“There is more freedom in the clothes you can wear in the gym than when you go for a run,” says Jenna Litner, a New York-based content creator and former strategist at Peloton. Litner has built a niche online discussing the many ways women can accessorize and style their outfits to work out in; earlier this year, she spoke exclusively with Danimás about why she trained. “You can wear whatever you want to the gym as long as you’re wearing the right bra. I love wearing terry cloth shorts, or vintage soccer shorts or graphic tees that I’ve cropped myself. Or bigger tomboy-style shorts with an itty bitty bra,” she says. “It’s fun to play with contrast and proportion in the gym.”

Kate Markman, a personal trainer and model based in London, agrees that self-expression is worthwhile, even when you’re sweating. “Mixing vintage, niche and unknown brands with versatile pieces definitely brings more life to my workouts.” Markman brings her avant-garde fashion edge to each training session. “You push harder when you look good, and generic sportswear just doesn’t do that for me. An outfit romanticizes the whole routine.” She cites “Vibram Five Fingers [shoes], cute vintage hotpants, a vintage tight bralette and huge sunglasses” as one of her favorite workout looks.

Getting dressed for weightlifting might seem novel today, but weightlifting gyms in the Eighties were filled with fashion-led outfits: bodybuilding had an aesthetic of its own. Lisa Lyon, the sport’s most renowned women's muse, regularly wore sporty outfits that offered a sense of her style: on her regular rotation were striped bodysuits, colorful track shorts, socks and sneakers. Her curly hair was rarely tied back; lipstick was worn as an accessory. Arnold Schwarzenegger lifted in a ribbed cotton tank top and high-waisted track pants—a look that feels fresh amid a sea of modern-day, homogeneous nylon gear. Tighter tops and wider trousers were a common silhouette of the sport.

Today, working out in loose-cut pants can feel rebellious. For women in particular, it is a rejection of spandex culture and the svelte silhouettes we’ve been forced to squeeze into for the last decade. “We created workout trousers with volume, drama and texture,” says Danimás founder Dany Garcia, who believes that women deserve more than leggings to work out in. Dany knew from the get-go that workout pants were an essential part of the first Danimás apparel collection—and fundamental to her proposal for the first-ever transitional closet built for strength. “Our apparel is built to bring the same drama, interest, and enjoyment you get from your closet— except it's built for training.” Designed to invite women to take up space and unleash self-confidence, there are not one, but three pairs of relaxed workout trousers in the collection. There’s also a stirrup tight.

Erin Lardy, chief content officer for The Garcia Companies and head of editorial strategy for Danimás, has been working out in the Everything Jogger. “As a glute-dominant person, I really appreciate the fact that, unlike leggings, there is a lot of room in these pants,” she says. “In my last workout, I did everything from squats to Bulgarian split squats and walking lunges; I felt like nothing was spilling out, and I didn’t get too hot.” Crafted from a French-milled taffeta in a wrinkle-resistant finish, they feature practical details such as an adjustable ankle tap for a customized fit. “I personally love to wear them rolled over, it’s a total vibe,” she says. “I prefer to wear them rolled-over with spandex underneath, which makes me feel cool.” They look just as good paired with heels as they do barefoot doing glute kickbacks: Dany loves to pair hers with an ankle-strapped stiletto from Alaia. 

Versatility is key for Markman, who splits her time between teaching in four studios, including the uber-luxe wellbeing club Tramp Health: she is a woman in motion. “The key is being able to mix and match your performance wear while still looking like you can go to a fashion event afterwards without making major wardrobe changes—perhaps just the shoes and some deodorant,” she says. “Removing the time it takes to get changed, and negating the need to bring a heavy gym bag everywhere, is essential for me. I want to look cute from the get-go; I want to be dressed and ready to lift a brick townhouse… and just as easily go grab a matcha afterwards.” Lardy agrees; she says her workout pants make life easier. “You can throw on whatever you want on your top half and leave the gym wearing a full outfit.” 

The ease of movement that Markman describes can also unlock confidence. I started weightlifting this January, and early in my journey, I found myself standing in front of the dumbbell rack. Wearing black lycra shorts and a black tank, I felt unsure of myself and self-conscious; I wasn’t sure what exercises I should do, and the mirrors only enhanced my feeling of overwhelm. A few days later, I was back, except this time, I was wearing a pair of chocolate brown, loose-cut workout pants with a ribbed cotton tank—a riff on Schwarzenegger's gym fits. My headspace was entirely different. Instead of feeling insecure, I moved through the gym with a self-assuredness that had been missing just days prior. Every time I looked in the mirror, I got a dopamine hit because I appreciated what I was wearing.

Later, I saw a personal trainer wearing a pair of Issey Miyake’s Pleats Please to teach a class. I realized that these pants were roomy enough for deadlifts, fluid enough for squats, and comfortable enough for mountain climbers. At that moment, my vision for my gym wardrobe crystallized: I wanted gym fashion that did not compromise on functionality. I wanted to clothe my body as intentionally as I would going anywhere else; I wanted to make sure I put myself in the best headspace possible for each session by dressing in a way that empowered me. From that day on, I made a promise to myself that I would make an effort to wear outfits for the gym. 

Why, you ask? If we look good, we feel good. And if we feel good, we lift well. For me, the unlock was as simple as a pair of tailored workout pants, but the lesson ran deeper. Fashion isn’t only about self-expression. It’s training fuel.