Nearly a decade ago, before there was a Carbon38 and Bandier, the fitness scene was dominated by neon activewear courtesy of brands like Nike, Adidas and Under Armour. When niche labels started popping up, the tide started to shift and trendsetting women in fitness classes started to veer away from bright colors in favor of more sophisticated neutrals. Then the athleisure movement demanded workout clothes you could rock from the gym straight to the bar, which is obviously not easy to do with a bright neon tank top that says “Just Do It.”
Now, a number of influential athleisure brands are launching fashion-forward neon pieces you’ll want to wear everywhere. “I think we will always see neon colors since they’re so bright and energetic, but we are in a full neon moment right now,” says Alala founder Denise Lee. “We used single neon colors for our pieces as I think it looks more sophisticated than having pieces with multiple neon colors on the same style. We also kept them very simple with sleek silhouettes so as not to overwhelm the wearer.”
If you’re feeling bold, Lee suggests going all-out with a neon bra and tights combo. “I think that it’s an amazing look, especially if you’re working out outdoors,” she explains. “If you want, you can always break it up with a black or white sweatshirt tied around your waist. If you’re like me and wearing a full neon outfit is not your style, then I think the bra or cropped tank layered under an oversized off-the-shoulder tee is a super cute look or you can even pair it with gray sweatpants for a lifting session.”
Check out our slideshow above for some standout neon activewear pieces.
