Northern California Style

Northern California Style

Signature Style – Athletic Wear Essentials and Styling Them for Daily Wear

By 17 Comments

Hi friends! Cindy and I are back for our first Signature Style of the year and we thought it fitting to chat about athletic wear, as many of us are thinking about doing more exercise in 2024. I have some of my personal favorites in this category and a few ideas for styling them into your daily wear for a modern athleisure mix!

The Basics

Whether you take yoga, pilates, lift weights, run or perhaps are a dedicated walker, you need a good pair of leggings, comfy tops, sport bras, and jacket options. Once you have great basics, you can mix them up. Personally I find buying better and once is a good idea especially with leggings.

My favorite leggings are these by Lululemon and mine are still looking new and wearing beautifully after FIVE years! (I wash them in cold and lay them to flat dry.)

With two side pockets for your phone, keys or a card or even tennis balls they have a perfect design and flatter. They are the gold standard and are worth the money! Once you have a pair of these it’s hard to wear others.

Comfy tops that breath and aren’t tight are becoming harder to find. I also find it maddening that some brands want to crop every top. This Sculpt Tank by Lulu is longer and light, so you can have some backside coverage and also wear a sport bra that isn’t a racer back.. Below right by Athleta is another longer option, but with a racer back..

For sport bras, I like the All in Motion Target bras. I just bought new ones and love the colors peeking out from a white or black tank. They have two styles and both the standard and adjustable strap one work well. For more support, say for running or singles tennis, I like an underwire bra with these on top. That still works better for me than the expensive sport ones. It helps to try them on, but I am a 34 band size and more than a D and wear an XL.

A jacket to go back and forth to a class or on walks or just run around is so nice. Last January I bought this Vuori soft Canyon Jacket . It no longer comes in peach, but this green is even prettier and there is a creme option. It’s not too heavy and has room to move, but feels like a cloud and keeps you warm, but not overly so.

If you need a hybrid shoe, these Rykas are a highly rated walking shoe and come in other colors.

Do you need a cute top to cover your backside after a class or for just running around with leggings on a busy day? I just discovered this chic soft sweatshirt with a drawstring waist. It’s in black or white and you can buy it here or here..

Shorts and sweats

I wear Vuori soft sweatpants all winter and in summer mostly shorts…

This is what I wore to walk every morning on vacation .I just bought this half zip sweatshirt and love it. Vuori has these shorts which are similar and even cuter..

I also wear the half zip with my soft Vuori joggers which I barely take off now they are so warm. If you don’t have a pair, no other joggers are as soft. I look a bit windblown, but it was after a walk.

The sweatshirt is a cropped one that isn’t so cropped on me. They show it with the matching Softstreme Pant which makes a cute outfit and looks like a comfy and cozy pant option.

Tennis / Pickleball Essentials

I have a lot of tennis pieces, but I keep going back to certain skirts and tops. I think Lululemon skirts are well made and last years. Vuori also has some good ones. I love the new options at Tuckernuck and J. Crew.

This is one of my tennis looks I wear all the time, a pleated skirt from ALO, and a long sleeve top from Lulu that can go over a tank.

The pleated ALO skirts run small so I order up.. I also have a few of these skirts.

Have you noticed women are wearing tennis/golf skirts who aren’t playing tennis? On vacation I saw them on so many women. I think a lot of women have been choosing them as an alternative as they can be more flattering than a short sometimes. You can get ‘long’ tennis skirts at Lululemon, and golf skirts are always a few inches longer. Try them as an option if you hate shorts.

If you need a jacket for the court this one by Tail is a classic in black. I love their jackets. I also am coveting this ruffled one from Tory Burch.

Stylish tennis and pickleball bags options..

Working athletic pieces into your wardrobe for a modern feel..

Don’t be afraid to mix your track pants, caps and leggings and sweatshirts into your regular wardrobe for a hip look. I love a nice baseball cap with a dressy coat and sneakers. How about track pants like I have below with a blazer and a t-shirt? It’s one of my most comfy looks for a day out..and what I wear for travel. I just swap the jacket for a sweater once I’m on the plane.

