Somewhere around the millionth day of lockdown, I decided that I needed to make a sartorial change. Here's the thing: I like joggers just as much as the next person, but I was beginning to feel frumpy and unkempt, like I looked like a person in the throes of a pandemic, even though I am, of course, a person in the throes of a pandemic. (As a millennial, my main social currency is always keeping up appearances, despite how wrecked I may feel inside.)
One mindless scroll through Instagram later and there it was in all its athleisure glory [1]: Girlfriend Collective's Bike Unitard [2]. I wondered whether I could pull it off. Bike shorts are one thing, I thought. A skin-tight one-piece is quite another. It leaves absolutely zero to the imagination. In my state of anxiety and uncertainty, I turned to the reviews, and after reading high praise such as "Better than a birthday suit," "This unitard is everything" and, my personal favourite, "Buy this!!!" I did just that and clicked purchase right then and there. A cool 70 pounds and precisely six shipping days later, the unitard was mine.
And man, was it worth every penny. With a flattering scoop neck, low back, and built-in bra, this unitard [Stefon voice] has everything. It's made from a strong, compressive fabric that holds you in but isn't uncomfortable, and there are no unflattering seams anywhere — this thing moves every which way. The icing on the cake? Girlfriend Collective is a sustainable brand [3] that practices ethical manufacturing and creates its activewear using recycled water bottles.
I'm not going to come right out and admit how often I wear the unitard, so let's just say that it's in heavy rotation. Fortunately, it's so damn versatile that no one can tell. For Zoom meetings, I drape a cardigan over my shoulders. If I want to squeeze in an impromptu Peloton [4] ride between calls, I jump right on the bike. On date night, I slip on a pair of high-waisted wide-leg jeans and — bam — I'm good to go. This unitard is truly a godsend for exercising and lounging around, which, for those of us lucky enough to be WFH, is really all we're ever doing these days, amiright?
Girlfriend Collective Black Bike Unitard
Girlfriend Collective Black Bike Unitard [6] (£70)