Get The Look: (Ath)Leisure Attitude

Comfort meets fashion with athleticwear that takes you from day to night.

photo by janelle bendycki

The days of choosing between baggy yet cozy sweatpants or too-tight skinny jeans are over. These days, it’s all about finding something in between with athleisure, which marries fashion with comfortable, performance-ready active wear.

“It’s a consumer-driven trend,” says Brigitte Nguyen, who owns Ragged Row clothing boutique with her sister, Christina Nguyen. “It’s one of the first times in the industry where fashion is being driven by the consumer instead of by the big designer brands.”

The sisters opened Ragged Row in Sewickley four years ago and added a second location at Bakery Square in East Liberty two years ago. Much of their merchandise consists of casual, stylish sportswear that wouldn’t look out of place at the gym or for cocktails with friends.

Christina notes the 2017 fashion market shows more athleisure looks. Brigitte adds the trend has evolved so that active wear is being paired with everyday wardrobe pieces. “I don’t think this trend is going anywhere,” she says.

“Now it’s [about] how are you wearing it. Instead of being head to toe, it’s [about] what items in my closet look good with my leggings or my sneakers. Or, what cute tank top can I wear with a skirt or leather pants.”

On Brigitte: P.E Nation jacket, $179, LNA cutout muscle tank, $70, Koral activewear leggings, $145.
On Christina: Koral jacket, $280, P.E Nation sweatshirt, $139, Running Bare leggings, $132. 

Ragged Row, 116 Bakery Square Blvd., East Liberty; 412/441-1730, 439 Beaver St., Sewickley; 412/259-8430, raggedrow.com