The Comfy Weekend Basic That Replaced My Leggings

The Comfy Weekend Basic That Replaced My Leggings

When I first added a workout dress to my wardrobe (specifically the Outdoor Voices workout dress, of course), I was completely unaware of the frenzy it would induce in me. Buying one dress inevitably led to me buying another, and then another, and sooner rather than later, I found myself never wanting to wear anything else. I’m not exaggerating when I say that workout dresses are the most comfortable and flattering pieces of clothing you can throw on.

Call me biased, but I think the workout dress is arguably one of the best trends to emerge in recent years. I think it’s safe to say that this dress has finally left “trend cycle territory” and cemented its status as an athleisure staple in many of our closets far and wide. If you haven’t gotten one yet, let this article be your cue to finally buy one.

Can you work out in a workout dress?

Workout dresses are short dresses, usually with a tank top made of a stretchy activewear material, complete with a bodysuit lining underneath the dress. Although these dresses are advertised as “activewear” dresses, I don’t think many intense workouts are done in them. They’re a great replacement for leggings, and you don’t have to worry about wardrobe issues because they already come with built-in shorts or lining. The workout dress is moisture-wicking, offers plenty of room to move, flatters all bodies, and is comfortable to wear even for long periods of time. I like to wear mine when I want to feel well-dressed while working from home, and I love that I can easily run out of the house after work in the same outfit to meet up with a friend or run around town. They’re a great staple to rely on when you’re stuck on what to wear or if you’re more of a casual active type. From your hot-girl walks to being out and about all day running errands to traveling, the workout dress is an absolute must-have in your closet.

The Comfy Weekend Basic That Replaced My Leggings

How to Style a Workout Dress

I can’t dive into the best workout dresses without first giving you some tips on how to style them. Of course, you can fill your closet with various stylish workout dresses, but you’ll get the most out of them if you know all the different ways you can wear them—and trust us, there are many. Despite their name, workout dresses don’t just have to be worn for working out. Depending on how you style them, you can wear them any time of year and dress them up for a more polished look or dress them down for a low-key, casual look. Read on to find out all the Pinterest-worthy outfits I’d pair my workout dress with.

1. With a Button-Up and Sneakers

No wardrobe is complete without a breezy, boxy white button-up shirt. If you want to add a little more dimension to this basic workout dress, throw on your favorite button-up and your most comfortable pair of sneakers. This is the ideal outfit for running errands, grabbing coffee with a friend, or even going shopping in town. And if you get warm, you can wrap the shirt around your shoulders in an oh-so-chic way.

The Comfy Weekend Basic That Replaced My Leggings

2. With a Sweater

Alexa, please summon Cardigan by Taylor Swift. If you’re the type of person who practically always lives in their favorite cozy cardigan, you need to pair it with a workout dress. This is a great outfit base that can be worn in different ways depending on the type of cardigan and shoes you’re wearing. Keep it casual with sneakers and a casual cardigan, or dress it up with a button-down cardigan and Mary Janes or mesh ballet flats.

3. Under a blazer with chunky boots

If you’re not sure, throw your favorite blazer over your workout dress. A blazer is easy to style, can be worn with or without extra layers, and will give you that cool city girl look effortlessly. Keep the rest of the outfit simple and accessorize with chunky leather platform boots and black leather accessories.

4. Styled for Fall

I don’t want to exaggerate, but I’m counting down the days until I can pull my trench coat out of the closet and wear it pretty much everywhere. When fall comes, a trench coat is the perfect wardrobe staple to add the finishing touch to your outfit. Paired with a workout dress, you’ll be absolutely ready for the transitional days. Get even more into the fall vibe and pair this look with a draped sweater over your shoulders, a trusty baseball cap, a tote bag, and comfy sneakers.

5. With a cute hat and Converse

If you’re going to be doing a lot of walking or sightseeing, take your workout dress with you on the road. Wear it with a cute dad hat (I prefer this option from Ralph Lauren), your trendiest sunglasses, and swap out your sporty sneakers for classic Converse. It’s the perfect ensemble when you have a long day ahead of you, and you’re guaranteed to feel comfortable and pretty no matter how many steps you take. Plus, you don’t have to worry about wardrobe issues with this one-time wear piece.

The Comfy Weekend Basic That Replaced My Leggings

6. Wear shoes that aren't sneakers

Remember the wrong shoe theory everyone was talking about a while back? Personally, I haven’t forgotten about it. Instead of opting for your usual sneakers with your workout dress, try a shoe you might not have thought you’d pair with it. Whether that’s a pair of loafers, cowboy boots, or Mary Janes, following the wrong shoe theory will transform this look from ready for the pickleball court to ready for endless brunch with the girls.

7. Wear cool accessories

One benefit of wearing a workout dress is that there is absolutely no accessory that won’t go with it. From your BRAT-code sunglasses to your cute crew socks and vintage-style white sneakers, the world is your oyster when it comes to choosing accessories for a workout dress. I have a theory that you can dress up a workout dress with accessories and it’ll hit the mark every time. Too much? There’s nothing like that here.

8. Worn like a skirt

One of my favorite ways to breathe new life into pieces I already have is to wear them in different ways. For example, I’ll throw a t-shirt or sweater over my workout dress so it looks like I’m wearing a skirt and top instead of a top over my dress. I especially like doing this with pleated skirt workout dresses because it allows me to achieve the trendy tennis skirt look with something I already have in my closet. As fall approaches, adding dimensional layers to your workout dress is a great way to wear this comfortable piece year-round.