Athleisure—it’s clothing made of performance materials that’s found its way into the workplace. After all, working from home throughout the pandemic has forever changed people’s ability to sit in pleated pants with constricting waistbands and seemingly stain-receptive dress shirts and silk blouses. The result has companies loosening dress codes, with corporate giants such as Microsoft and Salesforce generally promoting business- or smart-casual attire, while rumor has it that Google has “no formal dress code whatsoever,” according to Entrepreneur Magazine, while job-search site Zippia reported that T-shirts, jeans, and even shorts are acceptable around Google’s offices.
In the events world, however, business casual is a safe bet. And with the rise of athleisure, many event professionals are increasingly opting for the breathable, wrinkle-free, and moisture-wicking items for their style and comfort while catching a flight, running around the trade show floor, or getting a tour of a client’s offices…or in many cases, all three in the same day. To get the low-down on what eventgoers are adding to their shopping carts, Vendelux caught up with some of the industry’s most stylish. Here’s their favorite athleisure picks—plus where they’re showing them off…
For Getting in 10k Steps on the Trade Show Floor
Mollie Plotkin, the Pennsylvania-based owner of keynote and entertainment booking agency Mollie Plotkin Group, is “all about” her white Rothy’s sneakers. Starting at $99 for a pair of the brand’s original white slip-on sneakers—and maxing out at $189 for a high-top tennis shoe—Plotkin makes them sound worth the investment. “I can—and have—walked miles in them,” she gushed over Rothy’s sneakers, noting that the “best part” is that “you can put them in the washing machine!”
Plotkin added: “I have traveled the world with them, and they take me from the trade show floor to an evening on the town!
Perhaps unsurprisingly, rival sneaker brand On Cloud should also be on event profs’ radars, according to both Florida-based experiential marketing expert Kimberly Nguyen and Kelsey Ross, the founder of Redux Events out of Chicago. Meanwhile, Lauren Diamond Crites, the founder and director of Hello Happiness Design in Arizona, is a fan of HOKA. Specifically, “I like the Rincon 3 or the Clifton 9 models,” Diamond Crites said, which ring in anywhere from $125 to $200 each depending on the design. And for long days when the design studio founder is on her feet, Diamond Crites told Vendelux she’ll even bring both pairs of sneakers with her, switching between the two midway throughout the day.
Entire Productions Inc.’ founder Natasha Miller, meanwhile, dished that her entire team wears Snibbs “exclusively.” She even dubbed them “the world’s most comfortable non-slip shoe,” noting that Snibbs are made with people who are on their feet for up to 12 hours per day in mind.
For the Happy-Hour Hopper
Nick Kopach, the senior director of national events at Topgolf—who’s constantly pitching the beloved sports entertainment complex’s events offerings out of the office and on-site at conference centers and events—says he’s a fan of Collars & Co.’s polo shirts. The $82 shirts are athleisure for their stretchy, moisture-wicking fabrics, which Kopach said he “lives in throughout the long week.”
“They are perfect for under your sports coat on the trade show floor, and amazing to roll into happy hour when you want to drop the sports coat for the evening,” Kopach added. A smart pairing: “TravisMathew’s ‘Open to Close’ pant,” which Kopach said are “super light and comfortable but also very stylish when attending trade shows.” The pants, which come in classic, “tech chino,” or a tapered jogger style, will run event profs between $129.95 and $149.95.
And to finish off the look, Kopach recommended slipping into a pair of Cole Haan shoes. “I wouldn’t ever step foot on a trade show floor without my Cole Haan’s as they are super comfortable and still stylish,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a thread on Reddit, one user titled a conversation, “Conference Lifehack: Athleisure,” and asked fellow Redditors what to wear to a conference. “I think I need to do some deliberate conference-athleisure shopping now. Does anyone else want to spill their comfy secrets?” the user asked on the social media site. Among the most popular responses: Western Rise. The men’s apparel company boasts that it offers “apparel for the modern, one-bag traveler,” and though Reddit users noted that its items are “a bit on the pricier side, … [Western Rise’s] stuff is great for feeling comfy and looking professional.”
The brand’s Evolution and AT pants were getting a lot of love on the social media platform. The Evolution option, which rings in at $128, comes in “classic,” “slim,” and “chino” fits, with nine different colorways on offer. Western Rise’s AT Pant, meanwhile, is currently on sale for $82.80 (from $138), and comes in five different colors, with the option of an extendable inseam for taller men.
For the Frequent Flier
Juliet Tripp, the founder and events business coach at The Events Coach, and co-host of the Like an #EventBoss Podcast, told Vendelux that when she’s headed to the airport, she’s consistently reaching for the 365 Sculpting Lounge Cami Maxi Dress or any of the Dayflex Unitards from women-owned brand Tala. Tripp noted that she often throws a blazer over either of the pieces to dress them up, adding that she’s sported the look not only at the airport, but also “to events [and] running ‘round.”
“As an events industry business owner and mama to a one-year-old, the days of three outfit changes a day are over, so I love to have an outfit that can be dressed up or down so I can hop from mama mode to event boss mode,” Tripp said.
For Buttoned-Up Affairs
Not sure which blazer to pair with an athleisure outfit? For event professionals looking for one of the best all-around offerings on the market, look no further than Sene Studio’s Soho FlexTech Blazer. Yes, it’s a penny-pinching $500, but the Los Angeles-based brand makes its blazers fit to order as part of its mission to reduce waste in the garment industry, which is responsible for more than $5 billion worth of thrown-away clothing per year, Sene reported. Thus, upon adding the Soho FlexTech Blazer to the cart, men and women alike are asked for their height, weight, body type, “midsection” size, and shoulder slope, among other metrics about their daily wardrobe preferences in order to achieve the perfect fit.
For a similar look at lower price points, popular athletic brand lululemon has two blazer options each for men and women in a range of neutral colors for $198, while Eddie Bauer’s options fare even better—at $149 for the men’s Ultimate Voyager Travel Blazer and $129 for the Women’s Departure Blazer. What they all have in common is that they shy away from traditional wool or wool-blend materials in favor of ones that fall within the athleisure category, such as polyester, lycra, and spandex.
Ultimately, clothes are a way to make a first impression, so why not make a good one without sacrificing comfort? So embrace the shift in corporate dress codes, and give one of these athleisure pieces a try.
