The Ultimate Guide to High-End Athleisure: How to Style It and Is It Worth the Money?

Athleisure is no longer confined to workouts. In 2025, it’s an essential part of the modern wardrobe—merging movement, style, and comfort. But as luxury labels step into the space with sculpting fabrics, technical finishes and £200+ leggings, the question arises: is high-end athleisure actually worth the investment? And how do you wear it without looking like you’ve just stepped out of the gym?

This guide breaks down the design science behind premium athleisure, styling principles, what to buy first—and how to find your perfect fit instantly using Tellar.co.uk, the UK’s leading free sizing tool.

What Counts as High-End Athleisure?

High-end athleisure blends fashion-forward design with advanced performance features. These aren’t fast-fashion leggings or disposable gym kits. They’re built to last, designed to sculpt, and styled for everyday wear.

Common Features:

Premium technical fabrics like modal, polyamide blends, and stretch cashmere
Moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, and antibacterial finishes
Refined colour palettes (neutrals, taupes, olive, navy, bone)
Minimal branding and architectural cuts
Tailored construction: contoured waistbands, flattering seams, and sculpting zones

It’s athleisure you can wear on a flight, to a casual meeting, or styled under a blazer.

Is It Worth the Price?

If you live in joggers or leggings for anything other than the gym, yes. Here's why:

✅ Advanced Materials

Luxury athleisure brands invest in textile science:

Breathable, squat-proof, fade-resistant
50+ wash longevity with shape retention
Often biodegradable or sustainably produced

✅ Superior Fit

You’re paying for patterns developed with real human measurements—not generic sizing. Waistbands sit flat. Leg seams elongate. Compression zones lift.

Still, even the best brands vary in fit—so using the Tellar Store Size Lookup Tool is key to avoid sizing errors across different labels.

✅ Cost Per Wear

If you wear a pair of £120 leggings twice a week for a year, they cost £1.15 per wear—less than a takeaway coffee. And many pieces last several years.

How to Style High-End Athleisure

The key to making it look polished lies in mixing tailored elements with performance basics.

🔹 Pair with Structured Outerwear

A boxy blazer or trench instantly elevates leggings or joggers.

Explore fit-conscious layering in The Ultimate Guide to SmartCasual Blazers for Women’s Body Types.

🔹 Keep Colours Tonal

Monochrome outfits (e.g. all-charcoal or all-nude) look luxe and purposeful.

🔹 Contrast Textures

Think ribbed leggings with a cotton poplin shirt. Modal tanks under cashmere cardigans. Tech fleece hoodies with wool coats.

🔹 Accessories Matter

Swap gym trainers for leather low-tops. Add a minimalist crossbody. Gold hoops or a claw clip signal this isn’t just loungewear—it’s styled.

Styling Formulas to Try

Outfit Base	Style Elevation
Ribbed tank + matte leggings	Oversized blazer + crossbody + sleek sunglasses
Cropped zip hoodie + joggers	Long trench + structured tote
Racerback top + flared trousers	Shirt jacket + tonal trainers + slick bun
Wrap top + biker shorts	Overshirt + minimalist clutch

What to Buy First

Start with versatile, durable pieces you’ll wear multiple ways.

1. Sculpting Matte Leggings

Avoid sheen or bright prints. Look for thick waistbands, compression panels, and stretch that holds.

2. Tailored Joggers

Cuffed at the ankle, wide waistband, and in soft neutral tones (moss, taupe, charcoal).

3. Ribbed Tanks or Fitted Modal Tops

Wear under suits, knits, or on their own. Ideal for layering and transitional styling.

4. Cropped Technical Jackets or Longline Wrap Coats

Look for clean lines, subtle zippers, and structured silhouettes.

Want help picking the right length and rise?

🔗 Finding Your Clothes Size: The Ultimate Guide

Sizing Is Everything: Get It Right with Tellar

High-end athleisure relies on perfect fit to perform. Waistbands that gape, leggings that bag, or joggers that ride up will kill both style and comfort.

That’s where Tellar.co.uk makes all the difference.

How Tellar.co.uk Works

Tellar is the UK’s #1 free online sizing tool. It matches your body measurements or a known brand size to over 1,500 brands—including premium activewear, tailoring, and smart-casualwear.

How to Use It:

Measure your bust, waist and hips OR choose a brand you already wear
Use the Store Size Lookup Tool to get your best-fitting size across brands like COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket & more
Receive real-time sizing guidance with no guesswork and no downloads

🎯 You can also:

Create a free profile
Download a free printable measuring tape

Most Common Fit Mistakes in Athleisure

Problem	Reason	Tellar Fix
Waistband digging or gaping	Mismatch in waist-to-hip ratio	Tellar uses your personal proportions
Cropped tanks riding up	Incorrect bust or torso length	Tellar factors bust + length ratios
Joggers too short or pooling at ankle	Brand inseam not matched to height	Tellar calculates leg length range
Compression gear too tight or loose	Compression zone varies per brand	Tellar matches per brand structure

High-End Athleisure Brands Worth Knowing

While not sold directly by Tellar, many of these brands are comparable to COS, Arket and others you can size for using Tellar.

Brand	Best For	Style Notes
Vuori	Soft joggers, sculpting tanks	Great for travel & studio-to-street
Alo Yoga	Oversized outerwear + matching sets	Style-led, perfect for layering
Ernest Leoty	Corsetry-inspired performance pieces	Sculpting + luxurious silhouettes
Pangaia	Oversized eco-loungewear	Unisex fit, great for layering
Live The Process	Balletcore minimalist sets	Slim fit, best on straighter frames

Need to find your size in similar cuts from COS, Reiss, or Arket?

🔗 The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide

Want More Style Advice for Athleisure & Beyond?

Visit the Tellar Fashion Hub—a growing library of fashion guides written by stylists, not salespeople. Always honest, always free.

Explore:

Stay Connected with Tellar

For real-time sizing updates, new style advice, and insider tips:

Instagram: @Tellarsizing
Twitter/X: @Tellar100
Pinterest: TellarUK
Facebook: Tellar Sizing

Final Thought: Is High-End Athleisure Worth It?

Absolutely—if you value comfort, durability, style and silhouette-enhancing cuts. The key is choosing the right fabrics, fit, and layering pieces—and using Tellar.co.uk to ensure it actually fits your body, not just the trend.

Luxury athleisure isn’t just about looking good—it’s about feeling tailored and effortless at the same time.