Princess Diana: 2018 Athleisure Icon

Last year we noted on more than one occasion that spandex bike shorts are making a return. Models from Bella Hadid to Kendall Jenner have given the skintight shorts their seal of approval, but personally, it's Princess Diana who I consider my inspiration for this athleisure trend. Long before today's It girls pioneered the athleisure mania that has transformed street style over the last few years, the princess mixed and matched sporty pieces (yes, sneakers included) in a way that is feeling particularly inspiring right about now.

With the revival of '80s and '90s references in fashion the past few seasons, it's unsurprising that Diana has emerged as a muse whose style legacy lives on. Add to that the recent royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle along with a recent fashion industry revival in interest (Virgil Abloh's Spring 2018 Off-White collection was inspired by her), I imagine that we'll continue to look to both her red carpet and off-duty sensibilities to inform what we wear (and how we wear it) right now. If you wanted further proof of this ensemble's return, I unwittingly wore a spin on this outfit—sans spandex—without realizing until afterward. Read on to see the athleisure look two ways and to shop it out for yourself too.

Diana sported neon spandex and a Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt while leaving the Chelsea Harbour Club in London in November 1995.

Princess Diana left the gym in London wearing a crewneck sweatshirt, spandex, tall socks, and sneakers.