Wearing the Rainbow: How Body Positivity and Bright, Bold Activewear Are Changing Your Closet

Your workout uniform has probably changed over the last few years — here’s why.

The year is 2015. The hashtag “GetFit” is trending on social media. Influencers post selfies at the squat rack or in the bathroom of their gym to their grid. Activewear is a wash of black.

It was a movement, but it was also a formula. To get fit, you needed to be serious about your workout routine, and like any serious professional, you dressed the part in all-black everything. It was a kind of dedication worn like a badge of honor.

Today, color still plays a role in activewear, but the role has changed. 

In 2024, colorful activewear is the new norm. Neon and metallics are gaining traction. Funky patterns are fun, not frowned upon. The brighter your look, the better — and our theory is that reaching for eye-catching, attention-grabbing color is just one more step toward embracing your body image.

Blending Body Positivity and Bold Activewear

As the fitness industry has become more inclusive of body positivity and all types of movement, the activewear sector has simultaneously expanded size ranges and color palettes — and we don’t think that’s a coincidence. Physical fitness is still vital in leading a healthy lifestyle, but the industry has become a much more inclusive space than years past when bootcamps and calorie-torching classes were the only workouts that “counted.” Now, movement is meant to be enjoyed.

At the same time, we’re embracing the idea that activewear should make you feel empowered and enthusiastic about moving your body — rather than making you feel like you need to have a certain body type or to follow a certain gym girl aesthetic.

According to Barry’s Instructor Ianthe Mellors, colorful activewear became popular in boutique gyms and classes in Europe back in the 2010s, but it’s only in recent years that the U.S. has caught up to the trend. 

“With brands [like Gymshark and Sweaty Betty] branching out from Europe and other established brands [like Girlfriend Collective or Lululemon] being inspired to create prints and bold colors, I have seen the rise [of these types of athleticwear pieces] in HIIT classes,” Mellors tells SHAPE of the still-developing transition.

"As the fitness industry has become more inclusive of body positivity and all types of movement, the activewear sector has simultaneously expanded size ranges and color palettes — and we don’t think that’s a coincidence."

Gym Fits Are the New 'Going Out' Outfits

Mellors goes on to say that an increase in colorful activewear is only partially because colors and bold prints are a means of self-expression and show your individuality. The instructor also has a hunch that we’re seeing color because workout classes aren’t just an act of fitness anymore; they’re social events. 

"When people are new to a class or taking it with friends, they wear colors and prints to ‘dress up,’ like you would for happy hour or brunch."

Ianthe Mellors, Barry's instructor

It started with the global coronavirus pandemic. Exercising within the limitations of our homes meant we were making do with what we had; we were more likely to throw on an old t-shirt and the leggings we’d been living in for days than change into an outfit that was a little more pulled-together or intentional. But once we were able to return to the gym, fitness became a social activity, one that Mellors says people showed up to like they would an event — dressed to impress, whether going for a walk outdoors or attending a group exercise class.

“When people are new to a class or taking it with friends, they wear colors and prints to ‘dress up,’ like you would for happy hour or brunch," explains Mellors. Even instructors have begun choosing more colorful activewear to help set the tone for the class. “If an instructor is wearing a bold color or print, the first impression is fun and a bit of whimsy,” she notes, adding that she favors a leopard print herself. “This instantly puts the participant at ease because it makes the instructor feel relatable and approachable.”

How Color Impacts Self-Perception

Back to black for a second. Even before the early aughts, black was universally recognized as the most “flattering” shade to wear because it is believed to “slim” a person’s physique. If you’re groaning internally, so are we. This ideology mirrors the toxic diet culture thesis that the thinner the body, the better.

Wearing color challenges these ideals by showcasing an individual’s physique, and encouraging them to embrace it with confidence and pride. When you’re decked out in highlighter yellow or Barbie pink, you’re taking up visual space, saying “Here I am, and yeah, I deserve to be here.”

“Bright colors can bring a sense of vibrancy and playfulness to your run [or any workout], or for some, maybe a neon bright color feels speedy,” registered dietitian and certified personal trainer, Ellen Landes, M.S., aka “The Runner’s Dietitian,” notes. “They might also inspire a more light-hearted and adventurous approach, making the activity feel more about enjoyment and less about metrics or performance.”

But Black Activewear Can Feel Empowering, Too

Although black activewear can be associated with intensity and intimidation, this connotation is personal to your own unique sense of style. For example, for certified yoga instructor and Soul-Care coach Alicia Ferguson, black adds an “instant cool factor” to any exercise fit.

“Whether you’re channeling cool downtown New York vibes or your inner Rihanna, black [looks chic],” Ferguson explains via email. “It can positively increase how we see and feel about our bodies on and off the mat.”

Landes has a similar outlook, as she recognizes that some people might view wearing black to instill a sense of professionalism and focus into their routine. “[For some, wearing black is] about feeling streamlined and ready to tackle the challenge,” Landes tells SHAPE. “It aligns with a mindset geared towards goal achievement or performance enhancement.”

Wearing black activewear may also help you blend in, for better or worse. Mellors notes that black is a practical choice because sweat doesn’t show through, and she also points out that “it allows you to just blend in, especially if the room is dark, [meaning] you can just focus on the workout and not worry about what someone else thinks of you.” This can be a positive for those who still feel uncomfortable at the gym and who may not be ready to stand out.

Want a Jolt of Positivity? Try Choosing Color

There’s no denying the correlation between embracing your body and choosing to wear bright, colorful activewear over black pieces; the former enhances and highlights an individual’s shape and curves, while the latter, the literal absence of color, distorts and hides the natural physique.

But wearing colorful activewear doesn’t just draw attention to your body; it triggers an emotional response that can improve your overall mood, too. The idea that colors can evoke certain feelings is called “color association,” and color can be used strategically to achieve the attitude you’re aiming for heading into your workouts.

For example, yellow is bright and warm, which may trigger feelings of happiness, Carolyn Mair, Ph.D., a behavioral psychologist and the author of The Psychology of Fashion previously told Shape. Additionally, red can be associated with aggression and attention-seeking, while blue is often thought to be authoritative, according to Dawnn Karen, M.A., an assistant professor of psychology at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and the author of Dress Your Best Life. By choosing colors that make you feel a certain way, you can sustain or change your mood, by design. 

"There’s no denying the correlation between embracing your body and choosing to wear bright, colorful activewear over black pieces; the former enhances and highlights an individual’s shape and curves, while the latter, the literal absence of color, distorts and hides the natural physique."

So if you want to wear an all-black outfit to your next workout? You do you — but take a second to interrogate your why for choosing that outfit. If it’s to blend in or camouflage your body, those emotions may be worth exploring a little more. But if your head-to-toe black outfit feels like a badass uniform for your favorite boxing class, go forth and hit hard.

Whether you wear all-black everything or head-to-toe neon to your next exercise class is up to you and your goals for your workout. Trends come and go, but clothes that make you feel confident in your body are always in style, no matter what color or print they come in. 

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Read the original article on Shape.