher, androgynous style and a bit of an ironic sensibility. Ahead we're breaking down every item that defines the trend.

Thanks to Dickie's, the workwear pants are a cult-favorite among Hypebae girls.

The electric shade is oddly reminiscent of traffic cones. In other words: All eyes are on you.

A trend that will literally stop traffic.

Pairs yours with a crop top and sneakers.

… or a bandeau top and platform boots.

Wear chunky-soled boots like Dr. Marten's and Timberlands to toughen up just about any outfit.

Pair the boots with a delicate handbag to create an intriguing contrast.

Hypebae girls already know a thing or two about a strong chain belt game, so we're taking notes from them on styling the cool metalwork.

Chain belts meet their ultimate match with cargo pants.

The fact that we feel like we could easily change our oil in this trend kind of says it all.

Safety first, am I right?

By no means is athleisure on the way out, though. See this pretty microtrend that's making me put my black leggings on hold.