With her workout complete, Olsen dresses up her athletic outfit with some boots and a sweater and heads downtown to shop, illustrating the “studio to street” fashion trend.

Once upon a time, workout wear belonged solely in the gym, on a trail, or a track.

With the exception of the 1990s era of ultra high-cut leotards, which we long to forget, athletic wear trended toward loose and comfy, serving more to absorb sweat than make a fashion statement. Those days are gone and we’re entering an era of high tech fabrics and smart design. Today’s workout wear offers figure-flattering outfits that easily make the transition from the gym or yoga studio to happy hour and beyond. Welcome to athleisure — the celebration of functional, form-fitting clothes that are as beautiful as they are practical.

“Athleisure is the new trend in workout wear,” said Heather Olsen, Barre 3’s studio manager and retail buyer. “Clothes that move from the studio to the street in a way that is presentable, while making you feel hugged and supported.”

Like several other Bend workout studios, Barre 3 offers a limited line of top-quality workout wear from brand names such as Lululemon and Beyond Yoga. These clothes provide the ease of movement, compression, and quick-drying qualities sought after by fitness fans, with a stylish silhouette and a flattering fit.

“The fabrication doesn’t look as athletic as workout clothes did in the past,” Olsen said.

Many manufacturers offer fashionable cover-ups and layering pieces to make your workout wear worthy of a lunch date or an afternoon outing.

“Throw on a pair of boots, a tunic, or long sweater, and you’ve got an outfit,” said certified personal trainer Katie Mital. “A long sweater or top can cover up anything you might be a little self-conscious about.”

Lululemon Athletica representative Taylor Smith showed off several such studio to street-worthy styles at a recent trunk show held at Bend Pilates. Smith pointed out leggings in a variety of colors and patterns, designed for all sorts of figure types.

“Cropped leggings that hit just above the ankle lengthen the leg,” Smith said. “Leggings with higher waistbands and a flare at the bottom work really well for the apple-shaped physique.”

The higher, compression-style waistbands are also favored by workout warriors who want extra tummy and tush coverage in a downward dog or lunging posture.

An emphasis on posture is yet another reason why trainers from all disciplines speak highly of form-fitting workout wear. Trainers want to see bony landmarks, such as shoulders, knees, and hip joints, when helping clients to use proper form and technique.

“You can see how a client is moving and watch their posture,” Mital said. “It’s easier to analyze function.

“Today’s workout wear is a collision of both fashion and function,” she added. “It gives you the look of an active lifestyle in a ‘put together’ fashion, communicating your commitment to health and wellness to the world.”

Athleisure reminds us that an active life that doesn’t end in the gym.

“When you look good and feel good, it’s a reminder that life is about motion,” Smith said. “And, if you’re dressed for activity, you’re more likely to move. You’ll feel put together and be more likely to make better choices about exercise and eating.”