Leggings and a top designed for each other sit differently from two separate pieces you happen to wear together. The colour carries through, the fabric feels the same, and the silhouettes are matched. That makes a matching set just as wearable on the street as in a workout. Here is how to style two Igor & James sets, from training to the terrace.
Why a matching set gives you more than separate pieces
Two pieces designed as a set share the same fabric and the same depth of colour, so side by side they look a little calmer than a random combination. That is the difference with mixing separates: with a set you do not have to hunt for a top that exactly matches the colour of your leggings, because that work is already done. The silhouettes of both pieces are also matched, so the proportion between upper and lower body is right without you having to think about it.
Air Legging and Air Top: light and versatile
The Air Legging and Air Top are designed as companion pieces and made from the same featherlight fabric. The top has a relaxed, cropped silhouette that layers easily, whether you wear it on its own or over a base layer. Worn together they make a light set that suits a quiet day just as well as an intense workout. Each piece also works on its own: the Air Top goes just as well with joggers, and the Air Legging pairs with an oversized sweater.
Vortex Camo Legging and Vortex Camo Top: a statement without overdoing it
The Vortex Camo Top is designed specifically to form a complete look with the Vortex Camo Legging, or to be worn as a statement piece on its own. The camo print is designed to hold its colour, even after repeated washing, which makes it a set you will not see faded after a few washes. Wear both pieces together for a bold silhouette, or pair only the top with plain leggings or trousers when you want to keep it calmer.
Adding layers without hiding the set
A matching set does not always have to stay visible from top to ankle. An oversized hoodie or cardigan over the top lets the leggings carry the silhouette, while the colour of the set still shows at the sleeves or the hem. On colder days a long blazer or jacket over the set works just as well: the set stays the base, and the layer on top decides how formal or casual the outfit looks.
From workout to street: three combinations
Straight after training: the set as it is, with sneakers and a cap. For a quick shop or meeting friends: the top under an open overshirt, the leggings with the same sneakers. For an evening out: the leggings under a long coat, with the top swapped for a simple blazer on top, so the silhouette of the set stays while the outfit no longer reads as sportswear.
Combining colours and prints within your wardrobe
A plain set such as Air in jet-black or port is the easiest to fit in with the rest of your wardrobe, because you can wear almost anything with it. A printed set such as Vortex Camo asks for a little more restraint in the rest of the outfit: keep shoes and accessories plain so the print gets the attention. If you switch between sets, make sure you have at least one plain set next to a printed one, so you always have a calmer option for days when you do not want to stand out.
Accessories that finish a set without overloading it
A set needs very little to look finished. One eye-catching accessory is usually enough: a cap with a plain set, or a simple sleeve or bag with a printed set, so the print stays the only focal point. Avoid too many prints or colours at once in the same outfit, because that pulls attention away from the set itself. Shoes are the easiest place to vary: the same set looks different with sneakers than with sandals or boots, without changing anything about the set itself.
When not to match
Not every occasion calls for the full set. For an office meeting or a more formal setting it often works better to wear only the top or only the leggings, combined with another piece. That keeps the silhouette of the set without the outfit reading as a full workout set. Save the complete set for moments when you feel free to wear it that way: straight after training, at the weekend, or simply on a day when comfort comes first.
See both sets and the rest of the collection in leggings & bottoms and tops from Igor & James.
In short
- A matching set saves you the search for a colour combination that works.
- The Air Legging and Air Top are light and easy to layer, for training and quiet days.
- The Vortex Camo Legging and Vortex Camo Top make a bold set, or a statement piece on their own.
- A hoodie, cardigan or blazer on top turns the set from gym look to street look.
- Keep at least one plain set next to a printed set for more ways to combine.