It’s nice to have options. This is true when it comes to most aspects of your life, but having options within your closet makes it easy to dress for all kinds of different occasions. Perhaps the best part of having a versatile and organized closet full of different options is being able to mix styles and trends in a fun and creative way. Athleisure is a widely popular clothing style that combines all the best parts of athletic clothing, trendy pieces and comfy loungewear. It’s a style defined by sporty elements as well as cool accessories and soft fabrics, resulting in an outfit that’s both effortlessly stylish and unsuspectingly comfortable. Here are some men’s athleisure outfit ideas to inspire your next look.

A Note on Athleisure Style

It’s important to know what athleisure really entails before you start to plan your outfits. As explained above, athleisure is a hybrid style that fuses elements of activewear with stylish pieces for a comfortable (but still put together) look. A typical men’s athleisure outfit might include a pair of fitted joggers paired with a crew neck sweater or crisp t-shirt.

To finish off the look, it’s important to go for style over anything else, and this usually comes in the form of watches, a necklace, nice clean sneakers or a cool baseball cap. This kind of outfit is not necessarily something you’d wear to the gym for a sweaty workout, but is rather a look that’s appropriate for casual daytime activities, running errands or catching an early morning flight.

If you’re just dipping your toe into the athleisure waters, consider what you already have in your closet. Chances are you can utilize some of your workout gear, nicer loungewear and a few other fashionable finds to create a few starter outfits.

When choosing athleisure outfit pieces, go for things like nice sweatpants or joggers, soft shorts that fit you well, stylish men’s swim trunks, fashion sneakers, graphic t-shirts and sweatshirts, light sweaters and other basics. For accessories and finishing touches, consider your caps, sunglasses, watches or even a cool backpack. Now you’re ready to play with outfit combinations!

1. Aquatic Athleisure: The summer months are perfect for athleisure outfits. When you’re outside in the heat, you want to make comfort and staying dry your top priorities, unless you’re going for a swim, of course! Either way, you can definitely incorporate your men’s swimwear styles into your athleisure rotation.

For an athleisure outfit you can rock on the beach, at a pool party or just as a simple summer outfit, start with a pair of your favorite swim trunks. Add a white t-shirt and sneakers or boat shoes, and you’ve created your new favorite summer outfit.

2. Non-Baggy Sweats: Sweatpants and hoodies should be incorporated carefully when it comes to deciding on an athleisure outfit. You want to avoid looking messy or disheveled, so choose a pair of sweats with a tapered ankle like joggers or similar athletic sweatpants.

Athleisure is all about a sense of balance, so pair your soft sweats with something more structured on top. This could be a nice crew neck sweatshirt, a fitted t-shirt or a bomber jacket. Play around with different textures and materials to add style and depth to the outfit.

3. Elevated Athleisure: Though the style has been applauded for its versatility within the casual style realm, athleisure can clean up nicely if you want to take things up a notch. The key here is to keep a few classic athleisure elements while switching others out for nicer pieces in a cohesive way.

You might go for a sleek pair of leather sneakers with a pair of casual pants to start off. Skip the sweats and go for a comfy fabric that looks a little nicer, like a pair of exercise pants made from polyester or a synthetic blend. Top it off with a collared shirt to add to the nicer look, but leave it untucked so it still looks effortless.

4. Comfy and Casual: If comfort is your main goal when it comes to athleisure, there are a lot of options that can work well. T-shirts that are nicely tailored and fit well are a staple in men’s athleisure style, but every now and again you might feel like switching things up a bit.

Try a comfy rash guard or surf shirt with your next athleisure outfit. Not only do these shirts come in different styles, sleeve lengths and fits, but they also move and stretch with your body to maximize comfort without sacrificing style. Add one of these to a pair of colorful swim trunks and sunglasses for a cool summer athleisure look.