8 Best Exercise Dresses, According to an Activewear-Obsessed Editor
Never struggle with what to wear to pickleball/tennis/golf/a "let's go on a walk" first date again.
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Hello from the sweatiest, depths of hell of summer, where nothing is less appealing to me than any more than the bare minimum amount of fabric sticking to my skin. The only thing that’s been saving me from this sensory nightmare is the exercise dress, the activewear piece beloved by US Open stars and Bama Rush girls alike. It’s stretchy, sweat-wicking, way cute, comes in a million colors and styles, and best of all, is an entire outfit in a single piece of clothing. As a self-proclaimed girl on the go, I consider myself to be somewhat of an expert in the best exercise dresses out there!
To make sure that my opinions were as fully fleshed-out as possible, I put several (like, over a dozen) workout dresses through the chaos of my life over the course of a month and have landed on eight must-own options that surpassed them all for a variety of reasons—some are ideal for activity thanks to sweat-wicking features and built-in shorts, while others are perfect for more chill activities. Like brunch. Or putting on a pair of HOKAS and pretending like you just came from a workout but aren't sweating at all. Just as important!
Below, the best exercise dresses that rose above the rest...
Pros
- Wider straps to avoid shoulder pain
- Comes with a ball pocket
- Stretchy inner onesie for comfort
- Lightly compressive
Cons
- Slightly limited size range
This, in my opinion, is everything a workout dress should be. It does everything that a sports bra and shorts would do—because it has both built into it—with a little extra stylish oomph. You can immediately tell that it's made of high quality material (don't ask me how, it just screams "Very Nice and Luxurious" via vibes, okay?!). Out of all the exercise dresses I own, this is easily the one I reach for the most.
- Size range: XS-XL
- Colors: Black
- Fabric: 80% polyester, 20% spandex
- Built-in bra? Yes
- Built-in shorts? Yes
Editor Review
"I’ve raved about this dress before, I’ll rave about it again, and I’ll wear it several times in between. It’s just thick enough with a little compression and a lot of stretch, and just generally makes me feel snatched and put-together even on a lazy day. The straps don't dig, and it's the perfect just-short-enough length, too." - Hannah Oh, Shopping Editor
Pros
- A wild range of color options
- Great size range with extended length option
- Shorts are detachable in the back for easy removal
Cons
- Runs ever so slightly big
Yes, the famous, TikTok-beloved Halara dress made the list! This was my first-ever exercise dress and I'm still fond of it to this day thanks to the affordable price point, stretchy fabric, and partially-removable shorts that make it easier to pee without getting completely undressed in a bathroom stall. It's also one of the longer options on this list, making it more tall girl-friendly, and it has slightly longer shorts underneath which help prevent chafing.
Note that I also tried the Quince Ultra-Form Active Dress and found it to be incredibly similar to the Halara dress, except slightly less compressive and the built-in bra didn't have removable padding, which is why I selected the Halara option instead.
- Size range: XS-3X with longer length options
- Colors: 30 options
- Fabric: 77% nylon and 23% elastane
- Built-in bra? Yes
- Built-in shorts? Yes
Editor Review
"It’s hard to beat the $40 price point, IMO. I even grabbed this for a plane ride recently—mostly on instinct, because I know it’s so comfy and convenient, although I probably won’t be doing that again because my legs got cold without my usual plane sweatpants. But for any other scenario, totally recommend this dress that I’ve gotten dozens of uses out of!" - Hannah Oh, Shopping Editor
Pros
- Gorgeous design and structure
- Stretchy fabric is very supportive
- Has a "fashion" look despite the athletic design
- Cute low back and unique square neckline
Cons
- Might be on the shorter side if you're tall
If you prefer a softer fabric over an athletic one, this is the dress for you. The slightly higher price point makes total sense due to the excellent quality of the fabric and design. It'll hold up nicely on the pickleball court thanks to the shelf bra and stretchy, built-in shorts, but it's structured like a regular mini dress so you could go crazy and wear it on a first date, if you'd like. Your date will be none the wiser!
- Size range: XXS-L
- Colors: Black and Pink Wild Rose
- Fabric: 87% polyester, 13% elastane
- Built-in bra? Yes
- Built-in shorts? Yes
Editor Review
"This dress is... perfect?! I always feel so snatched in it. From the trendy basque waist to the flirtiest little skirt that's just short enough, this is my perfect LBD, period. I could tell as soon as I put it on for the first time that it would fit like a glove thanks to the thick, stretchy fabric, and I even ended up wearing it to the office with a blazer over it (it's a little short for work but the longer jacket made it more business-y!)." - Hannah Oh, Shopping Editor
Pros
- UFP 40+ sun protection
- Sweat-wicking, quick-dry material
- Various length options
- Removable cups
Cons
- Might want to size down if you need extra support in the chest
Calling all former (or current) dancers—this powder pink tennis dress will have you feeling like a prima ballerina on and off the court. The built-in bra has removable padding which is awesome, and best of all, you can get it in three different lengths—29”, 31” or 33” depending on if you purchase the petite, regular, or tall options.
