Functionality within fashion has taken on a new level of important during the COVID-19 outbreak. You want to look good without losing comfort. You want to glide through the task of work, home, and family each day as efficiently as possible while feeling chic.

This need is one of the many reasons athleisure has been on the rise. Athleisure pieces are ones that you can work out in, but with a little oomph, a little style. They’re more interesting than your average wind shorts. But it’s not just one piece that makes the outfit. It’s the styling.

A single piece can fall flat when it isn’t styled with others that enhance its characteristics.

Bold jackets or fashion sneakers may lose their shiny newness when paired with that jersey dress that’s seen better years.

But you want more than just that jersey dress — you want to feel put together in each outfit you wear, which means styling is required.

So this week, I’m sharing some of my very favorite styling techniques and how you can use them to pull your athleisure together into five street style looks you’ll love to wear all day long.

And once you’re done with the article, leave me a comment and share which tip you’re most excited to try in your closet. I would love to hear from you.

Lots of love and joy!

Raquel

LOOK ONE

ATHLEISURE PIECE(S): animal print biker shorts, sports bra

STYLING TECHNIQUE: warm + cool neutrals

Neutral mixing is not new, but when you mix warm and cool neutrals, it can make your outfit look less traditional and more fashion-forward. Warm neutrals are often in the brown family: cognac, caramel, sand, champagne. Cool neutrals include black and grey. When you bring them together, the warm neutral intensifies and grabs your eye. They play off of each, creating an unexpected, yet harmonious tune.

LOOK TWO

ATHLEISURE PIECE(S): Nike graphic tee, bomber jacket

STYLING TECHNIQUE: linking

This is a technique I use a lot, because it’s an instant way to make your outfit look effortlessly put together. To use the linking technique, all you’re doing is linking a pattern or a color scheme from one piece in your outfit to another. In this look, I’m linking the color scheme in two ways.

First, I’m linking the black and white in the Nike graphic tee to the black and off-white stars in my skirt and to the black and white in my platform sandals. I’m also linking the neon orange in my graphic tee to the neon coral in my bomber jacket.

When you connect the colors or patterns, every piece in your look talks to each other. The result is a cohesive and thoughtful outfit.

LOOK THREE

ATHLEISURE PIECE(S): Ivy Park sweatshirt, Puma fashion sneakers

STYLING TECHNIQUE: color pop

Adding a pop of color to your outfit is an easy way to direct the focus of your outfit to a certain spot. But what about three pops?! Oh la la, now we’re talking. By adding two or three pops instead of one, your look has the energy of the color added to it, but rather than one point of focus, the color pops enhance the entirety of the outfit.

For this look, I’ve started with a denim skirt from Madewell to give a neutral background (blue denim goes with everything). Then I built out one color at a time. When trying multiple color pops at the same time, start by using solid colors. Solid colors, rather than patterns, will ensure the look keeps its intensity without clashing amongst itself.

Want to hear more about exactly how to create these street style looks?

Check out my interview with Rosie Newberry on Studio 512 about turning athleisure into street style looks you’ll love to wear.

LOOK FOUR

ATHLEISURE PIECE(S): black biker shorts, black tee

STYLING TECHNIQUE: intentional black

Rather than using black as a bandaid (which is a common mistake), you should wear black when you truly feel like wearing it and use it as intentionally as any other color. Otherwise, it can take away from your outfit and personality.

One way to make it look more intentional and less thrown on is to wear jet black in separates. Here I’ve added black in the tee and the biker shorts to create a street chic look. No look is complete without accessories. To finish the outfit, I’ve added two oh-so-Austin touches: the layered turquoise necklaces and the wide brim straw hat.

LOOK FIVE

ATHLEISURE PIECE(S): Puma fashion sneakers

STYLING TECHNIQUE: all light

An easy way to style your look and know that everything works together is to pick one lane: light or dark.

For this look, all the elements are different light colors and neutrals. White, tan, rose gold, and bubblegum pink are talking to each other simply because they are light and bright. Try this in a dark look by featuring colors like navy, black, charcoal, evergreen, burgundy, or aubergine.