Fitness Clothing Trends in 2022

As 2022 comes to a close in just a few months, we wanted to recap the best fitness clothing trends for women that we’ve seen so far this year and which trends we expect to continue seeing in 2023. Activewear is a staple for women who love to work out or like to wear workout clothes to run errands since they’re comfortable and practical. (Plus, wearing fitness clothes can encourage you to actually work out. Hey, we don’t make up the rules!)

Getting into athletic mode can be quite the challenge, but when you’re wearing trendy fitness wear, it makes going to the gym or taking a spin class much easier. While trends come and go, (have you seen fitness wear trends from the ‘80s?), some fashion trends in the fitness space are here to stick around. Aside from being cool and trendy, athleisure clothing should fit a few requirements:

Comfortable: Your sporty clothing should be stretchy and fit snugly on your body so it doesn’t interfere when you’re active.

Stylish: Your workout clothes should fit your personal style and be something basic enough to wear year after year.

Versatile: Your clothing should consist of neutral/monochrome colors that could match various tops, sports bras, and leggings. Mix and match is the name of the game with athleisure!

Ahead, learn about the activewear trends we’ve leaned into this year and plan on continuing in 2023.

Silky Soft Leggings

Leggings that are silky to the touch don’t get linty as cotton leggings do. They’re form-fitting and shape your body like a glove. High-waisted and hitting at the ankle, shiny leggings are flattering and have all the features you want in exercise pants. This fabric is moisturizer-wicking, breathable, and thick enough to cover underwear lines. Unlike other fabrics, silky leggings stand out with their shininess and thick waistband that are basically built-in Spanx. They’re basically a modern throwback to retro leggings from the ‘60s!

Shop these Silky Heroine Sport Leggings here.

Thick Racerback Sports Bras

Racerback sports bras have been around for a while and they’re here to stay — only this time, they’re thicker than ever. With thick straps that lead to a wide racer back, you’ll feel fully supported to play any activity of your choice. With fitted pads, you won’t have to wear a bra or worry about bra straps peeking through your racer back. Many sports bras come with padding, but you can also stitch in your own if they don’t.

The Heroine Sport bra includes padding, a thick racer back, and shiny material to match shiny leggings. The scoop neckline is low enough that it won’t make you feel claustrophobic and you can easily move around in it. The band on the bottom of the bra is like a crop top that holds everything in place, no matter your cup size. It comes in black. navy, or army green. Throw on a tank top and hoodie and you’re ready for a fall-forward workout followed by brunch with friends!

Shop the Racerback Heroine Sports Bra here.

Muscle Tank Tops

We’re still seeing muscle tank tops everywhere — as streetwear and gym wear. From Lululemon and Adidas, all the major athleisure brands have been showing these tops for a while now. And there’s a very good reason why! These tops typically have thicker straps and show off your arms. The underarm drops lower than your average tank, which makes it much more breathable and lightweight when you’re working up a sweat. It can also show a pop of color with a bright sports bra peeking from underneath your underarms. You’ll feel more flexible to move and won’t feel constrained by a tight-fitting shirt. The top also drops at the waist so it doesn’t hug your torso or hips.

Shop the Style Runner Gym Tank here.

Thigh-Length Bike Shorts

Bike shorts don’t hit the knee or even come close to it the way authentic bike shorts do. Authentic bike shorts are worn by bikers while the bike shorts you know and love are worn by the everyday woman. Bike shorts have been trendy for a few years now and they’re here to stay! They can be worn with a button-down shirt or blazer for a casual everyday look or you can pair them with a sports bra and tank top for a gym look. You’ve probably seen bike shorts as street style or as workout gear at your favorite pilates class. They’re everywhere! You can even keep them on post-workout for brunch or a casual day with friends.

Shop the P.E Nation Momentum Shorts here.

Just because fitness wear was trending last year, doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t trend again this year. Why fix something that’s not broken?

What are some of the most popular trends in fitness clothing for 2022?

From bike shorts and shiny leggings to racer-back sports bras and muscle tank tops, you can mix and match a bunch of these styles. Other trends we love include ribbed sets, cutouts, and the catsuit.

Back2Basics has a store in New Jersey and sells their clothing online, too. We only carry Alo Yoga in the store. Online, we carry Beyond Yoga, LNA, Heroine Sport, Vuouri Clothing, Varley, and many more basic clothing brands.