{"id":491608,"date":"2026-06-23T13:44:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T13:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/491608\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T13:44:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T13:44:10","slug":"goodbye-pilates-princess-hello-gym-goblin-how-the-just-got-out-of-bed-look-took-over-fitness-fashion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/491608\/","title":{"rendered":"Goodbye, pilates princess \u2013 hello, gym goblin: how the just-got-out-of-bed look took over fitness | Fashion"},"content":{"rendered":"

At first, the goblins came for our downtime. Going \u201cgoblin mode\u201d was a lifestyle confined to the home \u2013 to the bed, mostly. The \u201ccomforts of depravity<\/a>\u201d it brought (\u201cwatching 90 Day Fianc\u00e9 on mute while scrolling endlessly through social media, pouring the end of a bag of chips in your mouth\u201d, for example) weren\u2019t compatible with doing anything productive.<\/p>\n

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Enter the gym goblin. The optics remain much the same \u2013 think ancient T-shirts, knackered socks, oversized cardigans \u2013 but the setting has changed, with goblincore devotees rising up from unmade beds, Diet Cokes in hand, to hit the treadmill. It\u2019s Diana, Princess of Wales\u2019s oversized college sweatshirts<\/a> meets Josh O\u2019Connor\u2019s half-tracksuit look<\/a> for the Disclosure Day press tour \u2013 and the polar opposite of the matcha-drinking, Lululemoned \u201cclean girl\u201d aesthetic that dominates fitness circles.<\/p>\n

The half-tracksuit look \u2026\u00a0Josh O\u2019Connor in New York this month. Photograph: Aeon\/GC Images<\/p>\n

When Harry Styles was photographed for the spring 2026 issue of Runner\u2019s World, it\u2019s telling that stylist Harry Lambert sourced secondhand trainers and a vintage Adidas T-shirt<\/a> to pair with retro-style track jackets and shorts for the singer. And let\u2019s not forget the vintage Donald Duck cap, complete with beak peak \u2013 very \u201cI found this on my bedroom floor\u201d. Elsewhere, Jennifer Lawrence<\/a> was last month spotted leaving her house<\/a> in a vintage Mickey Mouse T-shirt, paired with red track pants and Adidas sliders \u2013 a look that less fashion-forward types might have reserved for duvet days only.<\/p>\n

Gym goblins may have conceded the need to venture further than the nearest corner shop, but they are not about to adopt the highly optimised athleisure wardrobe or wellness-centred mindset of \u201cthat girl<\/a>\u201d \u2013 a vanilla blend of self-care and self-improvement. To signal their more nonchalant approach, vintage kit is key. Earlier this month, the FT reported<\/a> that, between December 2025 and March this year, eBay searches for \u201cvintage sportswear\u201d and \u201c90s sportswear\u201d both increased 300%, while searches for \u201c90s Reebok\u201d were up 700%.<\/p>\n

Harry Styles in gym goblin mode in New York, on 11 March 2026. Photograph: XNY\/Star Max\/GC Images<\/p>\n

Secondhand clothing retailer Rokit<\/a> also reports significant growth in sales of brands such as Puma and Onitsuka Tiger, as well as a rise in popularity of low-profile trainers and the wider Y2K aesthetic. \u201cSports jersey sales have climbed dramatically in recent years, supported by England\u2019s success in international tournaments and gen Z\u2019s embrace of creative, juxtaposed styling,\u201d says Rokit\u2019s creative director, Eibhleann McMahon. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen a surge in demand for polos, track tops and sports shorts. Add to that the continued growth of streetwear and performance trends such as gorpcore [fashion\u2019s love of outdoor labels] and technical mountain wear, and sportswear has become firmly embedded within contemporary fashion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rivals\u2019 sexed-up Golden Gauntlet competition. Photograph: Robert Viglasky\/Disney<\/p>\n

With Adidas trackies now \u201ca fashion girl staple<\/a>\u201d, making the switch to similar retro-style running shorts during the summer months feels almost inevitable; early adopter Zo\u00eb Kravitz<\/a> has been pairing hers with a Black History Month T-shirt. And while much attention was paid to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy\u2019s minimalist 90s style in Ryan Murphy\u2019s TV hit Love Story, fashion points were also duly awarded to JFK Jr<\/a> for his backwards baseball caps, casual sweaters and relaxed sports shorts. Heated Rivalry<\/a>\u2019s hockey jerseys and Rivals\u2019 sexed-up Golden Gauntlet competition<\/a> might also be credited with prompting a sportswear awakening in recent months.<\/p>\n

double quotation markWe\u2019ve spent years in the era of matching activewear sets. There\u2019s a growing desire to wear something more authentic and unique<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Instagram vintage resale shop Rummage Stretch<\/a> has amassed 12,000 followers by posting what could be described as gym-goblin inspo: leopard-print cami tops<\/a> paired with capri leggings; Sex and the City\u2019s Samantha Jones in head-to-toe orange at a yoga<\/a> class; Hilary Swank in a grey T-shirt in 1994\u2019s The Next Karate Kid<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dallas-based stylist Mikaela Adams<\/a> says the surging interest in vintage sportswear may be a result of people seeking greater individuality with their fitness fits. \u201cWe\u2019ve spent years in the era of matching activewear sets and the \u2018pilates princess\u2019 aesthetic. There\u2019s a growing desire to wear something that feels more personally authentic and unique.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early adopter \u2026 Zo\u00eb Kravitz in Black History Month T-shirt, shorts and heels, in July 2025. Photograph: AKGS\/Backgrid<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the goblin mindset continues to prioritise comfort and practicality. \u201cMany of these pieces were made to move, sweat and train in, so they function just as well in a workout setting as they do running errands, grabbing coffee, or working remotely,\u201d says Adams.<\/p>\n

Hilary Swank in The Next Karate Kid (1994). Photograph: Maximum Film\/Alamy<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a trend that has been filtering through to the gym floor itself \u2013 and even yoga, barre and pilates classes, where colour-coordinated gym sets were perhaps most prevalent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen a noticeable move away from highly curated, matching sets,\u201d says Holly Evans, teacher-training manager and instructor at the yoga studio chain MoreYoga<\/a>. \u201cThere\u2019s a growing appetite for nostalgic references, whether that\u2019s 1970s track-and-field aesthetics, 1980s aerobics influences or the oversized sportswear looks associated with the 1990s. We\u2019re seeing people swap sculpting leggings for retro running shorts, looser joggers and relaxed-fit flares.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diana, Princess of Wales wearing a Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt, in November 1995. Photograph: Anwar Hussein\/WireImage<\/p>\n

But what does fatigue with the pilates princess aesthetic mean for the future of fitness \u2013 and can chaotic goblin-style hedonism ever be truly compatible with the world of macros and supersets?<\/p>\n

For Evans, the two are not necessarily at odds \u2013 rather the shift reflects positive changes within the industry itself. \u201cFitness has become more diverse,\u201d she says. \u201cAs people move between yoga, pilates, strength training, walking and social sports, they\u2019re choosing clothing that works across multiple activities.\u201d Meanwhile, rewearing existing pieces aligns with a broader move towards sustainability and conscious spending. \u201cWhen people feel less pressure to wear expensive or trend-led activewear, yoga becomes more accessible and welcoming. It reinforces the idea that participation matters more than presentation.\u201d<\/p>\n

And when only self-indulgent bed rotting<\/a> will do? Kick off your preloved Reeboks and call it a rest day.<\/p>\n