Here’s how to upgrade your sweaty staples with an athleisure uniform that looks good in the gym or during fashion week

It’s been years since the athleisure craze hit the market and while there have been shifts in the industry—from high fashion brands reinventing activewear with fervent collaborations to more traditional performance brands such as Under Armour returning to its roots—athletes and non-performing individuals alike are ultimately committed to the laid-back quality and comfort the style weaves into their way of life.

There is still an electrifying appeal to the idea of clothes that activate your inner sportsperson (seriously) or embrace that extra spring in your step with designs that show off your physique. But how do you nail athleisure without looking like you’re stuck in the past? Here’s how:

Pay attention to fabric

Basic activewear commandment that still holds true today is that the pieces should be driven by threads that are soft and lightweight enough for you to bend and flex.

Basic athleisure rule: Threads should be soft and lightweight enough for you to bend and flex — Cap, long-sleeved shirt, shorts, compression tights, and shoes, all from Adidas

Don’t be afraid of color

The superior power of color in changing your mood is reason enough to don this new take on a track suit—bright, all-weather outerwear perfect for pre- and post-workout duties. Put on a cool pair of Oakley sunglasses and the result is crazy cool.

Put on a pair of sunglasses for a crazy cool athleisure look

The new athleisure tracksuit is one that pops—literally

Athleisure should be perfect for pre- and post-workout duties — Oakley Pitchman R Polished Prizm Black sunglasses; Champion coach jacket from The Nines; Supreme pants from Season Pass; and Adidas shoes

Focus on layering

Technically, bulk isn’t necessarily a bad thing—if you know what you’re doing. This look is more street really with the windbreaker but pair it with cycling shorts to tone down the volume. And for serious cyclists, your Oakley Flight Jacket sunglasses can come in handy for more fashionable moments.

Windbreaker and cycling shorts? That's athleisure meets street

Your flight jacket comes in handy for athleisure moments like this — Oakley Flight Jacket Matte White sunglasses; Adidas hoodie and coach jacket; Uniqlo Dry-Ex shorts; and Adidas shoes

Comfort is still key

But even so, diversify from tapered or slim-fit sweats and joggers with more relaxed pieces. Comfy but not too baggy. Loose enough for a trendier take but not too lumpy that it comes off lazy. Fitted silhouettes are nice and all but variety such as this statement logo top adds interest to your wardrobe.

Relaxed sweats are still good in the athleisure book

Add a statement to your athleisure look — Nike x A-Cold Wall cap from Season Pass; Champion crewneck sweater and pants from The Nines; and Nike shoes

All about balance

Staples are called that for a reason but instead of pairing neutral joggers with a basic tee, try this neon option from Adidas—with equally vivid socks—to distinguish yourself among the sea of blacks and whites. The key here is to break these strong colors up.

Try a neon tee with equally vivid socks to amp up your athleisure wear

The key to vivid athleisure is to break it up with dark tones — Uniqlo dry-stretch hoodie; Adidas shirt, pants, and shoes

Experiment with style choices

Bring a little more collegiate finesse to your athleisure wardrobe with overshirts and sweat shorts that are durable enough for pretty much any kind of workout session. Sure, the mock neck and long-sleeved shirt combo isn’t something you’d find in the gym worn together for obvious reasons but this look is an elegant and fresh alternative after a shower.