Unless you’re watching John Travolta’s Danny Zuko run laps in Grease, you’re not likely to happen on an individual wearing a tracksuit for actual physical exercise.
For a reason that we can’t possibly fathom, wearing a full, long-sleeved heather grey tracksuit while engaging in sport and exercise was the norm back in the late 70s. Not only did this result in unbearable sweating and overheating, but those sweat patches would visibly pool in all those otherwise hard-to-reach crevices for all the world to see.
“The Sunday Suit” was first popularised by Le Coq Sportif in 1939 as both a loungewear and exercise set depending on individual consumer desires, though the extra sporty type would wear their pieces during high-intensity workouts to increase the number of calories burned through sweat. We’re just thankful that those days are gone. Shorts and sweat-wicking gym t-shirts only when exercising, please and thank you.
Though popular, the humble tracksuit wouldn’t make its way into the mainstream as an iconic street and leisurewear piece until the 1960s, when Adidas created its first piece of apparel – the Franz Beckenbauer tracksuit, which still exists to this day. While velour tracksuits also had a significant moment during the 1970s, it was the new millennium which saw the tracksuit skyrocket in popularity thanks to the elite ladies of Beverly Hills.
Sporty Spice Mel C was known to wear Adidas tracksuits here and there, but the creation of the skin-hugging, bejewelled velour tracksuit by Juicy Couture in 2001 truly changed the game for women’s loungewear. Before long, the streets of the City of Angels and beyond were abuzz with a kaleidoscope's worth of velour tracksuits in various colours, bedazzled with diamantes that would glitter and gleam in the flashing lights of paparazzi cameras.
We’re not sure whether it was the societal return of Y2K fashion or the desire for comfy and cosy clothing during the pandemic which gave the tracksuit yet another moment in the trend spotlight – but we’re certainly not complaining.
We’ve curated a selection of the best tracksuits for women. Jump in.
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NY Racquet Club Polo and Sweatpants - Washed Periwinkle/White
The quarter-zip tracksuit is a relatively new addition to the loungewear design line-up, bringing an extra level of demure and style to the cosy winter essential. Realised in a beautiful periwinkle blue, this set from Sporty and Rich consists of a cosy polo-style jumper and a slouchy yet tapered pair of sweatpants which feature a singular back pocket.
Buy now £295.00, Sporty and Rich
High Rise Vintage Soft Pull-On Joggers
Primary colours are in this season, which means that this cobalt blue set from Gap is sure to sell-out quickly. A brilliant colour-blocking piece for a day of winter errand-running, we love how they’ve styled it with a pair of cult-favourite sambas. Our final addition to the look would be a contrastingly smart, black winter jacket. Get the matching sweatshirt here.
Buy now £35.00, GAP
Norma Kamali side-strip cotton-blend jersey track set
Combining a sporty essential with a high-fashion silhouette, Norma Kamali has won us over with this show-stopping wide-leg tracksuit set. With a pair of statement heels, we’d declare this look entirely socially acceptable for a night out on the town.
Buy now £300.00, Matches
High-waisted joggers and crewneck
Somewhere between aubergine, plum and beetroot – this gorgeous, saturated tracksuit colourway from H&M is going straight on our winter Pinterest board. Snag the matching, baggy crewneck here.
Buy now £25.98, H&M
Adidas X Wales Bonner Logo-embroidered cotton-blend track set
Coveted by the Clapton crew, the garments to come from the extended collaboration between Adidas and Wales Bonner have become an East London essential. Nevertheless, we can’t deny the incredibly chic, sleek and sporty silhouette that this white and mocha set cuts.
Buy now £350.00, Matches
Pangaia 365 Midweight Track Pants and Hoodie
Though sustainable streetwear brand Pangaia offers both heavyweight and midweight options for their cult-favourite tracksuits, the midweight hoodie and bottoms offer year-round versatility – just as the name ‘365’ suggests.
Buy now £250.00, Pangaia
Pull & Bear Faded Embroidered Joggers
It might seem controversial, but we adore it when loungewear is designed with a faded colourway. This is because we know that the set is going to be washed within an inch of its life, due to how much we’re going to wear it. Especially if it's this baggy, uber-soft set from Pull & Bear. See the matching embroidered crew neck here.
Buy now £31.98, Pull & Bear
Brightside Onesie
Though not exactly a tracksuit, this unbelievably slouchy and wonderfully comfortable onesie embraces the idea of one – just with a little bit more freedom. Slide it on with ease following a HIIT class or intense yoga sesh and go about the rest of your day with plush ease.
Buy now £118.00, Free People
Tawny Port Velour Diamante Tracksuit Set
No tracksuit round-up is complete without an option from the iconic Juicy Couture. Featuring those essential diamantes, pin-tuck detailing and an ultra-soft velour finish, you can snag this design in over 20 different colours.
Buy now £160.00, Juicy Couture
Gymshark Reset Day Set
The Rest Day set from Gymshark comes in a pleasing selection of neutral hues to facilitate the calm and relaxation necessary for those essential non-gym days. The clean marl colouway in particular makes for a perfect airport outfit.
Buy now £95.00, Gymshark
