Amazon Athleisure Outfits (that are cute & comfortable!)

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Athleisure is not the same as workout gear. Today, I’m sharing the difference between the two and how to still look cute (and comfortable!) when rocking athleisure, especially as the weather starts to cool warm up. I wear athleisure at least once or twice a week while working from home (here’s my work-from-home setup). Over the last year or so, I’ve developed quite a collection of athleisure pieces that I throw together to create cute outfits, and since spring is almost upon us, I wanted to share my favorite warm-weather athleisure finds.

I have more tips below on how to make a cute athleisure outfit, but let’s start with my favorite pieces!

Cute Athleisure Outfits (That are Polished and Comfortable)

Dresses and Sets

Two-Piece Varley Lookalike Set

One of my favorite athleisure options for warmer weather is this Varley lookalike two-piece short set. I have the light blue colorway and wear it non-stop in spring, summer, and fall. It’s a sweat set material, so it’s super comfortable, but the cut and the fact that it’s a matching set make it feel super polished and on-trend. I wear a size small.

If you want to try the real Varley version, see the Magnolia Half Zip Tank here and the matching Varley shorts here.

Millie Sleeveless Polo Dress

I’m always drawn to sleeveless tennis dress options like this Millie Sleeveless Polo Dress! I love the green contrast and the zippered collar.

YPB neoKNIT Unlined Mini Dress

Abercercrombie always makes really fun athleisure dresses, and I love this year’s YPB neoKNIT Unlined Mini Dress. It’s unlined, so you’d want to wear a sports bra and potentially biker shorts with it, but there’s something about wearing your own undergarments (rather than built-in) that is really nice, in my opinion. My favorite biker shorts for a scenario like this are these Amazon bikers shorts. In this case though, opt for the 4″ length since the dress looks a tad short.

Tuckernuck Americana McKay Tennis Dress

I love all things red, white, and blue, and this Americana McKay Tennis Dress is right up my alley! The neckline is feminine, and the A-line fit is nice for all-day wear. I can’t tell if there are built-in shorts, so I’d assume you need a pair of biker shorts for underneath.

Athleta Transcend Dress

I love the simplicity of this Transcend Dress from Athleta. It has a built-in shelf bra, built-in shorts, and little stasher pockets. Black is my go-to since I can style it with any sneakers (maybe these cute pink Gazelles), and accessories.

Tops

New Take Crewneck T-Shirt

My current favorite athleisure top is the New Take Crewneck T-Shirt from Nordstrom. It’s boxy and relaxed but cropped so that it doesn’t totally swallow my petite frame. I wear a size small and own this in a few different colors. I shared a quick try-on video in this top on LTK that you can see here.

Essential Polished Body-Skimming Tee

Another go-to athleisure top is this Essential Polished Body-Skimming Tee from Abercrombie. It’s important to have a well-fitted white tee to pair with shorts, skirts, and leggings, and I always order mine from Abercrombie. They have a few different t-shirt styles, but this Essential Polished Body-Skimming Tee has a biopolish finish that looks clean and feels crisp to the touch. It isn’t totally fitted but does skim the body and hits right at the waist.

Ribbed Long Sleeved Tee

I looked high and low for a good long-sleeve tee this past winter and finally found it on Amazon. To make any cute athleisure look happen, you need simple tees to wear underneath your outer layers. This specific white ribbed tee is amazing because it’s fitted but and somewhat thick. You can’t see my bra through it, which is essential to me. I wear a size small in this top.

Bottoms

Quince Court Sport Pleated Skirt

A cute skort is an athleisure essential for the warm weather months. Not only is it functional for a quick walk with the kids, but it’s also polished and adds a feminine flare to an otherwise casual outfit. This Quince Court Sport Pleated Skirt is one of my favorites because it’s under $40 and comes in 3 colors. The pleats are cute and preppy, and the length is great for a 40-year-old mom like me. Like any good skort, it has built-in shorts to provide extra coverage and discreet pockets. The fit runs TTS, and I wear an XS.

Speed Up High-Rise Lined Short 4″

When I want a pair of casual workout shorts for my athleisure outfit, I go for the Lululemom Speed Up High-Rise Lined Short in the 4″ length. I used to think the Speed Up short was way too short, but once I tried their longer inseam, I understood why everyone loved them so much. I have a hot pink colorway, but I love that Lululemon releases new colors often. To keep my outfit on the more polished side (rather than looking like I came straight from a workout), I pair these shorts with a well-fitted t-shirt and cute New Balance sneakers.

HeyNuts Pure&Plain and Workout Pro Leggings

While I don’t wear leggings a ton in the warmer months, they are my go-to in cooler early spring. My favorite leggings for everyday wear are Amazon’s HeyNuts leggings. They’re 90% as good as Lululemon Align leggings. I have them in a few different colors because I wear them so often. The fit is true to size– I have a size XS in these. The outfit below consists of the HeyNuts leggings, a Zella nylon vest from Nordstrom, my favorite long-sleeve tee from Amazon, and New Balance 327 sneakers.

I have a full review of my favorite Amazon leggings linked here, and I also shared how to style leggings for all occasions – even a date night or the office – here.

