“Bleisure” is a combination of the words “business” and “leisure.”The phrase “bleisure travel” refers to travel that blends both leisure and business. Usually, it takes the form of business travelers staying longer in order to spend time on leisure activities that might include hiking, sightseeing, visiting entertainment places, or attending events. Bridging the gap between work, lounge, and street style, bleisure is accessible, office-appropriate apparel with a bit of edge.
Bleisure has grown significantly in recent months due to a rise in individuals beginning to travel again and the pandemic’s effect on the number of people working remotely. Before the epidemic, the US airline sector made up over half of its income from only 12% of corporate travelers. However, bleisure passengers now account for half of American Airlines’ income, spending almost as much as business travelers did in the past. By 2022 and beyond, it’s going to completely replace regular business travel. This year, 89% of individuals—many of whom will accompany friends and family—plan to combine personal and work travel.
Many employees now have the flexibility to travel on weekdays, add a personal excursion following a business trip, or prolong a long weekend since they are not restricted to the usual Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 schedule. Customers who travel for business may also bring their families.
The bleisure concept has roots in fashion, beauty, interior design, and technology and is influencing the travel and hospitality sectors. With the worldwide leisure travel industry expected to reach $731.4 billion by 2032, flexcations, paycations, and workcations indicate a more mature, cooperative interaction between businesses and workers about vacation policy.
This trend is being driven by millennials as well as businesses, which are becoming more accommodating when it comes to how their staff members arrange their trips. The ideal business casual style may be created in a variety of ways. Women’s bleisure attire should strive to combine style and comfort. For instance, you may wear loafers, an oversized jacket, and a lovely blouse layered over leggings to be ready for a day of leisure travel.
Laura Choi, who began her career at Warby Parker and Bloomingdales, has introduced a resort wear line designed with business and pleasure travelers in mind. The name of her business, Par en Par, translates to “doors wide open” in Spanish.
Brands such as Pazzion have started to advertise and have started to target towards the bleisure travel consumers, promoting dual-purpose garments.
When interviewed by Harper’s BAZAA, Joyce Lee, senior vice president of design at Madewell, says to consider bleisure “the art of layering”. “A comfortable foundation that allows layering and accessories to be incorporated, such as a soft pant like leggings,” is what she begins with. You can seem put together by wearing a loose-fitting jacket or tidy shirt on top and accessorizing with some basic gold jewelry.
Whether you have an in-person, remote, or hybrid workplace, working in comfort and elegance is guaranteed when you embrace bleisure.