Sometimes I yearn for the time when getting dressed for the gym meant pulling on a leotard, wrestling a pair of leg warmers over your ankles and securing a sweatband around your forehead. Perhaps a little overdressed now for my local Puregym; the 80s fitness instructor had a very particular uniform, and she knew what she was doing. Somewhere between Jane Fonda's workout videos, the 1983 movie Flashdance and the general Lycra-clad more-is-more attitude of the decade, exercise clothes became a look in their own right. Fast forward to 2026, and it appears that the same spirit is once again finding its way into our wardrobes - albeit with better fabrics and a more sophisticated approach to colourblocking.
The latest collaboration for bringing a bit of dance-studio dressing into your everyday wardrobe comes from LululemonandGanni. Launching on 15 October, the 22-piece collection brings together everything we love about Lululemon's gymwear with Ganni's unmistakeable Copenhagen cool - add to that a generous helping of 80s dance-floor nostalgia or an outfit that feels best-suited for Zumba or Clubbercise, and you essentially have the new It-collab.
If you're wondering how we got here, one look at the clever collaboration confirms our suspicions: we're bored of neutral leggings and turning up to Pilates classes greeted by three other people wearing the exact same outfit. In Lululemon x Ganni's world expect leopard print, frills, leg warmers, boleros and Lululemon favourites (yes, there's even a Define Jacket thrown in there too). Plus, the brand's signature Nulu and Softstreme fabric ensure that comfort hasn't been sacrificed in the name of a good gym outfit. Crucially, however, these are pieces which don't need to be confined to the Pilates studio or your morning workout. A statement jacket can work with your favourite straight-leg jeans, leg warmers work with colourful ballet flats and a flash of leopard print in an outfit is rarely a bad idea.
If the designs in the Lululemon x Ganni collaboration aren't enough motivation to get you booked into your local step aerobics class, perhaps the campaign, which features Flashdance star Jennifer Beals will provide the required gusto. After all, few things say confidence quite like a pair of leg warmers and a leopard-print Define Jacket. And, if you think you can't pull it off, remember that the trick is in the styling: think less fancy dress and more off-duty dancer coming away from a heavy day of training at Pineapple Studios.
Keep scrolling for the Lululemon x Ganni pieces worth having on your radar.
Shop: Lululemon's Collaboration With Ganni
Gemma Lavers is a fashion commerce writer at Grazia, where she tracks down viral pieces and is as comfortable navigating the M&S new-in page as she is dissecting the latest celebrity look. When not writing, shopping or at Reformer Pilates (a cliché but she's hooked), Gemma will likely be planning her next holiday (and what she's going to wear). For a glimpse into said travels, outfit inspo and life as a journalist, follow her on Instagram.