Vintage Activewear: A New Aesthetic Taking Over
For the past few years, the activewear market has been dominated by clean lines and perfectly matching sets. While there’s nothing wrong with a minimalist look, the rise of vintage-inspired activewear has introduced a whole new sense of creativity and playfulness to your daily Pilates outfit. Think bold colors, layered pieces, and effortless crossovers between everyday wear and Pilates princess energy—perfect for a post-class coffee date. Read on to learn how to build standout fits and where to find the pieces that will make your next Solidcore class look extra fun.
Layers Upon Layers
While a bit unexpected and out of the box, the more surprising the layer, the better. An easy place to start is with colorful long sleeves layered into your look. Feeling a little more adventurous? Try an athletic skirt over leggings. And don’t be afraid to play with color—stick to a cohesive palette, whether that means mixing soft pastels or vibrant tones, so no single shade overpowers the rest.
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Capri Pants
Move over, baggy, sidewalk-dragging pants—you’ve got competition. Dig out that pair of capris from a decade ago (or take a peek in your mom’s closet) for an instant vintage vibe. From there, the styling possibilities are endless: pair them with a cardigan and tank, a track jacket, or a simple boatneck—each an effortless option shown in the inspo pics here.
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Track Stripes
Track pants and shorts have been on the rise lately, and they fit seamlessly into this aesthetic. Try styling a pair with chunky sneakers and a tank, as seen here, and finish the look with retro sunglasses for an extra throwback touch.
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Wide Headbands
I’m obsessed with this look—it’s effortlessly chic and so easy to pull off. Try it with a bob, or switch it up with a bun or slicked-back braid. It pairs seamlessly with so many athleisure fits. A neutral option is a safe, versatile choice if you’re wearing a colorful outfit, but the vibrant green adds such a fun contrast against the neutral tones of her jacket.
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Vintage Graphics
It’s a little Y2K—but in the best way. These vintage fonts and playful fruit motifs are so fun. Look for pieces in soft pastels and use them to guide the rest of your outfit—notice how these looks pull shades from the tops and echo them in their choice of bottoms.
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Flats? (yes)
As unexpected as it may sound, flats are such a chic addition to these looks. When paired with long, scrunched socks, they lean into a balletcore vibe, while the pants-and-bra (or tank) combo layered with a cardigan feels like a soft-girl–meets–Pilates-princess moment. It’s essentially blending two different “fonts” of the same girl into one cohesive look.shop our favorites:
Micro shorts/biker shorts
Biker shorts have been on the radar for a while—but it’s all about styling them with intention. I’m loving the look of a vintage cropped muscle tee, as well as the iconic Princess Diana formula: an oversized sweatshirt paired with biker shorts and chunky sneakers. Some of these looks lean more toward micro shorts, so take your pick and style accordingly.
To complement…
A few more pieces you may have spotted in these images that would be great additions to your funky fits, such as chunky retro sneakers and sporty sunglasses:
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