So you want that effortless LA weekend vibe—you know, the look where someone could be heading to yoga, brunch, or a hiking trail and you honestly can't tell which? I get it. That whole athleisure wellness aesthetic has taken over, and honestly, it's comfortable as hell.
Here's the thing though: buying all that Alo and Lululemon new will drain your bank account faster than a green juice cleanse. But secondhand? That's where it gets interesting.
What Even Is LA Athleisure?
Let me break this down if you're new to the concept. LA athleisure isn't just throwing on gym clothes and calling it a day. It's this specific blend of activewear that looks intentional—like you put thought into it, but not too much thought. The fabrics are usually high-quality (think buttery soft leggings, moisture-wicking tops), the colors tend toward neutrals with the occasional pop of sage green or dusty rose, and everything fits well without being too tight or too baggy.
The wellness wear part? That's the elevated version. We're talking matching sets, oversized hoodies that somehow look chic, sports bras you could wear to coffee without a second thought, and those cult-favorite leggings everyone swears by.
Building Your Weekend Athleisure Wardrobe
I've seen people overthink this, so let's keep it simple. You really only need a few key pieces to rotate through your weekends.
The Foundation: Quality Leggings
Start here. Seriously. One or two pairs of really good leggings will carry your entire weekend wardrobe. When you're shopping secondhand, look for brands like Lululemon (the Align or Wunder Under styles), Alo Yoga, or Beyond Yoga. Check the inner thigh area and waistband for pilling—that's your main concern with used leggings.
Black is obvious, but don't sleep on colors. I picked up a pair of olive green Aligns last month for like $35, and I've worn them at least twice a week since. The LA aesthetic loves earth tones—think terracotta, sand, charcoal, deep navy.
The Oversized Hoodie Situation
This is non-negotiable for the LA weekend look. But here's what I learned: it needs to be oversized in the right way. You want it roomy through the body but not so long that it looks like you're drowning in fabric. Cropped oversized hoodies are huge right now—they hit right at your hip and look intentional with high-waisted leggings.
Brands to hunt for: Outdoor Voices, Girlfriend Collective, or even Patagonia if you want that outdoorsy wellness crossover. I've had good luck finding these secondhand because people buy them, wear them a handful of times, then move on to the next trend.
Sports Bras You Can Actually Wear Out
Look, I'll be honest—I was skeptical about wearing just a sports bra and leggings to run errands. But in LA (or if you're channeling that vibe), it's completely normal on weekends. The key is finding sports bras with interesting details: strappy backs, mesh panels, or just really flattering cuts.
When shopping secondhand, check the elastic carefully. Give it a good stretch and make sure it bounces back. Nobody wants a saggy sports bra situation.
Putting Together Actual Outfits
Okay, so you've got the pieces. Now what? Let me walk you through some combinations that actually work.
The Coffee Run Look
High-waisted black leggings, a cropped white ribbed tank (or sports bra if you're feeling it), and an oversized neutral hoodie left unzipped. Throw on white sneakers—could be actual athletic shoes or just clean minimalist sneakers. Add a crossbody bag or belt bag. Done.
This outfit says "I might work out later, or I might not, and I'm completely fine with either option."
The Farmers Market Vibe
Bike shorts (yes, they're still a thing) in a neutral color, paired with an oversized graphic tee or a loose linen button-up left open over a sports bra. Slide sandals or those chunky dad sneakers everyone's wearing. Bring a tote bag for your overpriced organic produce.
The bike shorts thing was weird to me at first, but they're genuinely comfortable for weekend errands. Just make sure they're the longer 8-inch inseam ones, not the super short cycling shorts.
The Elevated Wellness Look
This is for when you want to look a bit more pulled together. Matching set—leggings and a long-sleeve top or sports bra in the same color. Layer with a lightweight puffer vest or a denim jacket. The matching set does all the work here, making you look way more coordinated than you actually are.
I found a matching terracotta set secondhand (different sellers, but same brand and color—took some patience), and people always ask where it's from. The matching thing just reads as expensive, even when it's not.
Shopping Secondhand for Athleisure: What Actually Works
Here's the kicker—athleisure is one of the best categories to buy secondhand. People are constantly cycling through workout clothes, either because they're chasing trends or because they bought stuff that didn't fit quite right.
Search specifically for brands. Don't just browse "leggings"—you'll get overwhelmed. Type in "Lululemon Align" or "Alo Yoga leggings" and you'll find way better stuff. Check the size charts because athletic wear sizing is all over the place between brands.
Pay attention to fabric content in the listings. You want high percentages of nylon or polyester with some spandex or elastane. That's what gives you that buttery, stretchy feel. Cotton-heavy athletic wear doesn't have the same vibe.
Condition Red Flags
Look, some wear is fine—we're talking workout clothes here. But avoid anything with visible pilling in the crotch area (sorry, but it's important), stretched-out waistbands, or fading that looks uneven. A little overall fading is actually fine and can look vintage-cool, but weird bleach spots or discoloration? Pass.
For sports bras, the elastic is everything. If the listing shows the bra laid flat and the band looks wavy or stretched, keep scrolling.
Styling Tips That Make It Look Intentional
The difference between "I just rolled out of bed" and "effortless LA cool" is honestly pretty small, but it matters.
Keep your color palette cohesive. You don't need everything to match, but sticking to neutrals with maybe one accent color makes you look way more put-together. I basically live in black, white, olive, and the occasional rust color on weekends.
Accessories matter more than you'd think. A simple gold necklace, some small hoop earrings, or a baseball cap can elevate the whole look. I've got this one canvas baseball cap I found secondhand that I throw on constantly—instant outfit upgrade.
Your shoes make or break it. Beat-up running shoes can work if they're clean and the rest of your outfit is on point, but honestly, investing in one pair of white sneakers (even new) is worth it. They go with everything and make even basic athleisure look intentional.
The Wellness Wear Mindset
Here's something nobody really talks about: the LA wellness aesthetic is as much about the vibe as the actual clothes. It's this whole thing about looking like you prioritize self-care and movement and green smoothies, whether you actually do or not.
So yeah, the clothes help, but so does carrying a reusable water bottle, having a yoga mat visible in your car (even if you haven't been to class in weeks—no judgment), or casually mentioning your morning walk. It's performance, but like, comfortable performance.
The beauty of building this wardrobe secondhand is you can experiment without commitment. Try the bike shorts trend without dropping $80 on a new pair. Test out that matching set thing before investing in multiple sets. Figure out which brands actually fit your body.
Real Talk: Does This Actually Work?
I've been building my weekend athleisure wardrobe almost entirely secondhand for about six months now, and honestly? It's been great. I've probably spent $200 total and have a solid rotation of outfits that I actually wear constantly.
The quality of secondhand athletic wear from good brands is genuinely impressive. These pieces are made to withstand intense workouts, so normal wear and washing barely touches them. That Lululemon hoodie from 2019? Still looks nearly new.
Plus, there's something satisfying about pulling off that expensive-looking LA wellness aesthetic on a budget. You get the comfort, the style, and you're not contributing to fast fashion waste. At the end of the day, that feels pretty aligned with the whole wellness thing anyway.
Start with one or two key pieces—maybe those quality leggings and an oversized hoodie—and build from there. You'll figure out pretty quickly what works for your actual lifestyle versus what just looks good on Instagram. And that's really what weekend dressing should be about anyway: clothes that fit your real life, not someone else's curated version of it.