Whether you have set yourself some fitness resolutions this New Year or are just looking to update your activewear wardrobe, there could be no better time to invest in some luxury sportswear because the offering has never been better.
Long gone are the days when your gym kit was the least stylish part of your wardrobe. Now, with so many amazing brands out there matching up performance to style, your sports bras, gym leggings and running jackets can be worn straight from your barre class and out to lunch (or are great for wearing all day long while working from home).
Below, we round up 15 of the best luxury activewear labels that we recommend investing in, ideal for breathing life into your gym wardrobe this year. From old favourites like Lululemon and Ernest Leoty to fun new brands to have on your radar, including Sporty & Rich and All Access, we present the activewear brands that fashion editors always turn to.
Starting life not as an activewear brand but as a couture label in 19th century Paris, Ernest Leoty has a rich history of beautiful, feminine designs, which are today well worth investing in if you want to give your gym wardrobe an incredibly stylish update. From sleek and simple bodysuits to colourful co-ords and high-performance leggings that can be worn for many disciplines, Ernest Leoty is a great name to know.
There is a reason that Lululemon is one of the best-known luxury sportswear brands in the world – the quality and fit of the products speak for themselves. Whether you are a runner, obsessed with barre, play tennis or actually just want some flattering loungewear to wear when you're working from home, there are few places with a better selection on offer than this Canadian label.
Another favourite luxury sportswear brand whose pieces are well worth investing in is Sweaty Betty, the UK-based label whose mission is to help make women feel powerful. Known for its colourful prints and high-tech fabrics, as well as great ski gear and fitness accessories, head hear for uplifting gymwear.
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Los Angeles-based activewear label Year of Ours is a female-led company which focuses on fit, performance and contemporary designs, aiming to equip the modern woman with versatile pieces of clothing that she can wear everywhere. Favouring high-tech fabrics, the leggings, sports bras, onesies and more are all created with sport in mind, but are stylish enough to be worn day to day.
If you want a high-fashion spin on sportswear, you can't do much better than Stella McCartney's collections for Adidas, which prioritise style just as much as they do performance. This season, it's all about giant puffer jackets, Nineties-inspired windbreakers and prints, prints, prints.
If you love retro sportswear then you need to check out Sporty & Rich, a fun label which started out life as a moodboard on Instagram, and has since become a favourite with influencers. The collections are made up of logo sweatshirts, T-shirts, biker shorts and sports bras, all of which are great for working out in, but will also make lovely additions to your off-duty wardrobes.
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It has been one of our favourite beachwear labels for a long time, and now Marysia has branched into activewear. The brand – which is known for its trademark scalloped trims – has created a selection of biker shorts, leggings, tops, tennis dresses and one-pieces which are perfect for working out in, whether at home or in the gym.
London-based label Vaara is not strictly an activewear label, but was launched with the aim of creating contemporary collections that are "made to move". The pieces, which are often unisex, are all about being sleek and refined, stylish enough to wear anywhere, but created with fitness in mind.
If you love colour, pared-back design and comfort with your sportswear, then you'll love Live The Process, an American wellness label which has become an influencer favourite. The all-in-one pieces are particularly great for yoga bunnies, while the washable cashmere is pretty much all we're wanting to wear when lounging or working from home.
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Eco-conscious label Splits59 is all about empowering women. Known for its retro-inspired designs, which are just as perfect for a Pilates class as they are for brunch afterwards, the brand works towards creating high-quality collections that blend functionality with fashion.
More about having fun with your sportswear? Australian label PE Nation brings the most bold and colourful prints and patterns into its collections. From fluro leggings and leopard-print running jackets to retro-inspired high-tech sports bras, jazz up your gymwear here.
Another high-fashion designer who has found her footing with sportswear is Victoria Beckham, who has been designing collections in collaboration with Reebok for a few years now. The pieces are as slick as you would imagine, and actually come in at a very reasonable price point.
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Another great luxury sportswear brand that strives to create collections which look just as good outside as they do inside the gym is The Upside. The Aussie brand has designs specialised for yoga training, running and resistance classes, but puts a stylish spin on everything it creates, from animal prints and tie-dye to great fits.
Based in New York City, All Access is an activewear label designed for those who want high-performance gear that doesn't compromise on making a stylish statement. Launched in 2014 by Jennifer Bandier, the brand has slowly grown an international fan base, and is a great name to know for head-turning pieces that use the most technically innovative materials available.
If sustainability is at the top of your check list when shopping for activewear, then look straight to The Girlfriend Collective, who delivers on stylish, luxury sportswear that is made from recycled plastic waste. And, even better, the brand has is all about inclusive sizing, offering pieces in sizes from XXS to 6XL.
