Has the Definition of Sexy Changed Today?

The term, “sexy” has been interpreted in several different ways. Companies like Victoria’s Secret took it in the direction of lacy lingerie, push-up bras and satin robes.

They even started the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to display each season’s newest take on sexy. But times have begun to change society’s view of what is considered sexy.

In 2020, with the rise in body positivity, the mindset has shifted from flaunting to fitness. Whether it be a mom running errands or a student with a busy schedule, athleisure is a sure win for the look of the day. It’s a quick and simple outfit, who could dislike it? Topping it off, it reinvents the idea of sexy.

A rise in fitness has brought inclusivity to the forefront of sexy. Companies like Aerie have models of all body types showing off the athleisure and comfy lingerie. Popularity has shifted from Victoria’s Secret to PINK, where the focus is athleisure not lingerie. It’s no longer, “how can I look like that? I want to be skinny too!” It’s now, “look at me and all I can conquer!”

Fashion is molded by the needs and wants of society. It just so happens that the current needs and wants is athleisure. It is the want to feel comfortable and sexy in their own way. Athleisure is the industry’s answer.

Athleisure may be a clothing style, but under it all it’s a new mindset. Society has turned away from revealing everything they have. Now, it has turned to embracing the comfort of their own skin.

The clothing is no longer the root of the sex appeal. Instead, it is the confidence of the individual. If the person feels comfortable, then the person will feel sexy.

Trends are always changing. Athleisure was one that rose to the top a couple of years back. By looking at the change in society’s perspective – in terms of sexy – it may be a trend that stays around.

It was time for a change in the industry. Athleisure was the driving “mindset” that brought this change. Who needs to bring the old “sexy” back? This new sexy is revolutionary and nothing can beat that!

Athleisure wear became popular in the late 1970s when the rise of fitness regimes became popular. With such popularity, many people turned to comfortable clothes to make participating in such activities easier. This workout wear quickly turned into grocery-shopping attire, which quickly became weekend wear. This has correlated into brands beginning to incorporate athletic clothing into their everyday collections. While athleisure wear took off and became mainstream in casual fashion, is it possible that it is also becoming mainstream in workwear?

This casual approach to fashion has shifted how people dress for work. With the rapid rise in athleisure in everyday street and casual wear, it wasn’t long before Millennials started to incorporate athleisure into their workwear. Scrapping the idea of ties, suits, dresses, and heels, professionals are turning to clothing with fabrics made with an athletic approach. Comfort and practicality is valued more in comparison to the typical, traditional, stiff fashion that popularized workwear for many decades. It is easy to find many work-appropriate clothing items that utilize the popular synthetic fibers such as spandex, nylon,

HAS ATHLEISURE INFILTRATED OUR MODERN WORKWEAR?

or Lycra that many athleisure pieces are typically made of.

Trends especially highlighting this include wearing leggings in place of jeans or dresspants, matching chunky sneakers with your professional clothes, or even men wearing Nike golf shirts in professional environments.

The everyday consumer values both the comfort they find in athleisure, but they also value something that can prove to be functional and won’t require them to change throughout the day for various activities. While consumers enjoy comfort, they don’t necessarily want to look dressed down. Consumers have turned to mixing athletic looking garments with traditional business attire to create a low-effort, put-together look that will keep them comfortable throughout the day.

Overall, we have shifted from simply purchasing athleisure clothing for working out, but rather for inactivity. Consumers’ desire for a multifunctional wardrobe is expected to further drive the athleisure market and to help the trend further infiltrate our wardrobes.