America, Please Drop the Leisurewear and Put Proper Clothes on Again

At a recent midweek luncheon, a reporter observed the growing popularity of athleisure, a style of clothing that has permeated everyday American attire. Women at the gathering, dressed in Gap, Alo, and Lululemon, exemplified this trend: elastic-waist pants paired with tops in matching colors or prints. This comfortable, soft clothing once considered suitable for the gym or household tasks, has now become the de facto uniform for various aspects of daily life, including work, school drop-offs, airports, and coffee shops.

The pandemic accelerated the shift towards casual attire, as people spent more time at home and the traditional boundaries between work and leisure blurred. Companies like Gap Inc. and Athleta capitalized on this trend, with Athleta achieving $1 billion in annual sales. Athleisure, once perceived as either lazy or wealthy, has become more neutral and stylish, with companies offering separate tops and bottoms at higher prices, making the concept more appealing and justifiable.

The pandemic normalized this trend, but even as the world opened up again, athleisure remained a staple in American wardrobes.

Jonathan LeVian, a vice president of sales and marketing, noted the change in business settings, as clients now expect to see professionals in button-down shirts and jeans rather than traditional suits. The fashion industry has done well in making these clothes more refined, with softer cuts and cleaner branding, but the reporter argues that it's time to move on from this casualization of dress.

While the reporter enjoys athleisure, they believe it has become too pervasive and has begun to dominate even the most ordinary parts of life. The writer proposes a return to more traditional clothing, suggesting that the overuse of comfort-oriented garments has diminished the purpose and appreciation of clothing itself.