Shouldn’t Your Gym Bag Be as Stylish as You Are?

Gym bags don’t necessarily lend themselves to being super-stylish. It’s not a slight—as the vehicle for transporting your running sneakers and yoga pants, a gym bag is first and foremost about function. The best ones have a slot for a water bottle, and maybe another for your wallet. In a perfect world, all gym bags are also be hands-free, so you can comfortably tote it from the treadmill into the office without fuss. But here’s the thing: With a little bit of inspiration, your favorite way to carry dirty socks can actually be a style moment.

In Kiev, for example, we saw two street style savants wearing matching, off-the-shoulder plaid backpacks that could absolutely serve to carry your workout wardrobe. Meanwhile in Tbilisi, one particularly chic flâneuse sported a primary-colored messenger bag with a sleek all-black outfit. On the streets in Paris, there was one Fashion Week showgoer who carried an oversize orange bag with the texture of a duvet cover. Looking for some concrete suggestions on how to update how you transport your sweats? Consider a dark green duffel from Everlane for something hands-free or opt for a nautical-striped backpack from Baggu. More health goth but still posh? A Reebok x Victoria Beckham gym bag will be just the thing for you.

Here, 13 ways to make packing up your gym shorts the most stylish moment of your day.