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You’re not imagining it: women everywhere are wearing dresses while exercising. The functional activewear piece has become ubiquitous over the past couple of years, and I’d surmise nearly every woman in your life either owns one or wants one.
The workout dress is an ostensibly simple design: an A-line dress (similar to the popular slip dress) made from a stretchy, lightweight spandex/nylon fabric that often includes built-in biker shorts. The style is lauded for its comfort and versatility (you can work out, go to the farmer’s market and, in some cases, even to dinner in it.) Not to mention, everyone looks good in the silhouette.
The current craze can be traced back to 2018 when Outdoor Voices released its now-famous and often-copied Exercise Dress. Now, brands like Alo, Girlfriend Collective and Abercrombie & Fitch are selling their own versions with great success. The style’s dominance in athleisure is also a likely product of the WFH era, which had us sporting low-key loungewear 24/7. Now, with the unrelenting dominance of tenniscore this past summer and into fall, the feminine-yet-sporty cohesive look is maybe more prevalent than ever.
I’m telling you all of this because, as a woman who owns a few exercise dresses herself, the stretchy skort dress is one of my favorite styles to wear, period. Whether I’m actually sweating in it or just need something quick to throw on to grab coffee, my workout dresses are reliable, practical and stylish. And it’s why I believe the exercise dress is one of the best and most thoughtful, gifts you can give to the woman in your life. So below is a list of hand-picked workout dresses from a range of brands, all boasting fun colors, sleek looks and unmatched comfort.
Outdoor Voices
You’re looking at the workout dress that launched a thousand workout dresses: The Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress. The first workout dress I’ve ever owned, it has been with me through so much: working out, traveling, walks to the bodega. It’s beyond comfortable, super cute and features adjustable straps, plus two handy pockets in the built-in short. Naturally, OV has expanded its exercise dress offerings since it launched its hero product in 2018. These include dresses designed specifically for running, low-impact exercises and for the court.
Alo
She’s certainly seen Alo draped across her Instagram feed (you probably have as well). The brand is an influencer and celebrity favorite, likely for its fashion-forward yoga clothes and accessories which flaunt bold colors and silhouettes you won’t find at other women’s activewear retailers. The brand’s activewear dresses follow this ethos, and you’ll find a selection of versatile silhouettes she can wear from the court to the club.
Nike
Nike needs no explanation. All you need to know is that the premier sportswear brand makes activewear just as well as it does high-performance training and running shoes. Personally, when I need extra support during my workouts, I tend to reach for my reliable Nike gear — which includes their utilitarian training dresses ideal for both high and low-impact sweat sessions.
Halara
After seeing a bazillion ads for this dress on TikTok, the social media marketing worked and I needed to try her out. Halara, a Hong-Kong based activewear brand I was unfamiliar with until they bombarded my “For You” page, offers a wide array of activewear, including a large selection of workout dresses. I went with their best-selling Everyday 2-in-1 Activity Dress-Wannabe and was pleasantly surprised. The spandex/nylon fabric is sturdy and smooth, the slightly flared skirt adds fun movement and unlike a lot of exercise dresses on the market, Halara’s comes with a built-in bra
Girlfriend Collective
What began as a free leggings campaign in 2016 flourished into one of the most size-inclusive and sustainable companies in the women’s activewear space. Offering sizes XXS-6XL, plus maternity wear, Girlfriend Collective is the place to go for reliable, well-made basics in neutral, complementary tones. If she likes her dresses simple in design, but ultra-comfortable, Girlfriend Collective is where you should shop.
Abercrombie & Fitch
As part of an internal revolution to regain their cool, the brand’s addition of YPB — an acronym for Your Personal Best — to an already stacked and excessively on-trend lifestyle lineup offers a vertical of stretchy, functional garb that’s perfect for whatever goals she’s trying to accomplish. On the more affordable spectrum of activewear dresses, A&F provides similar comfort, style and performance as other activewear brands just at typically a more friendly price point.
Free People
The boho apparel and lifestyle retail company ventured into the athletic space in 2012 with its first activewear line FP Movement. Playful patterns and unique silhouettes define Free People’s fitness attire and the line doesn’t stray very far from its bohemian roots. And while everything is fashionable enough to sport beyond the gym, it’s all still equipped with performance properties. It’s hard to pick a favorite “Skortsie” (as the brand calls their version of exercise dresses) from FP, as each style is pretty damn cute.
Sierra Madre Golf
Founded in 2022 by co-founders Bonny Riddle and Michelle Anderson, Sierra Madre is the brand reimagining women’s golf apparel. Boring, overpriced polos are a thing of the past — the cool girlies want chic apparel and accessories that empower them on and off the green. The brand puts a twist on the traditional and functional style of sports apparel with some cheeky hats, ball marker hair clips and, of course, a selection of incredibly cute exercise dresses.
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