I Live in Leggings, This Fashion Insider-Approved Brand Is My New Athleisure MVP

It seems obvious to talk about activewear in January, but you know us, we like to give the people what they want. Fitness and January go together like peanut butter and jelly (or jam, if you’re as British as me). Whilst we’re certainly not saying that you need to exercise at the beginning of a new year, there’s no doubt that it’s a time that people feel inspired to make new habits.

As such, we’re reissuing our much-loved Great Try On franchise, but with a fitness spin. Trialling and testing the activewear collections and sportswear brands you’re most interested in, and giving you our honest thoughts, we're doing the hard work so you don't have to. Whether you’re a runner or a hiker, are taking up pilates or just need some athleisure for walking your dog, we’re here to guide you through the best pieces in Wholesale Replica Bag edits. This year I’ve tested Tala, an eco-conscious affordable activewear brand that uses recycled materials to create stylish, high performance essentials for different types of exercise. It's also the It brand I see on stylish London girls in every spin class I go to.

For reference, I’m 5ft 4, I’m a size 10-12, with a bigger bust. Usually, I’d wear a size M in tops and a S-M in bottoms, depending on the piece. I’m someone who exercises fairly regularly, loving HIIT classes that you find at F45, 1Rebel and Barry’s Bootcamp and the like. But as well as being someone who enjoys keeping fit, I'm a fashion girl at my core. By this I mean I still like serve even when sweating, squatting or even doing a burpee, so refuse to accept that sportswear has to be the least chic thing in your rotation. Actually, as someone who has been known to wear a flared legging to the office, and is partial to a quarter zip pullover, I'd consider myself a bit of an expert when it comes to activewear pieces fit for wearing on and off the treadmill.

And with that, I tried on much of Tala's collection for 2026, and these four looks were the ones I loved most. These were my honest thoughts.

The Best Tala Pieces in 2026:

Dayflex Wrap Flared Yoga Pant + Dayflex Zip-Through Sports Jacket

My review: If you were to see me at the gym, there’s a 99% chance I’ll be wearing black. Classic and forever-cool, I feel my most comfortable in an all-black ensemble. Despite usually being an avid slim legging person, lately I’ve really enjoyed flared leggings, just as its a style I'm happy wearing out the office. These I've tried on are part of the new Dayflex range, in a 30’’ leg and size S, the length is absolutely perfect. As the name suggets, these have been designed for yoga, which I think they'd be great for. If you're more of a runner or enjoy spin class, I would recommend a slimmer silhouette, as, by definition and design, they're less streamlined and either flap in the breeze as you run, or can get caught in your bike pedals. In terms of fit, they’re a little tight around my waist, but I love how they look when I have top layered over the waistband. The overlapping ‘V’ shape waistband sculpts my stomach slightly, which I love, and the high zip jacket in a M feels snug in the way that it’s supposed to. I could have gone up a size in both, but there’s nothing worse than baggy activewear, so I’m happy with how these feel. Special shout out to the square neck sports bra and tank top, which snatches and lifts my upper body. I’m a 34E, and am wearing a size M bra and top, so if you have a bigger bust like me, and don't want a huge cleavage, I'd recommend sizing up.

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Dayflex Wrap Legging + Cocoon Zip Through Hoodie

My review: As you can probably tell from the selection of items I've chosen to style in these four looks, I'm not usually one for vibrant colours. As mentioned, I wear black to workout most of the time, but the odd occasion I fancy venturing out of my all-black comfort zone, it's likely to be a shade of brown, cream or white. Tala's colour palettes are sumptuous and rich, offering earthy greens, buttermilk shades and, as shown here, a few tonal coffee hues. When testing the Dayflex Wrap High Waisted Legging, I went for mocha brown, and paired it with complementary tones like this hoodie in Oat Marl, and I'm really into how they work together.

