STRUT-THIS is the activewear label two mother-daughter teams started in 2011, one in Los Angeles and one on Philadelphia's Main Line. I love the idea of workout clothes with a point of view, so this edit follows a woman from class into the rest of her day.
STRUT-THIS Activewear: A Shopper's Guide
Four women, one activewear idea
I like that STRUT-THIS starts with a family story, not a fashion-world origin myth. It was founded in 2011 by two mother-daughter teams, Cynthia and Aubrey Sieder and Barbra and Raquel Lessner, one pair in Los Angeles and the other on the Main Line outside Philadelphia. A two-coast beginning for a line of workout clothes with a life beyond class feels about right to me.
The label is body-positive, built around feeling good in motion, and its pieces are made in Los Angeles by people with more than 40 combined years in the garment business. I can see that practical streak in how the collection moves between performance tops, leggings, cozy layers and easy one-pieces.
Their Happily Grey capsule with Mary Lawless Lee, a retro-minded take on activewear, is a good reminder that they like training clothes to feel personal, never like a uniform.
Workout tops with a little personality
The tops tell you quickly that STRUT-THIS does not treat activewear as anonymous basics. The Jolie Bra in pink Minnie dots and The Gatsby Bra in green camo give print the starring role, while X Happily Grey The Rhodes Bra goes softer in grey and navy. The Cher Bra in eyelet and The Eyelet Tank Top in pearl are the quieter pair, and The Sonoma Sweatshirt or X Happily Grey The Beauty in Between Sweatshirt is the layer for the walk home.
In my fashion dreams, she heads to an early class in The Gatsby Bra, then pulls on a sweatshirt before a coffee stop. My rule is to let one print lead and keep the rest of the outfit simple, especially when the bra is doing the visual work.
Leggings and pants for the long day
This lineup makes room for different rhythms instead of one strict workout uniform. The Rae Ankle Legging pairs black with baby blue, while The Sutton Legging brings a snake print into the mix. The Eyelet Capri Pant has a lighter pearl finish, and The Channing Jogger takes the softer route with pointelle. When I want a simple black base, I would start with Beau Pant and build around it.
Picture her leaving a mat class in The Rae Ankle Legging, pulling on a roomy layer for errands and keeping the same comfortable base all afternoon. A useful test is to choose the shape and print first, then add a plain top so they read clearly.
Shorts, one-pieces and in-between layers
This is where the collection loosens up. The Sparrow Short in pink Minnie dots, The Shiloh Short in green camo and The Rugby Short in stripe give shorts three different moods without losing the easy athletic spirit. The Rhett Jumpsuit is my answer for days when I do not want to assemble a set, and X Happily Grey The Indie Jumper is another all-in-one. The Shrug is the small layer I would keep nearby when the temperature drops after a workout.
My daydream is a weekend walk in The Rhett Jumpsuit, with The Shrug tossed over the shoulders for the ride home. What I would skip is a patterned short with a patterned layer. Pick one focal point and let the rest relax.
Activewear that remembers real life
What stays with me is the human starting point: four women making workout clothes they would actually want to wear. STRUT-THIS has grown into a Los Angeles-made collection with room for a camo bra, a printed short, a soft jogger and a layer you can keep on after class.
It suits the woman who wants her clothes to work hard without making the rest of her day feel like an extension of the gym. I find that easy to return to, although my own gym attendance is another story.