- Size range: XXS-XL, Petite/Regular/Tall
- Colors: Shell, Bright White, Black
- Fabric: Recycled polyester
- Built-in bra? Yes
- Built-in shorts? Yes
Editor Review
"Probably the most notable feature of this dress is the extremely (and I mean extremely) breathable mesh skirt. It's light as pair and the pleats are too cute. The entire thing is made of a quick-dry material, too, so it's perfect for hot days and sweaty activities. There's even an upside-down pocket on the internal shorts for a tennis ball!" -Hannah Oh, Shopping Editor
Pros
- Great petite sizing
- Shorts are detachable in the back for easy removal
- Removable cups
- Cute cutout design
Cons
- Runs small
If you want to feel super secure in your exercise dress, this is the one for you. It has the most compression out of every option that I tested—to the point where if you're between sizes, I would recommend going a size up. There's a nice gripply lining on the shorts to prevent them from rolling up, and a cute back cutout, too. Overall, it's really thoughtfully designed.
- Size range: XXXS-XL
- Colors: Club Blue/White
- Fabric: 68% nylon, 32% elastane
- Built-in bra? Yes
- Built-in shorts? Yes
Editor Review
"If it's a crime to want to look cute while playing pickleball, consider me guilty. This dress is pretty short (see: me not passing the fingertip test) but the built-in shorts with anti-roll protection make that a moot point, putting it solidly in both the function and fashion categories!" - Hannah Oh, Shopping Editor
Pros
- Dual side hidden pockets
- Removable cups
- Cute criss-cross cutout back
- Unique drop-waist design
Cons
- Found it to be a little crinkly around the neckline when first opened
Nothing is more classic than a pleated tennis skirt. And what I love most about this exercise dress is that the skirt is just the sliiightest bit longer in the back than it is in the front so you get the coverage you need without it being too obvious or noticeable. The open criss-cross back gives extra breathing room in the top that will accommodate larger busts nicely, too.
- Size range: XS-XXL
- Colors: Navy, White
- Fabric: 78% polyester, 22% spandex
- Built-in bra? Yes
- Built-in shorts? Yes
Editor Review
"I'll be honest—I have a slight bone to pick with the fact that the double waistband makes me think that there's a wrinkle in my dress where there isn't. But overall I'm a big fan of the little pleated skirt, the slight halter neck, the genius skirt design that gives a little extra booty coverage—super cute and definitely want this in white!" - Hannah Oh, Shopping Editor
Pros
- Anti-odor and sweat-wicking fabric
- Cute pleated side panels
- Fits smaller chests like a glove
Cons
- Might be tight on larger chests
No one does tennis like Wilson, so naturally, their tennis dress is really freaking good, too. This one is a shell that you're meant to wear over a base layer (think a sports bra and shorts). It's super light, and the cute zipper front allows for more or less room in the cleavage area, depending on the look you're going for! It's also a little longer, if you prefer that—although not so long that someone like me at 5'3" couldn't wear it.
- Size range: XS-XL
- Colors: Classic Navy, Bright White, Field Green
- Fabric:
- Built-in bra? No
- Built-in shorts? No
Editor Review
"This dress seemed paper-thin out of the packaging and I was worried it wasn’t going to live up to the expectations I have for a brand like Wilson but I was pleasantly surprised at the comfortably, body-hugging fit and the swishy pleated skirt. It’s very light and breathable, it almost feels like a soft windbreaker material, so even though you might have to layer it over some biker shorts and a sports bra you won’t feel suffocated." - Hannah Oh, Shopping Editor
Pros
- Very stretchy and accommodating
- UV protection built into the fabric
- Sweat-wicking materials
Cons
- Not available in black or white
I've been a big fan of every item I've ever tried from Beyond Yoga and this piece is no exception. It has a super comfy built-in bra lining that made me feel secure and comfortable, plus their signature spacedye fabric is a dream to work out in. And as if that wasn't enough on the ~mobility~ front, this dress also has a keyhole racerback that frees up your shoulders for maximum swing.
- Size range: XXS-XXL
- Colors: Six options
- Fabric: 87% polyester, 13% elastane
- Built-in bra? Yes, but no padding
- Built-in shorts? Yes
Editor Review
"Despite my general hatred for super-thin workout tops designed by people who think I don't have nipples, I honestly loved this dress. The fabric felt like being swaddled in a soft, stretchy, cozy hug that also happened to be sweat-wicking." - Hannah Oh, Shopping Editor
Hannah is the Shopping Editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from chic home decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and pictures of her office outfits that nobody asked for.
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