But how do the pieces fit? The leggings, which are an icon for the brand, I was really impressed by. Cleverly designed with a sweetheart overlapping 'V' shape waistband, they sit perfectly on the waist and ensure comfort even when doing core exercises like crunches (which I find isn't always the case). They are slightly too long for me, even though they'r the shorter 7/8 length, and I did have the fold them under about an inch at the hem.

The hoodie fits exactly like its name suggests, like a cocoon. I really like this silhouette, and honestly have't tried one like this before: slim and cropped on the waist, but with these balloon-like arms and large hood, it's really hitting the mark in terms of being sweats with a subtle difference. It's also an incredibly soft cotton.

I'd also like to call out the sports bra which isn't pictured, the Dayflex Bandeau sports bra, which I styled in Americano. As someone with a bigger bust, I have to say Tala's bras probably aren't supportive enough for me to do high intensity training in them, but this one particularly is great for lower impact workouts, and just felt great to wear. It also had adjustable straps on the back help you get the best fit for your size, which I often find is overlooked with basic activewear bras.

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Dayflex Capri Legging + 365 Boat Neck Top

My review: This is probably my favourite look of all four, simply because I know I'd wear each piece outside of the gym. I've long been looking for a simple boat neck top for everyday, and this is a great option for work, to work-out. I don't normally love a tight-tight top, often feeling a little exposed, but there's something about Tala's compressed fit pieces that make me feel good about an ultra-slim silhouette. I think with this top specifically, it's the extra thick fabric, which feels more like a warm hug than a way to reveal more than I want. This being said, I do worry that this extra thick fabric will make me quite warm, but for hiking in winter, or a gentle stretch session, this would be perfect.

Now let's talk about the leggings. Full disclosure, I am a capri legging addict. Despite this shorter length being a little passé for a decade or so in activewear trends, I've noticed that it's really making a comeback lately. The deep waistband sits at the perfect spot on my waist, right on the tummy-button, which feels quite '90s and chic. Most capri styles I find have a small split on each hem at the side, but I think not having this (like these) is much neater. I also love their seamless design, which makes them feel less like activewear in their aesthetic. Personally, I would rather wear these for lower impact exercises, where I don't need to wear a bulky pair of running trainers, but can switch it for a slimmer trainer silhouette, or even my Nike Air Rifts like pictured here.

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Dayflex Floaty Shorts + Elevated T-Shirt

My review: This is honestly one the softest, best-fitting t-shirts I've ever tried on. And as you can imagine with my job, I have tried and tested a lot of t-shirts in my time! Usually, I wouldn't wear a standard cotton t-shirt for the gym, just because it's less breathable and has a heavier weight than those options made in recycled polyester. However, when paired with the shorts, this is the type of thing I'd choose to wear for padel or tennis, which come the spring months, I tend to play every fortnight. I love this soft grey colour as I'm terrible at keeping white, white, but the downside to grey, as many of us know too well, is that it shows the sweat, so I would say this is best for less active sports, or an option for a throw-on tee for the post-class coffee or juice. In terms of its fit and shape, it's slightly oversized, without being overbearing. The arms are a little more fitted, and the ribbed crew neck feels thick and sturdy.

As this look for me was less about my usual work-out routine, and more to showcase the extra pieces Tala offer, I wanted to show two very different options for the bottom half. The Dayflex Floaty Shorts are definitely the more sporty option: they're loose and oh-so comfortable, so perfect for those that like to avoid tighter silhouettes like cycling shorts and leggings. I love the zip-up pocket, this is a minor detail, but I don't think I've ever tried a pair of sports shorts that have a zip-up hidden pocket before. Usually it's a secret flap, which isn't great for valuable items (airpods case, phone, jewellery etc). So this is definitely something that impressed me.

On top of these, I styled this look with the Everyday Tailored Trousers, which I was also most impressed by. Not many activewear brands do fashion or loungewear pieces so well. The elasticated waist gives the comfort, but the wide leg and pinstripe design feels very on point to sartorial trends of late. I would definitely wear these in the office, at the weekend et al, but it goes without saying that they're not so fit for exercise.

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