Streetwear and athletic clothing have always been separate in menswear. The clothes you wear on the street are meant for the elements and looking your best. The clothing you wear in the gym is meant to allow you maximum movement while also keeping you cool and dry by absorbing your sweat. Now the world has changed, and the casualization of men on the street and the advancement of technology have resulted in a new kind of clothing: athleisure. But it isn’t just gym clothes made cool; there is much more than meets the eye.
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What is athleisure?
Activewear is clothing specifically meant to work in the gym and help you create the best version of yourself. Streetwear is meant to give you the ultimate casual looks to keep you stylish. Loungewear is designed for the ultimate comfort to wear around the house. Athleisure was developed to find the perfect balance between the three. Stylish enough for the street. Tough enough for the gym. And comfortable enough for the couch. If you want the most efficient clothing in the world, one of the following brands will offer the best there is.
There aren’t a lot of brands that can boast comfort, style, and best sellers. Public Rec finds the balance perfectly well with a collection of men’s clothing that looks just as good in the office as they do on the couch. If you are in the market for a new pant, the All Day Every Day Pant is the perfect choice.
Pickleball is the newest sensation sweeping the nation. While it may resemble tennis, the clothing also has an upscale feel similar to that worn by the best of the best on the courts. Moveable and stylish, don’t miss out on some of the most comfortable pieces that make both the grocery store and the courts more comfortable.
Todd Snyder, the man, has been obsessed with athleisure since before the term existed. He collected vintage Champion gear starting back in the 1990s during his days at Ralph Lauren. He brought that mid-century athletic wear to J.Crew during his time as Men’s Creative Director. Then he struck a deal with Champion when he launched his eponymous brand to create a signature line of elevated athletic wear that works equally well with a suit as on the field. Todd Snyder, the brand, has expanded their offerings of fashionable athletic gear beyond just the Champion collab since then.
You’ve probably heard that Champion invented the hoodie (though Russel challenges that claim). So you could argue that they invented athleisure since the entire movement kind of revolves around hoodies. Regardless, they have been making high-quality, no-frills athletic wear for a century. The 1960s-style athletic gear that has been intermingled with workwear and formalwear for over a decade is pretty much all based on Champion. The Champion reverse weave hoodie is arguably the best hoodie in the world and certainly the best value.
Way before athleisure was a thing, Lululemon was already making a name in the sportswear scene. The Canada-based brand provides high-quality yoga pants and athleisure wear that you can pull off on a daily basis. Although they are known first for their women’s wear, their men’s wear is packed with essentials like joggers and running jackets that are comfortable and sleek. Each garment is perfect for whatever task you have to do, wherever you are.
One of the more consistent purveyors of athleisure out there is Reigning Champ. In fact, this Canadian brand defies trends and continues to make some of the best gym and lifestyle gear around. We love the classic crew-neck sweaters and pullover hoodies, both made with quality fabrics in neutral, easy-to-style colors.
If you’re more concerned with use than style, Ten Thousand may be the brand for you. This company has been churning out quality products for a couple of years now, and it puts a tight focus on function. That’s not to say the pieces don’t look good — they do! — but they’re built with performance in mind. We especially like their trio of activewear shorts, which range from the lightweight Session to the ultra-durable Foundation.
What do you get when a group of very serious runners with very respectable styles create the best running apparel brand they can? You get Tracksmith, the Boston-based high-end athletics brand. They can certainly be categorized as athleisure because their gear has a vintage sportswear vibe that fits in perfectly with preppy or streetwear style. However, Tracksmith is designed for serious running first and foremost.
While they may have started out with a mission of making the best yoga workout clothes around, they have definitely mastered all aspects of activewear. Inspiring mindful movement is at their core, and it helps when you have high-quality clothes allowing you to move to your capabilities, without restrictions, and Alo Yoga allows you to do just that. But it is not just the function that makes this brand great, it’s their form as well, with silhouettes of all shapes, whether that’s trim and form-fitting or loose and ultra comfy, they have it all.
