Thank you to Macy’s & ShopStyle for kindly sponsoring this post.
All opinions are 100% honest & all items were hand-selected by me.
This is the time of year when many people start evaluating the last 12 months & begin making goals for the coming year. I’m personally not a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions per se, but what I have started doing is picking a word for the year. What I love about this is that it’s not about crossing another goal off your list – it’s about creating a mantra & setting an intention to help guide your daily actions. Every year is a bit different based on what season of life I’m in – 2018 was Balance, 2019 was Surrender and I’ve just decided that my word for 2020 is Endurance. I chose this word because it applies to so many things and it is what I want to strive for in all areas of my life heading into the new year.
Historically speaking, I tend to be an all or nothing type of personality – but I’ve been working hard to shift my mindset more to “something is better than nothing.” In terms of fitness, I used to be tempted to avoid working out altogether if I didn’t have a full hour to devote to it or if I couldn’t do an activity that would push me to full exertion. But, I’m learning that even gentle stretching, moderate movement, or a short 20-minute workout can be beneficial in so many ways.
Obviously, I’m not a fitness model and I’ll never have 6-pack abs, but regular activity is incredibly important for keeping my auto-immune disease in remission & maintaining stable mental health. Whether you’re postpartum & needing to give yourself some grace or working towards a specific goal (like training for a marathon or achieving a fitness certification) or just wanting to remain consistent with weekly workouts…I think this principle of balance can apply to us all.
And because nothing motivates to get moving more than having new gear to workout in, today I’m sharing some of my favorite activewear with you. I purposely chose 3 looks that would work for all different types of activities, so there’s truly something for everyone. And the best part is that it’s all marked down now as part of Macy’s After Christmas Sale – you’ll get an extra 20% off select styles with code JOY through 1/1. Unless noted otherwise, everything I’m wearing here is on sale & runs true to size.
Admittedly, this is more of an athleisure look – though you can definitely work out in these clothes, these sneakers are more suitable for every-day wear. These leggings have the lowest compression of the three pairs featured here (which means they’re super comfy!), so they would be best for yoga, cross-training, or just running around town. I think the camo print has such a cool vibe & they’re less than $30. Other leggings currently on sale that I love: this metallic print pair, this color blocked pair & this tonal-print pair.
I’ve recently realized that I much prefer molded sports bras over the type with removable pads (which tend to shift while you’re moving around). Though you can’t see it, I’m wearing this one with every outfit here because the support is excellent & it doesn’t flatten your chest like others I’ve tried. If you’re looking for a high impact option, I also love this one for running in.
What I’m wearing:
c/o Calvin Klein Packable Puffer Coat, c/o Cotton On T-Shirt,
c/o Jockey Sports Bra, c/o Ideology Camo Leggings,
c/o adidas Grand Court Sneakers, c/o Hip Hydration Water Bottle
This style of pullover has become so popular over the last couple of years, but most of them I’ve seen are pretty pricey. So I was thrilled to find this lightweight version that’s under $30! It comes in 3 colors, but I just loved this rich burgundy hue (and the fact that it matched these knit sneakers so perfectly). This would be perfect for throwing on when you’re heading to a gym class, but you could easily wear it with jeans for a casual athleisure look.
These leggings are my absolute favorite for running in – I discovered them a year ago and have been buying more every time they go on sale…so now I have three pairs that I rotate throughout the week (so I don’t have to wash them until the weekend!). These have a nice level of compression & the fit is so good that I never have to worry about tugging to pull them up or readjust during my run. I also love that the fabric has a slight sheen to it, which is not only super flattering, but pet hair doesn’t stick to them, so I don’t have to keep a lint roller in my bag.
What I’m wearing:
c/o ’47 Brand NY Yankees Hat, c/o 32 Degrees Quilted Pullover,
c/o Under Armour Leggings, c/o Puma Knit Sneakers,
c/o Under Armour Tote Bag
I don’t usually wear patterned leggings, but because this is a smaller scale print, it’s much easier to pull off. These have a medium level of compression, and the fit is perfection – even my husband commented on how flattering they are! I went down a size in these, mainly because I wanted them to suck me in a bit more – but, I’d say you can stick with your usual size when ordering.
I paired them with this long-sleeve tee, which is only $15 – love the knotted detail in front! I’m not one of those people who works out in just a sports bra – so in the winter, I like to have a few long-sleeve tops to wear to the gym. I’ve become a huge fan of the Ideology brand because the quality is great and the prices are so affordable – I also picked up this ruched front tee, this quilted hoodie & this waffle knit top.
What I’m wearing:
c/o Calvin Klein Puffer Vest (more colors here), c/o Ideology Knot-Front Top,
c/o Ideology Animal Print Leggings, c/o New Balance Sneakers,
c/o Gaiam Reversible Yoga Mat, c/o Gaiam Yoga Mat Bag
March Must-Haves
Check & Go
Cozy Plaid
Following Suit