Move Over Matching Sets, Activewear Just Became a Lot More Fun
A new wave of gym-goers is trading sculpted silhouettes for thrifted pieces full of personal style.
Figure-hugging Lycra, monochromatic matching sets and rising prices; these themes have defined the state of the activewear market for far too long. It has seemed to become the unspoken uniform of the gym, leaving little room for individuality, but in recent months, it’s felt like the tide is turning.
For many of us, the thought of wearing an almost catsuit-esque matching outfit to exercise in is… less than appealing. Yet somehow, we collectively accepted that this was just what activewear looked like. Sure, the brands behind these coordinated sets are great, but when did we all agree to dress the same? When did personal style get benched in the name of performance wear?
Expensive gyms with aromatherapy saunas that cater to influencer hopefuls and Chelsea locals may beg for luxe matching sets and crisp sneakers, but for those outside that glossy fitness bubble, channeling something a little more alternative feels far more authentic. Whether that’s something more Adam Sandler-coded with a baggy graphic tee and basketball shorts, or a 90s-inspired Princess Diana look with an oversized college sweatshirt and bike shorts, the mood is shifting. People are prioritizing comfort, expression and nostalgia over conformity. With that, it seems like we’re saying goodbye to the Adanola clones power-walking on incline treadmills, and hello to something a lot more fun.
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This year, there’s been a slew of TikTokers sharing their alternative workout gear redefined through a retro lens. Creator Natalia Spotts went viral earlier this summer for her videos captioned, “Remembering I have free will and can wear vintage to the gym.” Her feed is a goldmine of ’90s and Y2K-inspired trackies, graphic tees and brightly colored sportswear that could have walked straight out of the locker room in 10 Things I Hate About You. Ultimately, the quirkier the better.
Other creators have joined the movement, too, with Isabella Vrana layering up color and character instead of modern minimalism, while Cierra O’Day, known for her vintage luxury finds, recently shared a gym fit built entirely from second-hand gems. Picture wide-leg sweatpants with layered cropped tees and topped off with wired headphones, a time capsule of Y2K gym culture revived.
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According to trend forecasting and insights platform WGSN, the global secondhand apparel market is growing three times faster than the overall apparel industry, with Gen Z leading the way. Nearly 40% are turning to resale for their everyday wardrobes, not just rare designer finds, so this mindset is naturally extending into gym clothes too. Resale platform Depop recently reported “Vintage Lululemon” as a breakout search term, with shoppers hunting for low-waisted, wide-leg silhouettes that mirror today’s street style over the high-waisted leggings that once ruled the gym floor.
As fitness increasingly becomes a social experience, and, let’s face it, a content opportunity, it makes sense that people want their workout fits to reflect who they are. We’ve seen it happen with corporate office wear, think Kat From Finance, and supermarket-core; gym style is next. This isn’t a hate campaign against matching sets, but rather a celebration of the growing diversity inside the fluorescent-lit buildings of huffing and puffing humans with headphones in.
H-O-R-S-E Sport
While some cynics dub the trend “disgusting,” regular thrifters are mostly desensitized to the idea of wearing other people’s clothes (just remember to wash them first). For those who are unconvinced, new labels are meeting the moment. H-O-R-S-E Sport and Made Some are channeling retro aesthetics through new activewear, evoking the charm of old school PE kits and Princess Diana fits, but in brand new cotton.
Meanwhile, if you’re one to brave the pre-loved, Rummage Stretch is a curated vintage activewear seller unearthing pieces like old school tennis dresses and Nike capris. Something that may have sounded extremely niche a year ago is seeing increasing recognition today, just head to the brand’s Instagram and you’ll find reference pictures of 90s celebs working out and real marathon shots from the early 2000s. Founder Isabella O’Day shared, “I started with a few vintage pieces of my mom’s that I would wear all the time because they’re just sexy and flattering. Then I went on a yoga retreat and hated the idea of going out and buying a set that I wouldn’t ever wear outside of the gym. I built a cool little yoga wardrobe for myself.”
Rummage Stretch photographed by Bennet Perez
Perhaps more than just a style pivot, the trend also feels like a subtle move away from the “best bum sculpting, cinching, lifting booty shorts” that we never needed, toward something freer and more self-defined. So dig out your old Snoopy pajama tee from 2010 and your brother’s PE shorts, or hit Vinted for a one-of-a-kind top that can equally be worn to the gym and to brunch, because fitness, fashion and personal style don’t have to compete.
