Sports And The City

They just work so well together, and it's time we work with it.

Sports And The City - An Aesthetic

New York is one of the most desirable places on Earth. We all know this. At least one picture of New York is on all of our vision boards. And if it isn't NY, it's Monaco, Paris, London, or an equally influential city that simply just has appeal. These places, for whatever reason (before I analyzed them) had MORE. More of what? For everyone I asked, it was different. Some people love these cities because they represent dreams, hopes, something intangible just beyond reach.

Upon more research, however, it became clear these cities have one aesthetic thing in common - they showcase the quintessential "city and sport" aesthetic. And that doesn't just mean that they're a city with sports. It's actually a lot more nuanced than that. These cities are a glimpse into an aesthetic that is normally only available on Pinterest... and everyone wants a bite of Pinterest.

Look at it this way: "city" refers to collaboration, connectivity, a perfect harmony in your outfit and your energy. "sports" refers to the most admirable beauty standard. And yeah, maybe that's toxic - but what's desirable is desirable. Fit, balanced, and athletic.

When you put these two categories together, it's not too difficult to understand the appeal of the places that have had us in a chokehold since 3 years old.

Sports and Cities: Completely Different Energies (That Somehow Make Perfect Sense)

Athletic pursuits are all about presence. Being in your body. Cities, meanwhile, are about hustle and constant stimulation. Your skin experiences this contradiction too - asked to be both barrier and breathable membrane, protecting from urban pollutants while releasing heat during your courtside moments.

These should clash horribly, but in their friction lives something interesting: a reminder that we contain multitudes. We can be focused and scattered, disciplined and spontaneous. We don't have to choose between being a "fitness person" or a "city person" any more than our skin has to choose between being resilient or sensitive.

And Yet... It's A Pinterest-Perfect Vibe

The sports-and-city aesthetic has its own visual language that's taking over mood boards everywhere. (It took over mine, and maybe I just haven't looked back). It's not just yoga mats against skylines or running shoes on subway stairs. It's the full spectrum of "exer-city" life:

The Courtside-to-Casual Vibe:

• Tennis whites against industrial brick backgrounds in Alo
• Modern trench coats over athleisure
• The matcha shop on 23rd st., where everyone goes for pre-pilates
• Workout headbands that become functional

The creative direction isn't just about the clothes—it's about juxtaposition. Athletic precision meeting urban chaos. Natural skin flush against man-made structures. Hydration bottles next to espresso cups. These contrasts work visually for the same reason they work in real life: the tension between them creates energy.

Want The Vibe? Your Pinterest Board Essentials:

• Morning light and pilates reformers
• Close-ups of dewy skin with city backdrops
• Farmers market totes alongside gym bags
• Tennis courts framed by city skylines
• Greys in skincare (Rhode)

The Skincare Strategy for Constant Transitions

Let this be announcement to all the sporty and city girls out there. Your dreams and visions of the future are about to be supplemented with the one thing the industry hasn't yet provided for you - skincare.

And, on a personal note - as someone who goes to the gym more and more often now - there truly aren't any post-gym products I find comfort in as a transition between my dual-life.

Club Studios sees the gap. We see the opportunity to add aesthetics into the space. And we're doing it for all the it-girls out there!

Living the sports-and-city life means your skin is in constant transition mode. Track to meetings. Pool to lunch. Hot yoga to air-conditioned gallery opening (if you're Alexandra Saint Mleux). Each shift requires your skin to adapt faster than you can change your playlist.

This is why the bare-minimum-but-make-it-powerful approach works so well. Your skincare needs to multitask as efficiently as you do. 3-in-1 products don't really cut it anymore. Basic routines don't cut it anymore either (we're talking to you niacinamide and hyaluronic acid). It's not that they aren't efficient - it's that there are so many more targeted products your skin could be supplemented with.

The most coveted skin status isn't "poreless" or "wrinkle-free" - it's actually "adaptable." That magical state where your face rolls with the punches of going from running a mile, to working in an office or at school, to a dinner out, and it doesn't revolt.

We're making it happen!

Building Your Sports-City Identity

If you're inspired to lean into this lifestyle, here's how to start crafting your own version:

Find your "third places": Every city has those sweet spots where athletic and urban cultures merge perfectly. The waterfront running path that ends near the best coffee shop. The tennis courts next to the weekend market. The climbing gym housed in a converted industrial space. These become community hubs that are neither work nor home but something better.

Create transition rituals: The sports-and-city lifestyle involves constant context-switching. Maybe it's the face mist that signals "we're done sweating now." Or the specific cleanser you always use between activities, like a reset button for your skin and mind.

Develop your sports-city signature: For me it's an iced coffee as a treat after pilates. For others, it's a brunch after the gym. It doesn't need to be fancy - like "weightroom-to-wine-tasting." Just find your personal combination.

Curate your travel edit: The ultimate sports-city move is having that perfectly edited bag that transitions from morning workout to workday to evening event. The multipurpose products that work as hard as you do - cleansers that remove both sweat and city grime, moisturizers that hydrate post-pool skin and protect against urban pollution. More from me on this soon! (I'll be creating my own bag in a video)

Why This Matters Beyond Looking Cute

There's something quietly revolutionary about claiming both athletic and urban spaces as your own. Cities were traditionally male-designed domains. Many sports were historically male-dominated activities. By moving confidently between these worlds - being trackside and boardroom-ready in the same day - we're subtly redefining both.

The future isn't being shaped in corporate offices or on playing fields alone. It's happening in the spaces between, where women are bringing athletic mindsets to professional challenges and bringing strategic thinking to physical pursuits. Where skin care isn't vanity but armor and recovery tool for faces navigating multiple environments daily.

And yes, sometimes this future is wearing tennis skirts to brunch with a complexion that somehow looks balanced despite everything the day has thrown at it. And yes, we want to know her secrets. The aesthetic is half the fun, and it's okay for that to hold power.

But mostly, we want to create our own version of this balanced imbalance. This perfectly imperfect way of living that acknowledges we don't have to be just one thing. We can be city and sport, ambition and play, structured skincare routines and chaotic calendars.

Because the most interesting lives - and the best skin - have always happened at the intersections. Courtside, trackside, seaside, wherever you find your perfect exer-city balance.

We're so excited for this journey.

And, thanks for joining the aesthetic! We'll see you next week.

Xoxo, 

Ella - Club Studios