Look good and feel comfortable doing it, that’s the name of the game. Whether you’re actually playing a game or going to work out or not, athleisure is a fashion trend everyone can get into. They’re designed just as much for 18 holes with the guys as for binge-watching on the couch. Better yet, if you choose the right products you can even style some of their pieces with high-end brands, merging high fashion and comfort together. All in all the brands on this list are doing their best and will certainly help you update your athletic wardrobe.
Want to put together amazing concert outfits? The best rock ‘n’ roll fashion brands
These brands will keep you ready to rock out on stage or jump in the crowd for the pit
You know the look we're talking about. The look of a man who stands on a stage in front of thousands of people and transports them to another dimension with some of the most iconic music we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. When you are front and center, you have to have impeccable style. You have to project who you are and what you are about simply by your appearance. Having the right look can do that for you. Of course, if you want to have the look of a front man you have to start with discovering your own personal style, and then find a good brand for concert outfits.
Of course, you don't want to just copy your favorite rock-and-roll legend's rock clothes, as it would never work for you the way it works for them. Hell, the whole point of wearing these unique pieces is to pull together a look that is so unapologetically you that there is no way anyone else could pull it off. But to be able to do that, you will have to find the right rock-and-roll-focused clothing brand that speaks to you. Luckily for you, that is right up our alley, and we compiled a list of our favorite brands that will keep you Living on a Prayer and rocking the perfect concert outfit.
Get your denim and your spirits four times a year easier than ever
Men only want two things, and they aren't what you are thinking. They are way more awesome. A man has two best friends, a great pair of denim, and the perfect spirit to make a great cocktail. You have a few boxes to check off as you look for the denim you want to call your go-to for the rest of your life. A great fit, a dark color, and the kind of durability that will last a lifetime. You also have a few boxes to check off when you shop for your go-to whiskey. A dark but clear color, a complex and layered aroma, and a well-balanced flavor. While these two endeavors seem like separate ventures, one company is looking to do all the work for you. The WAY OF MAN subscription service wants to send you the best of both every three months.
Raw Denim x Rare Whiskey
The mission of both industries always focuses on the masterful attention to detail needed to create top-shelf whiskey and the best denim on the market. The WAY OF MAN believes that no one has ever brought these two things together and that they have one thing in common: Stories. The best stories begin gathered around friends and family, often while wearing your favorite jeans and having a great cocktail. This subscription service attempts to bring them both together as much as possible. There is a waitlist right now, but once you sign up for it, your stories are only a few months away.
WAY OF MAN
Lucky Brand is feeling imaginative with the House of Mouse
A collection that blends the style of Lucky with the happiness of Disney
Disney is considered one of the happiest places on Earth thanks to our childhood nostalgia and the desire to meet our heroes like Aladdin and Flynn Rider and introduce our children to princesses like Snow White and Aurora. Not to mention the chance to get lost in a magical world where everything always works out and good never falls to evil. Although we can't disappear into the Magical Kingdom 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, we can find other ways to take small trips into Neverland or escape to Agrabah for a reset. Lucky for us, the Lucky Brand x Disney collaboration allows us to take the Magical Kingdom with us with stylish pieces perfect for expressing ourselves.
Style mixes with nostalgic imagination
There is a fine line between sporting some Disney swag and being a full-fledged Disney adult. One of them gives you the ability to be the envy of everyone around you while you wear one or two stylish graphics, and the other looks overdone and makes it difficult for others to take you seriously. Lucky Brand's line is perfect for the former. You can go all out with a Disney-inspired letter jacket or a subtle Disney tracksuit, or you can keep it simpler with a Lucky tee featuring Mickey Mouse or a mouse-earred hat. Either way you go, there is something in this collection for any brand of Disney adult, and you should absolutely let your Mickey flag fly. Oh, and don't forget to wear it when you meet Flynn or Aladdin.
Lucky Brand x Disney
