Athleisure: the guide to wearing sportswear with style every day

Athleisure is no longer a trend — it has become a style in its own right in 2026. The French market is worth 8.2 billion euros, growing steadily, and Paris has become one of the world capitals of elegant sportswear. Here is how to master athleisure without falling into the trap of looking like you are “wearing pajamas at the supermarket”.

#Athleisure: what exactly is it?

The term dates back to the 1970s but only truly exploded in the 2010s. It refers to a way of dressing that combines:

• Pieces inspired by sportswear, such as leggings, sports bras, sweatshirts and sneakers
• With the codes of everyday ready-to-wear, such as jackets, coats and refined accessories

The idea: wearing pieces designed for sport in the city, without looking like you are going to the gym.

#The difference between athleisure and “sportswear in the city”

This is the whole art of it. Here is the boundary:

Successful athleisure	Sportswear worn in the city, to avoid
Leggings + oversized shirt + loafers	Leggings + dirty T-shirt + running shoes
Matching set + trench coat + structured bag	Matching set + gym backpack + cap
Premium sweatshirt + straight jeans + ankle boots	Hoodie + joggers + flip-flops
Sports bra + blazer + fluid trousers	Sports bra + shorts + beach sandals

The rule: always include one “dressed-up” piece to balance the sporty piece.

#The 5 key pieces of an athleisure wardrobe

1. The premium legging, the foundation

What to look for:

• High waist, perfect fit
• Matte fabric, never shiny, in a dark color such as black, navy or anthracite
• Flat seams or seamless construction
• Enough density to pass the squat test

How to wear it:

• With an oversized white shirt + loafers
• Under a mid-length shirt dress
• With a blazer + low ankle boots

2. The matching set, the winning combination

Sports bra + leggings in the same color and same fabric. This is the signature piece of 2026 athleisure.

The secret: a well-cut matching set becomes a silhouette on its own. Add a long coat over it = you are dressed.

→ See our matching sets.

3. The premium sweatshirt

Not just any sweatshirt:

• Heavy cotton, 350g/m² minimum
• Boxy but structured fit, never shapeless oversized
• Solid colors: cream, beige, heather grey, burgundy

How to wear it:

• With tailored trousers + minimalist sneakers
• Under a long trench coat
• With a midi skirt + ankle boots

4. The elevated sport jacket

The piece that shifts the look from gym to city:

• A fitted bomber in a refined fabric, such as leather, suede or gabardine
• A sport-tailoring jacket, halfway between a blazer and a track jacket
• A mid-length gabardine trench coat

5. Minimalist sneakers

Forget loud running shoes, extreme platform sneakers and flashy colors. Choose:

• White leather sneakers with clean lines, such as Common Projects, Veja or an equivalent
• Minimalist black sneakers
• Or no sneakers at all, but low ankle boots, loafers or mules — the contrast with leggings creates the look.

#The 4 athleisure silhouettes to know

The “creative office” silhouette

Black leggings + oversized white shirt + beige blazer + loafers + structured bag. Verdict: it works in a meeting without anyone noticing the leggings.

The “chic weekend” silhouette

Beige matching set + camel trench coat + white sneakers + leather bag. Verdict: the signature Parisian silhouette of 2026.

The “lunch with friends” silhouette

Sport jumpsuit, one-piece + leather jacket + ankle boots + small bag. Verdict: modern, feminine, effortless.

The “Sunday wandering” silhouette

Premium sweatshirt + fluid tailored trousers + white sneakers + oversized sunglasses. Verdict: comfortable but polished.

#The 5 mistakes to avoid

1. Mixing 3 visible sports brands

If we can see 3 sports logos on you, it is a no. Maximum 1 visible brand, ideally none.

2. The full “just left the gym” look

Visible sports bra + leggings + sneakers + towel = fine for the gym, not for buying bread. Add always one non-sport piece.

3. Loose cuts everywhere

Oversized sweatshirt + loose joggers + chunky sneakers = you disappear. Only one loose piece at a time, the rest should be fitted.

4. Flashy colors

Neon, hot pink, electric blue — they may work on the track, never in the city. Neutral palette only: black, beige, navy, terracotta, cream, anthracite.

5. Cheap-looking fabrics

Shiny polyester, thin 100% synthetic sweatshirts, transparent leggings: it shows immediately and ruins the entire look. Investing in fabric is the priority.

#The 2026 Parisian color code

If you had to remember only one palette, it would be this one:

Color	Share of your wardrobe
Deep black	30%
Beige / camel / cream	30%
Navy / ink	15%
Anthracite / charcoal	10%
Terracotta / brick	8%
Olive / sage	7%

These 6 colors all work together. You will never make a styling mistake.

#The smart investment

It is better to own 5 perfectly cut premium pieces than 20 average ones. To start a complete athleisure wardrobe:

1. 2 leggings (1 black + 1 beige) — the universal foundation
2. 2 sports bras (1 black + 1 nude) — for matching sets and standalone looks
3. 1 complete matching set in a signature color
4. 1 mid-length camel trench coat
5. 1 pair of white leather sneakers
6. 1 premium sweatshirt in cream or burgundy

With these pieces, you can create 30+ different outfits.

#The Galaya spirit

Our brand was born from this belief: sportswear can be as elegant as premium ready-to-wear, provided that its fabrics and cuts are developed with the same level of precision.

European technical fabrics, minimalist cuts, neutral palette: our collections are designed to move seamlessly from studio to street.

→ Discover the full collection.