From snack leggings to gardening things, Outdoor Voices stans know the brand loves to shake up the athleisure game. The Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress is, bar none, the brand’s best example of that. If you’ve spent any amount of time on the internet, you’ll instantly recognize the Exercise Dress—a brightly-hued, strappy minidress that’s meant for working out in, but wouldn’t look out of place at your local brunch spot in the summer months.
The fan-favorite workout dress was first introduced in 2018, but it only really took off in 2021 when “about three dresses sold every minute,” according to the brand, after giving the style new-and-improved design features like adjustable straps, an extra pocket, and internal leg grips so the shorts’ liner stays in place. Most importantly, OV also rolled out fresh hues. Today, there have been more than 67 iterations of the exercise dress—from classic neutrals to sorbet shades and swirly psychedelic prints.
Of course, the dress also has rave reviews to back it up, with many workout dress enthusiasts slipping it on for everything from yoga to hiking to weightlifting. True to the brand’s “doing things” ethos, others simply wore it to walk their dogs or run errands. One person even shared a photo of her pairing the dress with a blazer for work—because, why not?
With a new drop here for spring, we decided to finally give the style a try to see whether or not it stacked up to the thousands of rave reviews—after all, there still aren’t that many dresses that you can confidently go exercise in (and still feel cute without worrying about a nip slip or flashing your sexy granny panties).
The dress retails for $100 and you can snag it in sizes XXS-XL and 16 different colors and prints. It comes with built-in shorts that feature two pockets big enough for your smartphone—and adjustable bra straps for added support and lift. The shorts also have a sticky liner so they don’t ride up while you’re walking or working out. And the sweat-wicking fabric has a lightweight, techy-feel—imagine something similar to a shell or rashguard found in swimwear. Some of the lighter hues might run sheer, so you might want to wear a sports bra underneath for coverage (or additional support for more intense activities).
Read on for our full Outdoor Voices workout dress review below—and see the dresses in various colors and silhouettes on five different women.
Jenny Singer, staff writer, wearing Dayflower
Jenny Singer
“It’s giving tennis bitch! It’s giving hot young stepmom! It’s giving ‘Oh, no big plans for Sunday, just brunch and the farmer’s market, and then we might sneak in a quick hike!’ I like this a lot. The concept of an “exercise dress” seemed too fun to be true, but with the built-in shorts this basically functions like a romper, but with less of the self-doubt and crotch area discomfort. I love the shade, the straps, and the hidden shorts. Some drawbacks: it does not do a lot for me, cleavage-wise. And it’s a little bit tricky to pull on. Once it’s on though, it’s very comfortable. I read an interview with Hellen Mirren in 2015 and I think about it every time I exercise. She said, “Buy yourself a fabulous workout outfit. Put it on, do four sit-ups, take it off, and get in the shower.” This is the best workout advice I have ever heard. I have been looking for my fabulous workout outfit ever since, and this is it.”
Andrea Navarro, commerce writer, wearing Maize Mango Droplet
“I absolutely love this vibrant color palette. I’m trying to incorporate more brights into my wardrobe, especially for spring and summer workouts. This swirl print looks just like a sweet sorbet! At first, I was a little weary of the dress because I didn’t notice that it came with built-in shorts until I actually tried it on for the first time, and of course, that turned out to be my favorite part. As for the fit, I have a larger bust and was able to adjust the straps and make them a little looser to fit comfortably. I have to say the support is less than what you’d get from a regular sports bra, so if you need it for exercising, I highly recommend wearing one underneath. I also like that the fit cinches my waist, which really accentuates my hourglass figure. I haven’t worn it for a high-intensity workout yet, but after going for a long walk in 80+ degrees, I can say that the fabric is sweat-wicking—I didn’t feel excessively hot after being out in the sun. I probably could’ve gotten away with sizing down to a medium, although a large was roomy and comfortable. Needless to say, I understand what all the hype is about now.”
Leilani McQuay, commerce producer, wearing Rosemary
“I’m usually one to stick with my black leggings when working out, but this dress has been a total game-changer. I love how lightweight and airy the fabric feels—and having a petite body type with a smaller bust, the XS (my usual size) hugs me in all the right places, provides the support needed for my workouts, all without having to adjust the straps. As someone who loves playing tennis and is an avid cycler, my favorite part of the dress has to be the built-in shorts. They stay in place no matter how intense my movements get on the court or on the bike, which adds versatility beyond just making me feel cute. If you’re looking for a dress you can literally do anything in, you have met your match.”
Talia Abbas, commerce editor, wearing Primrose
“I have a love-hate relationship with OV’s clothes. As much I like them on-model, the styles I’ve tried have never fit me right: Most of its leggings are usually too long for my 5’1″ frame, the waistband and legs being either too tight or too big, and the colors never felt as cute on me as they looked on everyone else on Instagram. All to say, I was skeptical about this dress. I went for an XS (my usual size) and it ended up being a just a bit too big. It wasn’t unwearably loose but it definitely wasn’t as fitted as I hoped. There was some gapping on the side of my chest even after adjusting the staps, and the length was longer than I would’ve liked. But! It is actually really comfy on—which is the most important thing. I wanted to go running in it to test the fabric’s sweat-wicking claims, but because it’s still too cold in New York City, I settled on a vinyasa flow with quite a few inversions. The dress felt good on with the little built-in shorts, and the top-layer skirt wasn’t all in my face when I was upside down. I won’t be ditching my leggings anytime soon, but I am officially on board with the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress—I can’t wait to style it for park hangs and sunny outdoor lunches.”
Bella Cacciatore, beauty writer, wearing Black
“I’m not much of an exercise gal, but I live in minidresses in the spring and summer, so I was dying to try this as an alternative to my usual slip dresses, and it did not disappoint. I love the fit—it’s just like my favorite Los Angeles Apparel minidress, with a little more compression so it nips me in at the waist. I was a little worried that it would be too small for my bigger boobs, but it fits just right and the attached bodysuit is supportive enough to skip a bra. The fabric is comfy and easy to move in—especially with the flash-proof shorts—yet doesn’t read so “athletic” that I couldn’t get away with it at dinner or the office—I’m excited to style it with a button-down and loafers. Though the most vigorous exercise I’ll probably put it through is running errands, I know it will be a go-to for the warmer weather ahead.”
