With the cross-over between fashion and athletic activites becoming increasingly popular and aesthetic trends such as Gorpcore, Normcore, and Tenniscore influencing trends, workout dresses with their sleek, minimal, and utilitarian appeal are experiencing quite the renaissance. They’re becoming de rigueur for women of all ages and rejuvenated as highly coveted closet staples.

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Enter: Outdoor Voices’ Exercise Dress. First released in 2018 and currently sold at $100, this dress is still (and possibly even more) popular than it was when it was first launched. But don’t just take our word for it. Five years later and searches for “outdoor voices exercise dress” have amassed more than 13 million views on TikTok, with hundreds of thousands of people uploading similar videos of themselves “trying out the exercise dress so you don’t have to.”

Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress

Price: $100
Colorways: Black, Navy, Evergreen, Evergreen Flora, Plum, Blueberry, Sundance, White
Materials: 85% Nylon, 15% Spandex
Available to shop: Find it on outdoorvoices.com and nordstrom.com
Pros:
- Has built-in shorts with pockets
- Lightweight fabric
- Straps rest comfortably
- Comes in multiple colorways
- It can be worn in a multitude of ways
- Adjustable straps
Cons:
- Fabric doesn’t lay completely flat
- Not supportive for those with large busts
- Shorts can ride up despite the sticky grippers
Best for: the city dweller who is always on their feet
Also reviewed by: PopSugar, Glamour, SELF, WhoWhatWear, USAToday, Insider, SHAPE, CNN

Courtesy of Outdoor Voices

Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress $100 $80 Buy Now at Outdoor Voices

About Outdoor Voices

Brand launch date: 2013
Celebrity fans of the brand: Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello, Lucy Hale, Katy Perry, Vanessa Hudgens, Kaia Gerber, Sophie Turner, Hailey Bieber, and more.
Noteworthy styles: Exercise Dress, Volley Dress, Warmup Skirt, LightSpeed Shorts, Court Dress, and more

Founded in 2013 by Tyler Haney, Outdoor Voices offers activewear for people who like to move and have fun doing it. As specified on its mission statement page, the brand’s motto is to “get the world moving” because Outdoor Voices believes in “Doing Things.”

Sustainability is a core part of Outdoor Voices’ DNA. The Austin-based athleisure label uses earth-friendly fabrics like RecPoly, merino, cotton terry, and MegaFleece across its activewear assortment. Plus, the brand only uses packaging that can be easily recycled. The result: guilt-free clothing that doesn’t sacrifice style.

Outdoor Voices stays outside the cyclical nature of fashion trends. It remains known for its quality above all else, playing the long game in becoming the Resource for Recreation. While its price tag notably separates it from other high-end athleisure brands, so does the fact that its garments are logoless and are not looked at as status symbols. This is precisely why consumers — new customers and longtime Outdoor Voices devotees — gravitate toward the label.

How to Style the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress for Summer 2023

Whether you’re heading to school drop-off, a business lunch, or grabbing an Aperol Spritz with a friend, Outdoor Voices’ Exercise Dress suits all occasions and ensures you make a fashionable entrance. To make it easy for you, we’ve rounded up the best ways to style the Exercise Dress.

For Brunch

Picture this: It’s a perfect 80-degree Sunday, and you’ve snagged a last-minute brunch reservation at the best people-watching restaurant. Now, the only thing that needs to be figured out is your outfit. Luckily, Outdoor Voices’ Exercise Dress is the one-and-done piece to fit the occasion. Team it with a polished tennis necklace, cushy ankle socks, a Bella Hadid-approved ’90s wide headband, and a top-handle bag. Then top it off with unassuming chunky loafers for a rugged touch.

Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress $100 $80 Buy Now at outdoor voices

M Jewelers The Tennis Necklace $235 Buy Now at m jewelers

Loewe Puzzle Bag $2,350 Buy Now at saks fifth avenue

EmiJay Infinity Headband $12 Buy Now at emijay

Tony Bianco Axell Loafers $160 Buy Now at revolve

Calzedonia Unisex Sports Socks $9 Buy Now at calzedonia

For the Office

As the temperatures rise and our mood lifts, the temptation to throw on a dress for work increases. To make a dress look professional in the office, it’s important you style it appropriately. Throw an oversized blazer on top of the exercise dress to sharpen the look, and either button it up or add a belt to cinch your waist and create depth. On your feet, you can wear anything from kitten heels to slingback flats since their simplicity gives you room to play with accessories such as huggie earrings. Because a work bag is of the utmost importance, grab a roomy tote like Khaite’s Amelia bag. This bag is the best way to go big, especially when you’re not going home after work.

Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress $100 $80 Buy Now at outdoor voices

Cos Waisted Wool Blazer $225 $112.50 Buy Now at cos

Mejuri Chunky Huggie Hoops $98 Buy Now at mejuri

Khaite Amelia Tote $2400 Buy Now at net-a-porter

Saint Laurent Blade Flats $895 Buy Now at matchesfashion

For Tennis

Thanks to the trending courtside vibe, the style set has officially flocked to the sporty-chic aesthetic — whether they are wearing the gear to play or not. The Exercise Dress fits the look perfectly because it does much more than serve you well on the court — it brings a versatile energy to go from the court to lunch with friends. All you have to do is drape your favorite sweater over your shoulders and pair it with cute tennis sneakers that don’t look like you just came from the courts. Then ground your look with cool-girl shades from celeb-loved brand, Dmy by Dmy and a summer-friendly canvas bag that’s simple yet roomy.

Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress $100 $80 Buy Now at outdoor voices

Tory Burch Cashmere Shrunken Crewneck $458 Buy Now at Tory Burch

Dmy by Dmy Romi Sunglasses $190 Buy Now at ssense

Adidas Samba OG Sneakers $100 Buy Now at adidas

Rue De Verneuil Cruise Canvas Bucket Bag $241 Buy Now at matchesfashion

How to Care for the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress

The Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress is a quality dress created to survive wear and tear. However, if you want to extend the product’s life, always machine wash the dress in cold water with similar color families and fabrics. To dry it, lay it flat or place it on a hanger to air dry. While this requires a little more patience, it goes a long way in ensuring you have your Exercise Dress for years to come. Make sure to avoid bleach, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets, as the residue can impair the sweat-wicking, quick-dry technical feature. If you notice your dress getting more wrinkled over time, Outdoor Voices recommends you hang dry it in the bathroom while you shower and allow the steam to naturally smooth your garment rather than reaching for a steamer or iron.

Is Outdoor Voices’ Exercise Dress Worth It?

Short answer: yes.

I’m usually one to stick with my black workout leggings when exercising, but this dress has been a total game-changer. Besides the price, which is certainly a welcome change from most ‘It’ dresses, the Exercise Dress is lightweight, airy, and suitable for travel because it isn’t prone to wrinkles. It’s also sweat-wicking — I didn’t feel excessively hot after an intense workout.

I love playing tennis and doing pilates, so my favorite part of the dress is the built-in shorts. They make my waist feel supported because of the mid-rise fit that’s tight but not restrictive. The only caveat is that the sticky grippers didn’t work to the best of their ability. After some intense movements, I noticed myself readjusting the shorts.

As far as sizing goes, I took a small because I thought it would be best for my petite frame and large chest, but I could’ve gotten away with sizing down to an extra small. The small was roomy and comfortable, but it didn’t have enough support in the chest area, so I had to slip a sports bra underneath. Although I tested out the black iteration, each colorway is versatile enough to be styled with minimalist and maximalist outfits and suitable for 365 days a year. Needless to say, I understand what all the hype is about now.

Inspired to shop? There’s no better time to get your hands on the dress. In honor of the Exercise Dress’ 5th birthday, you can take 20 percent off from June 21 to August 31. Happy shopping!

How We Tested the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress

To test Outdoor Voices’ Exercise Dress, WWD editor Nikki Chwatt wore the dress for various outings over the course of two weeks. She wore it to a dance class, hot yoga, indoor tennis, and the supermarket. Chwatt assessed the feel of the dress, both with and without a sports bra, noting any rubbing or discomfort (none to report). She also tested the dress in various weather conditions, including chilly days and warm, sunny days. During the course of testing, she brought the dress with her on a weekend getaway to see how it maintained its shape and durability after being crammed in an overnight bag. Lastly, she tested the dress’s versatility by styling it with several outfit options in different colorways for everything from work days in the office to weekend brunch with friends. All around, the Exercise Dress performed well, allowing her to understand why the brand markets it as a dress that’s ‘designed to do anything.’

Courtesy of Outdoor Voices

Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress $100 $80 Buy Now at Outdoor Voices

Meet the Author

Nikki Chwatt is the Style Commerce Editor for WWD and Footwear News, where she both writes and edits stories on the latest clothing, accessory, and shoe trends for women and men. Chwatt’s writing has appeared in publications, such as Editorialist. She is currently based in New York City. Chwatt tested the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress over a two-week period, giving her 100+ pairs of workout leggings and bike shorts in her closet a break. Learn more about us here.

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Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress

About Outdoor Voices

How to Style the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress for Summer 2023

For Brunch

For the Office

For Tennis

How to Care for the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress

Is Outdoor Voices’ Exercise Dress Worth It?

How We Tested the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress

Meet the Author

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