13 Best Exercise Dresses For Style And Workouts, At Every Budget

2022-04-24 07:37:15 By : Mr. Eric Cheung

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From Outdoor Voices to Lululemon, these dresses are top-tier.

Athletic clothes have come a long way over the years. From stylish and comfy high-waisted leggings to high-performance, sweat-wicking fabrics, it's hard to imagine how workout clothes could get any better. Enter: The exercise dress.

Take a walk down your block or a scroll through Instagram, and you'll probably see at least a couple of people in an exercise dress. People are so obsessed with the trend for tons of reasons. For one, the style looks like any normal dress, but it usually features a built-in bra, shorts, pockets(!), and quick-drying fabric. Yup, don't be surprised if you end up with more than a few—tons of satisfied exercise dress wearers talk about owning several of the same workout dress in different colors.

Like purchasing anything, make sure you're looking for key features in a workout dress to fit your lifestyle. While most exercise dresses come with pockets, a built-in bra, and shorts, some will just have one of those things, and others might not have any of them. When a built-in bra is involved, think about if you want something with light support fit for low-impact workouts, walks, or brunch. Or, maybe you need a more high-support bra because you plan on running or just have a larger bust.

And of course, some of the items on this list feature sweat-wicking, breathable fabric while others simply prioritize comfort and style. No matter what your lifestyle, this list features all the best workout dresses out there based on what happy customers are saying.

Dubbed by Amazon reviewers as a perfect dupe to *that* famous exercise dress, this wallet-friendly style from Amazon is sure to satisfy anyone. Happy customers love the length of this as it tends to run on the longer side, an ideal scenario for those who are tall.

Rave review: "I'm so pleased with my purchase. I was nervous about ordering at first, as I was afraid it would be really cheaply made. But it's actually great quality, very cute, and fits me perfectly. It comes with built-in shorts which is great. It is also very lightweight and not see-through."

Seeking an option that isn't so form-fitting? The pleated skirt on this dress takes away from the tight shorts underneath. While it doesn't come with a built-in bra, the shorts have a whopping four pockets—perfect for stashing extra tennis balls (or snacks).

Rave review: "The quality and price is amazing. This are so comfortable and supportive and I love it. Highly recommend!"

The OV exercise dress has come a long way since its launch in 2018. They recently relaunched their bestselling exercise dress with brand new features like adjustable straps, built-in shorts with two pockets, and grips on the bodysuit lining to make sure it won't move too much when you work out. Its LightSpeed fabric feels close to a swimsuit-like material and easily repeals sweat, too.

Rave review: "LOVE this dress!!! My sisters and I bought matching ones to run the NYC Marathon in November, and they were so comfy. Plus we got tons of compliments! Can’t wait to buy more :)"

If you're in the market for an exercise dress that will stand out among the rest, this zippered style is the one to grab. It comes with two hidden pockets, so you can store away things as you see fit.

Rave review: "This tennis dress is so sporty and cute. I love the shorts underneath. They have pockets so I can still hold my phone, and even a place to hold a spare tennis ball. Fun to wear on the court or just for work or workout! The sleeveless style makes it great for hot summer weather and the quarter-zip makes it stylish!"

Ok, so it's *technically* a bathing suit, but this waterproof dress is great for pretty much any activity, from sunbathing to hiking or just vacationing. Complete with a shelf bra and briefs designed for curvier bodies, the off-shoulder style is a unique take on the classic workout dress.

Rave review: "This dress is so cute! Perfect to dress up or down. Love that it has shorts underneath. Such a breathable and comfy material."

A quick scroll through TikTok, and you might see a video or two about Abercrombie & Fitch's very stylish revival. One item to note is its take on the exercise dress, which comes with adjustable straps that can be hooked in to a racerback style if you want more boob support.

Note: Reviewers say sizing tends to run both a bit large and short, so size down unless you prefer a more oversized fit, and opt for the "tall" fit option, need-be.

Rave review: "This dress is so cute! Perfect to dress up or down. Super slimming and love that it has shorts underneath. Such a breathable and comfy material."

Not only is this one-shoulder pick stylish, it's also sustainable. Made out of 21 recycled water bottles, you'll look good and feel good about where this workout dress came from. While it doesn't technically have a built-in bra, it features an under-boob support band and built-in unitard liner that provides medium support.

Rave review: "The look, the color, the easiness of pulling it on and off, and the way it fits in all the right places is splendid. It sticks to your skin but is still super breathable. I felt totally confident roller skating in this cute number at the skatepark."

If you can't get enough of Sweaty Betty's buttery soft leggings, you'll gush over their workout dress. The light-support bra is perfect for low-impact workouts like yoga and bike riding (or happy hour-ing).

Rave review: "I was initially apprehensive about wearing a dress to work out but WOW I was wrong! This dress is not only flattering and comfortable, it's versatile. After a restorative yoga class (and forgotten change of clothes), I threw on lipstick and turned this into a sporty cocktail dress."

The sweetheart neckline on Alo's Courtside Tennis dress might feel like a tiny detail, but it makes a big impact in making the dress look much more stylish. Made from the brand's uber lightweight AloSoft material, it's the trifecta of soft, stretchy, and breathable—perfect for hot weather.

Rave review: "This dress is what dreams are made of. It's ridiculously soft, flattering, has shorts, a built-in bra, AND pockets. This is such a cute dress that you can wear to tennis, dance, and on a night out. Don't even think about it. Just buy the dress and you'll understand what I mean."

Some built-in shorts can be too long (or too short), depending on the unique contours of your shape, so you may feel better in a dress that doesn't come with any built-in shorts at all.

Because of that, you probably won't want to run or bike in these, but it's a great, stylish piece to dress up for a dinner date, or down with some sneakers to play tennis or golf. Reviews say it runs big, so be sure to size down unless you like a roomier fit.

Rave review: "Great quality. Nice and thick, so it's not see-through. Does run a bit big, I'd size down although I kept the bigger size, it still looks good a little loose."

Ok, so maybe you *actually* plan on working out in your workout dress. Fair. Featuring Lululemon's quick-dry, sweat-wicking Everlux fabric, the classic A-line tennis dress features a fitted top providing light support for B and C cups.

Rave review: "I got the dress on a whim and I never knew it would be something that I live in constantly. It's lightweight and a great length to help me feel comfortable in so many situations. I'm pretty short and I love the length on me."

Complete with a medium-support shelf bra without shorts, Beyond Yoga's fabric is noteworthy for two reasons. One, it feels as smooth as butter on the skin, and the second reason? It's extremely stretchy and breathable. That's a key perk if you want to be wearing this comfy 'fit frequently (which you will). It's a great travel outfit if you're headed somewhere warm.

Rave review: "Bought this for vacation. It is soft, well-made, and flattering! Yahoo!"

For a more high-coverage take on the exercise dress, opt for Nike's mock neck side-slit design. It has a super stretchy fabric, so you can easily layer a long-sleeve shirt under it for extra coverage, too. Is it just me, or does this seem like the kind of 'fit celebs get paparazzi shots in?

Rave review: "Nice, light material with just enough stretch. Very chic style with a nice neck that you can dress up or down. The side slit is perfect enough to say a 'little sexy but still classy'."