September 12, 2025

Barre to Brunch: How I Style Athleisure Without Looking “Gym Only”

Hey pretty girl! Welcome back to the blog!

I absolutely love athleisure attire. Although I love wearing athleisure wear, I don’t get to wear it a ton. I only get to wear it for Pure Barre classes and on busy weekends. But here’s the secret—I never want to look like I just rolled out of the gym. My trick? Choosing the right fabrics, layers, and accessories so my barre outfit feels polished enough for brunch, errands, or even casual meetings.

Here’s how I elevate my athleisure so it feels like Pretty Prim & Proper style, not “just workout clothes.”

FROM THE ARCHIVES

If you’re new around here (or just catching up), here are some recent blog posts you’ll want to check out!

Pre-Fall, Still Hot: 5 Outfit Formulas That Feel Like Summer, but Look Like Fall

August Intentions + A Pretty Prim Summer Refresh

Five Habits That Help Me Look Polished Every Day

Step 1: Fabrics That Read Polished

Matte fabrics look more elevated than shiny ones. That’s why I love Lululemon’s Align Leggings 25″—they’re soft, smooth, and don’t scream “gym.” Pair them with a cotton tank in a muted fall shade like spiced cabernet, white or gray.

Step 2: Color Rules

I stick with my core palette—black, navy, and olive. Neutrals make the outfit look intentional and coordinate easily with the rest of my wardrobe. This fall/winter, I made the decision to curate a Barre Wardrobe to make life easier. Barre has become a really big part of my life so I want to make sure that I don’t have to think about anything too much.

If you want to hear about my plan for my Barre Wardrobe, check out this video.

Step 3: Add a Light Layer

This is where the polish happens. Toss a blazer, cardigan, or even a crisp white button up over your sports bra and tights. Suddenly you look styled, not sweaty.

I am a sucker for a blazer. I think the right blazer with a good pair of leggings is so chic and effortless. If you haven’t tried it, give it try! I think the key is to ensure that the blazer isn’t too short and that it covers your butt – especially if you’re hippy and all that like I am. I plan to find a good oversized cardigan and a chic pull over to my barre wardrobe as well for those chilly mornings. I’ve been looking at this one, but I’ve also found this more affordable option.

Step 4: Swap the Shoes

Shoes change everything. For class, I wear grip socks, but as soon as I’m done, I switch to slides or sneakers. They’re comfortable and chic. This is where your personality shines! Instead of wearing “regular” sneakers, I always opt for a pair that has a fun design detail. Think back to my Rag & Bone Retro Runners in the leopard print. They are so chic, they practically go with every color! I recently got this pair that are similar to the Retro Runners, but more affordable. Your shoe choice during the cooler months is key due to the weather. I would also try a lighter weight pair if you sweat a lot during your workouts. You don’t want to ruin your good shoes by making them super sweaty. I recently added this pair of sneakers to my wardrobe. They are extremely lightweight and they’re in a color combo that will work well with my fall/winter barre wardrobe. This pair would make a chic statement for your barre to brunch style as well.

Step 5: Finish with a Bag

My barre tote doubles as a polished carryall. A structured tote or mini crossbody makes athleisure look like a lifestyle choice, not an afterthought. Your bag of choice is really important depending on your lifestyle and/or when you workout. on the days when I go to the barre during my lunch period, I add my barre look to either my backpack (this houses my laptop, planner, shoes, etc.) or my handbag. Because I am a tote bag kinda girl…I always have ample room in my bag for my outfit. I’ve been carrying this tote and this tote as of late. I also carry a small bag that has wipes, my headband, ponytail holders and other personal items to ensure that I’m fresh upon my return to the office. On the weekends, I don’t have to worry too much about this, but I always have this small bag with my personal items just in case. If you’re looking for a chic tote, check this one out or this quilted one – both from Quince.

Athleisure can be chic if you choose the right pieces and style them with polish. Barre to brunch? Absolutely.

Would you wear athleisure out and about? Let me know in the comments! And shop my exact barre-to-brunch picks now on my Back to Barre Edit on my LTK.

I hope you enjoyed this post all about I style my athleisure pieces to look more chic! If you found this post helpful – let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear about it!

’til next time!

xo, Robyn

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