Last November, I decided to switch up my gym training with some cycling classes, yoga classes and some workout classes in different locations. However, I work a full-time job in another city, I have a social life and I am not willing to give this up or fully stress about any of these areas.

So I booked a weekly 6 pm cycling class on Fridays in that fancy studio I always wanted to go and regularly met a friend for a chit-chat over a glass of white wine in the neighborhood afterwards (results from that class weren’t probably that efficient, yes).
Fridays are my WFH days, so it was easy to get dressed to go to the class but I wanted to look presentable afterwards in the café, too.
And that’s when a new styling formula entered my life: The after workout outfit.

*all pictures via Pinterest

Here are the key rules that quickly became clear:

• I needed rotating outfit elements and a clear formula.

• I needed a solution for my hair (sweaty or undone).

• Pilates, yoga and cycling classes are easier because you don’t have gym shoes to deal with.

  
  A disclaimer before we dive in: My after workout outfit is allowed to look like I might have just been to the gym. If I want an ‘everyday look’, I’ll take clothes to change (or don’t even go to workout in the first place). Since we’re entering spring / summer at the moment, I focused on looks for warmer temperatures.

  

And here’s the basic recipe for a great after workout look:

• Clean, sleek or undone hairstyle or good hat +

• a matching set without branding (gym leggings + a sports bra / shirt or gym shorts / biker shorts with longer sports bra, I love H&M) +

• a neutral gym shoe (for gym training) or easy, comfortable shoes (loafers in spring, flip flops or sandals in summer, boots in winter) +

• either an everyday tote bag that is structured or a neutral, slouchy tote bag.

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STEP 1: FIND YOUR STYLING MOOD

In my opinion, you can go into two styling directions with after workout styling:

a. SPORTY RICH VIBES
(think Gigi Hadid and Kylie Jenner, model-off duty gym looks, think Lady Di in biker shorts)

This is the modern, trend-led, young, hip girl who doesn’t really care and yes, some days I am that girl.

Situations:

• weekend, seeing friends for coffee after workout

• casually running errands after workout class

• seeing noone you want to impress (at least not running into them intentionally)

Google or Pinterest search bar words:

• Kaia Gerber, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber (!) street style or gym

• sporty style

• Lamarel campaigns

• Sporty & Rich campaigns

• Nineties gym / workout wear

• Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy casual looks

• travel outfits (seriously, the formula is basically the same!)

• American sportswear

Let me put some visuals behind that term.

b. Effortless Elegance

Now, this category is normally more up my street. It’s an outfit that is simple (and quite focused around your core pieces (biker shorts or gym leggings and basic shirt). It’s your everyday style but sporty-elevated.

Situations:

• any workout where I meet people afterwards that I care about

• when I think I could run into someone

• after work, if I want to combine office days and workout class

Google or Pinterest search bar words:

• Scandi style leggings (oversized blazer)

• biker shorts Scandi style

• casual chic

• capri leggings!! (they are so on-trend right now and are the little sister to gym leggings, so you’ll get tons of inspiration)

And again, here is the equivalent mood board:

STEP 2: SORT OUT YOUR AFTER WORKOUT HAIR

Just play around with a few of these options and see what you like best. Dry shampoo is a winner, too. (Mine is from a German brand exclusively, so for all the Germans, you might want to drain your hair in this).

STEP 3: PUT TOGETHER OUTFITS YOU LIKE

For me, that’s:

a. for spring:

• matching set + shirt + trench coat + flip flops

• matching set + shirt + trench coat + sneakers + sweater over shoulder

• matching set + oversized blazer + loafers

• matching set + oversized button down + loafer

• sunglasses, always, and sometimes a hat

In all of these looks, I’ll either go for a medium structured bag or a big slouchy tote bag, depending on the agenda of the day.

b. for summer:

• biker shorts + ribbed tank top + oversized button down + flip flops

• biker shorts + oversized shirt + oversized blazer + white tennis socks + sneakers

• biker shorts + oversized tank top + flip flops + over-the-shoulder sweater

• sunglasses, always

In summer, I tend to go with smaller bags or medium leather bags.

INSPIRATION LOOKS TO COPY FROM

A coat is always a good throw-on over a gym outfit. My favorite choice would always be a beige trench because it elevates the look faster than any other option.

This is another reason to search more Hailey Bieber streetstyle photos. While her taste isn’t mine, I could easily build an afterwork outfit from this with my black trench coat, my leopard bag and black ballet flats (plus my matching set). The coat is key here, too.

And if you’re a leather jacket collector like me, this outfit can consist of the foundation of a matching gym set, too! Looks great with sunglasses, I bet.

Camille Cherrière added jewelry to a basic outfit (that could be a basic gym outfit, too!). You can add ballet flats to this and off you go.

If you are going somewhere special after your workout, I’d go for something like this. This is closest to an everyday look it could get but you can still implement gym shorts or leggings.

Plus I wasn’t kidding when I told you ‘capri leggings’ is a perfect search word for after workout looks. But look for yourselves (and you can still replace them with your black gym tights!):

I could honestly go on for hours, but I think you got the idea.

Let me know what you wear to the gym and for social activities afterwards. Let me know your favorite outfits, brands and I am a sucker for a good gym playlist, so here’s your permission to go wild in the comment section. Thank you!