My pants are sold out from a few years ago, but other similar options here at WYSE, here at Anthro, and here. My jacket is the Rag & Bone Slade Jacket in Japanese wool and what I wore a ton on my UK trip. It is so soft and flattering and almost feels like a sweater. They are an investment, but worth the money and a great wardrobe piece to love for years. (I have a size 8.)

( For info on my taupe bag see comments.)

I also love a good lounge set and you can dress them up with a necklace and some slides or with a coat and sneakers in winter.. This lounge set at Madewell comes in a few colors and looks chic and comfy. Top here and pant here.

Chic athleisure looks to inspire you…

Images Pinterest

I hope this gave a some fresh ideas and good pieces you might consider when looking at your athletic wardrobe! Sometimes it just takes a fun or colorful piece to mix in with what you already have to make everything feel new.

Now let’s go over to Cindy’s and see what she’s sharing …

Cindy Hattersley Design

Thanks for being here!

Kim

If you missed last month’s Signature Style- Holiday Outfit Ideas find it here.

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

ON MY RADAR...

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary says

    Loved this post! Daily workhorse pieces which cross over for travel. 🙂
    Would love another option for shorts that are less ‘gym’ inspired but still have great movement. Seems like only options are bike shorts…then next is bermudas & skorts. Would love another option for the gym short/bike short that’s flattering.

    • kimwheeler says

      Seems like we are in the minority! I struggle to find a longer shirt now and no butt coverage is the new norm, especially with younger gals..

      Here’s a tip I see a lot of women do- wear a short tennis skirt over the pant or wear the tennis or golf skirt instead of shorts. Many who don’t play tennis love the skirt option instead and feel like it’s more flattering!

  3. Melissa says

    Love your style! Do you have a link
    to the jacket you are wearing in the cover photo with the track pants that are sold out?

    • kimwheeler says

      Hi Melissa, That jacket is Rag & Bone ! I love it. It’s a very soft Japanese wool that travels well and feels like a sweater, but has a nice shape. They can be pricey, but are well made and so flattering. This is it and I waited until there was a sale and bought mine. They are a great addition to the wardrobe.
      https://rstyle.me/+Pozx1JnYwofoEa6408HIFA

    • kimwheeler says

      Hi Sally! I bought a medium in that jacket and it’s roomy. but meant to be like that. xo

  5. Laura says

    Many good options here. I haven’t bought Lululemon for a while–it seemed to run small, from my recollection. Did you size up or buy your usual size?

    • kimwheeler says

      Laura, I have no idea as the label is no longer on mine! I think they run true to size, but I googled and the Align ones people say run true to size! i hope that helps!

  6. Rosie says

    Great post Kim and so many gorgeous recommendations! I love the trousers / track pants you wore when you travelled to the UK. I remember how stylish yet comfortable you looked in your “airport pics”
    I love the smart loose coat over a more casual outfit as well … and the baseball cap looks great too!
    Like you I definitely find longer, looser tops, that still look good, hard to find.
    When you mentioned women wearing skirts over leggings / pants you reminded me about the quilted “mini “ skirts that I first saw in a shop in Switzerland a few years ago. The fabric was almost like that of a lightweight puffa jacket and at the time I couldn’t figure out who would wear them … and when lol. Then this year I saw a lady with one over leggings and she looked great!
    Thanks again Kim for all the hard work and research you do … your posts are simply the best!
    Rosie xx

    • kimwheeler says

      Hi Rosie! Aw thank you. I agree not easy to find tops that aren’t tight and cropped!
      I saw those quilted skirts over tights! They sell them here too at a place called Title Nine! Maybe after skiing, but makes sense they might be in Switzerland..and they give you some buffer over the tights.
      Hope you are having a good new year.. Love the pics of your trip! xo

  7. Marge says

    Hi. I am new here and loving it. What is the fabulous tote that you are carrying?
    Thanks,
    Marge from NJ

  9. Caroline says

    Hi Kim…Can you tell me about the white tennis shoes you are wearing in the picture of you in the weight room? They appear to have some k8n$ of Velcro closure rather than laces. Thanks so much.

Copyright © 2026 · Northern California Style· Blog Design by Little Blue Deer