Spandex has been coming out of the gym and onto the street for some time now. (Thanks, athleisure!) Most recently, the stretchy, skintight fabric had a micro-moment on the men’s Spring 2018 runways in the form of bike shorts. At Martine Rose, they appeared underneath a pinstripe button-up and soft shell jacket for a sporty-meets-crunchy feel, while Louis Vuitton gave the fabric a sleek, shiny makeover for a hint of scuba-surfer cool. The look also seems to be a go-to for off-duty celebrities, namely the Kardashian-Jenner clan. Kim Kardashian West—who sells synthetic “bodyshapers” on her site—and Kylie Jenner have long been wearing the shorts to their workouts, though the best recent example of their real-world appeal comes from Kendall Jenner: Last week, the model sported a pair of black spandex shorts with a yellow off-the-shoulder top and strappy high heels.
Want to try the stretchy look off the treadmill? You’ve got options. “You can wear the bike shorts or capris with a loose tunic or dress to balance the body-con silhouette,” says Vogue Market Editor Alexandra Gurvitch, who put together the looks in the slideshow above. Shirts and tanks are also an option: “Try pairing a zip-up yellow cycling shirt with a pair of vintage jeans. Or for a more romantic look, try a compression tank with a maxi skirt.” For the truly fearless, there’s even a statement-making bodysuit in the mix, too.
Here, the best summer spandex pieces to wear all season long.