Why It’s Time to Move Beyond Athleisure: A Stylist’s Perspective on Fashion Psychology and Sustainable Style
For over a decade as a personal stylist, I’ve watched trends rise and fall. Few movements have shaped women’s wardrobes as much as athleisure — the stretchy leggings, crop tops, and performance fabrics once hailed as the perfect balance of comfort and style.
But in the past 6–10 months, the story has shifted. Athleisure sales are slowing, women are voicing new concerns about fit and fabric, and culturally, we are ready for something more. As both a French woman and a sustainable fashion stylist, I see this as a turning point: one where we move away from chemical fabrics and body-pressuring silhouettes, and toward a way of dressing that is healthier, more elegant, and more empowering.
The Psychological Cost of Athleisure
Athleisure promised freedom, but for many women, it delivered something else.
Comparison pressure: Leggings and crop tops highlight athletic bodies, creating a silent message: you must look this way to wear this outfit confidently.
Loss of individuality: Black leggings, oversized hoodies, branded sets — it became a uniform. Instead of celebrating uniqueness, it erased it.
False comfort: Yes, the fabrics were stretchy. But true comfort is emotional — it’s the peace of feeling good in your skin and confident in your clothes.
As I often tell my clients: “Real comfort is when your style reflects who you are — not when you squeeze into a trend that makes you doubt yourself.”
Women Are Getting Out Again
The past year has marked a return to social life. We’re back in offices, meeting friends, traveling — and our clothes need to reflect that shift.
Structured denim, wide-leg trousers, soft knits, silk shirts, and breathable dresses are taking the place of all-day leggings. These pieces still allow movement and ease, but they also offer polish.
Fashion psychology suggests that what we wear influences our behavior. A polished yet comfortable outfit signals to ourselves and others: I’m ready to engage with the world again.
The Problem with Chemical Fabrics
Another reason women are stepping away from athleisure? Fabric sensitivity and health concerns.
Most athleisure is made from polyester, nylon, or spandex — petroleum-based textiles treated with dyes, finishes, and sometimes PFAS (“forever chemicals”). According to recent reports in The Guardian, these substances can leach more easily when combined with sweat, raising concerns about skin irritation and long-term health.
Beyond personal health, synthetic fabrics shed microplastics with every wash, polluting oceans and harming ecosystems.
As I remind my clients: “What touches your skin every day becomes part of your wellbeing. If a fabric feels itchy, sweaty, or chemical-heavy, it’s your body telling you to choose better.”
Sustainable Alternatives That Still Feel Great
Moving beyond athleisure doesn’t mean giving up comfort. It means redefining it with natural, sustainable fabrics that breathe, move, and last.
Organic cotton: Soft, breathable, and versatile.
Linen: Lightweight and chic, perfect for warmer climates.
Bamboo and TENCEL: Silky, sustainable options with natural moisture-wicking.
Wool and silk: Timeless fibers that regulate temperature and elevate any look.
Wide-leg cotton trousers, a linen blazer, a bamboo jersey dress — these are pieces that let you look elegant while staying comfortable.
Final Thought
Athleisure had its moment, but it is no longer serving women’s mindset, confidence, or health. The new direction in style is clear: comfort with elegance, sustainability with self-expression.
As women, we deserve wardrobes that don’t just fit our bodies, but also honor our psychology, our individuality, and our planet.
Or, as I like to put it: “Style should be liberation, not limitation. When we choose natural fabrics and timeless pieces, we choose confidence, beauty, and wellbeing — all at once.”
With Love,
Charline Z - Personal Stylist Los Angeles
