While the New Year is the traditional time for resolutions, any month is a good time to start working out. One way to get inspired to hit the gym is with a new wardrobe. If you’re looking to look fine while exercising, you’re in luck: New York City stores offer fashionable fitness gear for all. Read on to find the shop that will fit your style, as well as where to test out your look.
Courtesy, Adidas
Adidas
565 Fifth Ave., Midtown, Manhattan, 212-883-5606
Adidas’ new brand center on Fifth Avenue, its largest in the world, is like an American football stadium: the emporium features locker rooms (not dressing rooms), a “track and turf” area where customers can test products and even bleachers for spectators to take in impromptu games. There’s a concierge, fitness consultant and same-day hotel delivery for out-of-town guests. Did we mention the kiosk stations for customizing jerseys, shoes and NYC-themed products exclusive to this location?
Fun offerings: Celebrity collaborations from Pharrell Williams, Stella McCartney and Alexander Wang; a lot of original Stan Smith and Superstar products.
Athleta
126 Fifth Ave., Flatiron District, Manhattan, 212-929-0512
As the Gap’s answer to athleisure—workout gear you can wear while working out and elsewhere—this brand is known for its colorful leggings made for yoga and studio workouts. Their high-rise fit is popular due to its three-layer mesh waistband, mean to flatten midsections (minimizing muffin tops). The stretchy fabric allows for ease of movement.
Fun offerings: The Flatiron location offers yoga, Zumba and body sculpting classes.
Bandier
108 Fifth Ave., Flatiron District, Manhattan, 646-360-3345
If any brand outshines Lululemon when it comes to activewear, it’s Bandier. The brand puts a stylish spin on workout clothes, featuring lightweight garments, engineered to block bacteria buildup, in colorful designs and prints. They’re not cheap, though: leggings start at just under $100 and run to around $250.
Fun offerings: The flagship location offers an hour-long workout called The Class, which combines high-intensity yoga with emotional cleansing through positive verbal reinforcement (aka shouting).
Courtesy, Lululemon
Lululemon
114 Fifth Ave., Flatiron District, Manhattan, 212-627-0314
This Canadian legging label’s largest flagship features women’s and men’s apparel, the popular Wunder Under yoga pants, a fitness concierge and a community wellness space called Hub Seventeen. That lower-floor area hosts classes and workshops and post-workout fun like dinner parties and concerts.
Fun offerings: A concierge that helps you book classes nearby or make reservations at healthful restaurants.
New Balance
150 Fifth Ave., Flatiron District, Manhattan, 212-727-2520
When it opened in 2011, this was the sneaker brand’s North American experience store, featuring a running track and treadmills to test sneakers, as well as sections that showcase new products and lifestyle offerings. While the brand is known mostly for its line of footwear, it also sells apparel including sports bras, tank tops and performance tights.
Fun offerings: NYC-exclusive collections.
Nike
529 Broadway, Soho, Manhattan, 646-850-9682
This five-story, 55,000-square-foot flagship houses half-court basketball, the Nike+ Running Trial Zone (where you can go on virtual runs through Central Park and along the West Side Highway) and a miniature soccer field. It’s also a retail headquarters for the megabrand, complete with a women’s lounge and tricked-out fitting rooms.
Fun offerings: Nike’s Trial Zones allow you to test out your sneakers before you purchase them; take them out on a treadmill, basketball court or soccer field.
Tory Sport
129 Fifth Ave., Flatiron District, Manhattan, 212-777-2226
Tory Burch launched her sports line in 2015: a feminine, 1960s-esque collection of tennis clothes. The line consists mostly of apparel for sporty types rather than gym rats. Think cropped plaid golf pants, V-neck tennis dresses and running pants that double as late-lunch gear.
Fun offerings: Fashionable Fitbits.
Victoria Sport at Victoria’s Secret
640 Fifth Ave., Midtown, Manhattan, 212-477-4118
It’s all about the essentials at the new Victoria’s Secret flagship, which carries its three labels: Victoria’s Secret, Pink and Victoria Sport, the recently launched sports apparel line that capitalizes on the company’s long history as the number one bra brand in the world.
Fun offerings: NYC-themed gear.
Now that you’ve purchased your gear, it’s time to see how it works in practice. Here are few of the City’s best places to increase your heart rate:
AKT
Dance-based or circuit-based interval training that combines yoga and cardio with strength training. 4Play classes give you the option of working out with a partner (though being on your own is fine).
Approximate time: 60–75 minutes
Barry’s Bootcamp
A favorite of the Kardashians, Barry’s combines interval cardio routines with strength training and involves resistance bands, free weights and medicine balls.
Approximate time: 60 minutes
Courtesy, Lucent Yoga
Lucent Yoga
This cozy Greenpoint studio specializes in Vinyasa yoga, which focuses on breathing-coordination sequences. This studio offers small classes, retreats and detox/cleanse workshops.
Approximate time: 60–75 minutes
Liftonic
This weights-only group class uses Pilates exercises for a full-body workout that focuses on tightening the waist and ab area and to improve posture. Each person has a bench and follows a TV monitor to help keep pace with the instructor.
Approximate time: 50 minutes
Pure Barre
This low-impact class uses ballet as the basis for strengthening exercises and isometric movements meant to target particular areas and tone your body.
Approximate time: 55 minutes
Row House NYC
A low-impact, full-body workout that uses every muscle and simulates an actual rowing session (as in, on a boat).
Approximate time: 30 to 50 minutes
Courtesy, SoulCycle
SoulCycle
Featuring loud club music and really happy instructors, SoulCycle is a stationary-bike journey that’ll get you pepped up (and simultaneously tuckered out).
Approximate time: 45 minutes
Y7 Studio. Photo: Lauren Roxborough
Y7 Studio
In this hip-hop yoga class, attendees exercise to beats from Jay-Z, Kanye West and Drake. Newbies should go for Y7's Slow Burn session; the We Flow Hard Vinyasa class is for those who prefer a more accelerated speed. Apparel, like this hat donned by royal-to-be Meghan Markle likes to sport, is also available.
Approximate time: 60 minutes