Hot Pink Leggings

Another pair of leggings I own and love are these pink CRZ leggings, and the color is easier to wear in warm weather. They’re slightly thinner than the HeyNuts pair, so I didn’t buy them in black, but I just had to have them in hot pink. I actually got the matching tank with them. However, when I wear them for athleisure, rather than pilates or the gym, I pair them with a white tee. I have a size XS.

CRZ Wide Leg Lounge Pants

Another pair of pants that I’ll wear all the way into warmer spring– this pair of wide-leg lounge pants is a perfect look for less for the Vuori Villa Wideleg pants. They’re smooth and cozy in the best way, but the fit is flattering too. The material is very lightweight, so even though they’re full-length, they’ll be comfortable for cooler days this spring. My only qualm with these is that they’re long on me (normal, when you’re 5’1″), so I have to roll the waistband once. But that hasn’t stopped me from wearing them! I have a size small.

Shoes

New Balance 327 Sneakers

My favorite sneakers for any athleisure outfit is the New Balance 327. They’re fitted and look “slim” on the foot, which is so much more flattering than a bulky sneaker (see all of my favorite trendy sneakers here). They’re right under $100 and come in a few different colors. I always size up in sneakers, so I do the same in these.

Adidas Gazelles

These light pink Adidas Gazelles are my most recent purchase and I LOVE them. They’re slim on my foot and come in tons of colors. Not only do they work well with athleisure outfits, but they’re also perfect with jeans and casual dresses.

On Cloudmonsters

I got the On Cloudmonsters during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale last year, and they’re so comfortable. They look more like running shoes than the other sneakers in this post, but I love having a sportier option for athleisure, too. I particularly like the black and white color option.

Nike Waffle Debut Sneakers

Another pair of sneakers I’ve had for a while and can’t seem to part with. These Nike Debut sneakers come in a few colors, but I like the neutral tan colorway. They’re under $75 and super comfortable. Fit is TTS.

Accessories

Reversible Quilted Vest

A lightweight vest is a great transitional layer for the spring, and this Reversible Quilted Vest from A.Putnam. It’s designed for golf, so it’s very comfortable and functional for movement, but the quilted design and scalloped hem make it feminine and polished for everyday athleisure. One side shows the quilted periwinkle color, and the reverse has a geo-cream pattern. In warmer weather, I pair this vest with a skort, a long-sleeve tee, and sneakers.

Belt Bag

I carry my Amazon belt bag almost every time I wear an athleisure outfit. It’s practical AND trendy, which is a rare combo, ha! I compared it to the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag and they are almost identical, other than the Lululemon logo, so I highly recommend the Amazon version since it’s easier to find in stock and much cheaper. The one below is Lululemon because it was more conveniently located when I took these photos. You can see some snaps of the Amazon version on me in this belt bag review and comparison.

What is athleisure attire?

First, let’s start with the basics. Is “athleisure” even a real word? Actually, yes, according to Miriam Webster.

Since the term athleisure is relatively new, it’s totally fair that some may not even know what it really means! Essentially, the term athleisure refers to clothing that’s comfortable and athletic but also cute and pulled together enough to wear in public. And in my mind, it doesn’t count if I can’t wear sneakers with it.

Is athleisure still in style?

Sure is. And I don’t see it going anywhere for a WHILE.

My wardrobe is slowly filling up with matching workout sets, lounge pants, and cute pullovers, so I feel like I’ve finally found my groove in terms of my activewear style. And let’s be real: the timing couldn’t be better, considering I have a wild toddler and 1 year old to chase around.

What’s the difference between athletic wear and athleisure?

In general, athleisure outfits are fashion-forward, pulled together, and can be worn appropriately in public, while athletic wear is worn for workouts. But honestly, I don’t believe in strict “rules” for fashion. There are many pieces in my closet that I could wear for a workout and also wear as a cute outfit. And depending on what kind of workouts you do, you might have a ton of crossover. However, as a runner, there are some things I wear for workouts that I absolutely wouldn’t wear as “street style,” like my running shoes. I find that running shoes aren’t usually very cute (and my running shoes are strictly for runs, which helps them last longer), so I have a pair of cute (non-running) sneakers that I wear with athleisure outfits.

While you could wear the same clothes for workouts that you also wear as athleisure, my personal differentiation, and what helps me feel cute and polished, is NOT wearing the same clothes for workouts that I wear as cute athleisure. I need the mental separation between the two in order to feel like I’m polished in my athleisure. I’ve also found that HOW I wear an outfit dictates if it’s athleisure or workout gear. I always style my hair and put on at least a little makeup so that I feel pulled together for the day.

Again, there are no rules. You do you!

If you’re working on building out an athleisure wardrobe, here are the staples I’d start with:

1. A good pair of shorts, a skort, or leggings
2. A nice white tee (long-sleeved or short, depending on the season)
3. A cute pullover or vest to wear on top if needed
4. Cute (non-running) sneakers

Is Lululemon considered athleisure?

Absolutely! I love to wear my Align leggings and yoga pants in the cooler months for athleisure outfits, especially as an alternative to baggy sweatpants. And I also find that their Scuba pullover is a much cuter option than wearing any of my old hoodies.

I’ll continue to add to this post as I find more great pieces! I hope you find a couple fashionable pieces to add to your athleisure style.

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