lululemon's Latest Women's Drop Is Where Athleisure Meets Gorpcore

Gorpcore: a fashion trend that reappropriates functional outdoor wear, like hiking boots and fleece jackets, for urban, everyday use.

The term "gorp" comes from the saying "Good ol’ raisins and peanuts"—the undefeated snack of hikers and those who enjoy the simple things in life. But back to the style aspect of it all. When you think gorp-core, think dressing like you're about to climb Everest when you're in fact just about to grab a matcha and run into Trader Joe's. Gorpcore is centered around utilitarianism, where fashion is equal parts comfortable and functional.

At it's basic level, gorpcore is perfect for golf. It fits the bill of our needs. Layering pieces (fleece sherps, windbreakers, etc), neutral/earthy color stories, tons of pockets—the list goes on. So, it begs the question, why haven't golfers leaned into gorpcore more?

Related: Is There Room for Hiking Gear’s Bold Styles on the Golf Course?

Is gorpcore just another one of those fashion trends like cottage core or country club core? Sure! But it's skews to be more sensible. The very point of gorp is to be essential. No excess, just what you need to throw a good fit.

It takes golf and the golf-obsessed a little longer to stay in tuned with the times. The prescribed behaviors and wardrobe of the game anchor us to lean more classic and traditional—though we're getting better, we're not always willing to push the boundaries.

And the boundaries aren't always these vibrant, avant-garde kind of looks, there's the art of subtly, or simple yet different, which is where lululemon comes in. Its minimal, tech-wear nature positions lululemon as the perfect brand to bring gorpcore to golf, and they did.

Over the last decade, lululemon has been the go-to athleisure brand, and most recently the brand a lot of women seek and find solace in for their sporting needs.

We don't see it as much on the pro circuit, but the girls in college and at the amateur level are wearing lulu on the course religiously.

Last week, the Vancouver-based brand introduced its biggest women's golf collection yet with the help of their ambassador, 18-year-old Epson Tour rookie Yana Wilson.

Wilson is a young face in golf who speaks to this new era of golfers turning pro. She grew up in the era of social media and golf creators. She was a pre-teen when the COVID golf brand wave hit, introducing more street style-based looks to counter the performance era of golf style. Those two instances have merged, and now more than ever, how a golfer looks and dresses is just as important to their branding as their performance level.

The styling of the campaign is what caught my attention. It's youthful, it's dynamic, and it feels very in tune with this laidback yet performance driven aura lululemon has curated for itself. The heart of athleisure is being equal parts relaxed and motivated. You seamlessly go from the gym or studio to store or running errands. But at the same time, it's still very technical—more so than what we typically see for women's offerings—and that's what hits on the gorp-ness of it all. Embrace pants and crop tops, but make it sporty. It's mix and matching pleated skirts with nylon windbreakers effortlessly. That sweet spot of nuanced and refreshed and damn cool.

Wilson joins the likes of Min Woo Lee and Max Homa as lululemon golf ambassadors—and dare we say, one of the best apparel brand lineups in terms of play and personality.

Our Favorite Pieces From The Collection

*Every product is independently selected by editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission