As a fashion editor, my interest in clothing trickles into all parts of my wardrobe. The working wardrobe, the weekend wardrobe, my professional self and my party self—whether I’m running errands or just simply running—I like to look and feel good every time I get dressed.
And this is also the case when I exercise. There was a time when you’d go to the gym in an old, oversized, tatty T-shirt—often the one you wore for bed the night before or that you saved for painting and decorating. Not anymore. Fitness gear has really developed in the last decade, and those serious about exercise are now serious about what they wear to exercise in too, because ultimately, our workout wear can be so closely linked to performance.
At the forefront of this evolution of fitness fashion is On. Everyone in the fitness world seems to be an On fanatic. Why? Because it’s just so good. Initially, On was known for its trainers, specifically the CloudTec technology with cushioning pods in the soles, providing a bounciness and responsiveness that feels like walking on air. Founded in 2010 in Switzerland and beginning its journey in running shoes, it quickly grew into footwear for other activities, such as tennis, hiking and now, training. But the innovation didn’t stop at shoes. On’s apparel is just as revolutionary; blending high performance, quality fabrics with cutting edge design, each piece is breathable and feels weightless when layered onto the skin.
Whilst I’ve long worn On’s trainers, I’m particularly excited about the brand’s foray into training as it has chosen FKA twigs as a creative partner for this new category (she also features in On’s FW24 training campaign and shaped the campaign’s creative vision). Whilst yes, I love her music, I’ve always been captivated by her gymnastics and dance talent, too. Her approach to movement and exercise goes far beyond conventional training activities like yoga and pilates (which are always good), but also pole dancing and martial arts. Together, FKA twigs and On envision reframing training as a holistic experience and want to inspire people to experiment with various types of movement that break the mold of traditional training (be it HIIT, core, weight training, yoga). Which is why this partnership makes so much sense.
Naturally, as a person who loves exercise, I wanted to style and trial the collection, so I put three looks to the test for three different at-home mat workouts. Scroll to see what I wore and read my review of the pieces.
Style Notes: There are so many wonderful different colours in this collection, and I'd usually encourage you to mix and match different colours on top and bottom, but for just one of my looks, I wanted to do monochrome. I chose Mulberry, a mix of deep purple and a very soft reddish, warm brown, which feels particularly autumn-appropriate.
I’m usually more of a leggings girl, and here I’m wearing the Movement Tights Long (they come as shorts too), which are the perfect length as I love to show a bit of ankle. They hug my waist in the right place—not too tight, but not loose—and have bonded hems which make the construction clean of multiple seams. On top, because I’m doing cardio, I’ve gone for the Movement Crop instead of the Movement Long-T Crop—it just keeps me a bit cooler. I have a large bust, so I find that just wearing a bra doesn't give me enough coverage or support, especially when jumping around (like this!), but the tank is the perfect in-between to make me feel secure but covered. Special mention has to be made for my finishing touch: the 1/2 Zip Jacket in Spice. This hot-orange hue was made to be worn with the warm brown. It’s a match made in heaven.
Style Notes: I’m no yogi, but I really rely on yoga for full-body stretching and mindfulness. Not only this but it helps build my core stability, mobility and flexibility, which I’ve grown more conscious of since turning 30. My at-home yoga and flow practices tend to be short (up to 30 minutes) and not too challenging. Because of this, I like to wear a long-sleeved crop like the Movement Long-T Crop for extra warmth in winter, with biker shorts. The seamless Movement Tights Short have an ultra-high-waist fit, which, like the leggings in the collection, fit like a glove; they feel compressed without being tight and have the stretch needed to feel like you're not restricted when switching poses. My finishing touch for this look had to be the On Track Pack bag—it’s the only bag that’s ever been big enough for my yoga mat, trainers and everything else I seem to need to take with me when I opt for yoga classes in a studio.
Style Notes: Weight training is something I’ve only picked up in the past year or two; the idea of choosing exercise for health and strength purposes instead of weight loss is really a new thing for me. When lifting weights, I tend to do a lot of squats, so I need squat-proof leggings that keep me covered even when they’re super stretched. Again, the Movement Tights are my go-to for this. This collection has really encouraged me to introduce more colour into my fitness wardrobe, so I’ve paired the black tights with the pink tank top. Those with a smaller bust may prefer to opt for the Movement Bra and nothing else—I’m actually wearing this under the tank and it gives the perfect level of support for light-to-medium-intensity exercise like this. Finally, I chose On’s pièce de résistance: the Cloud X 4 trainer, which is the perfect all-round trainer for different types of training. They give me a firm grip on the ground, so I feel secure even when lifting heavier weights.
