Outdoor Voices exercise dress can go from gym to a night out – we tested it and it's surprisingly practical

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• Outdoor Voices says you can, in fact, work out in a dress and look good while doing it.
• The Exercise Dress features a sweat-wicking nylon with practical pockets and adjustable straps.
• I wore it during my workout and all day at a theme park and loved the cooling bodysuit liner.

The Exercise Dress (small)

A little black dress is an essential piece in any closet, and in mine, it comes in the form of an exercise dress.

With a built-in liner, a compressive fit, and adjustable straps, the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress ($100) is a triple threat that's swished its way to the top of my wardrobe. Outdoor Voices, an activewear brand that's all about "doing things" (that's their motto), dropped a $100 workout dress some summers ago – and there was a lot of hype not only from us but across all of social media. People posted photos of themselves lifting weights, crossing marathon finish lines, and achieving bendy yoga poses, all while draped in the stretchy nylon dress.

I'm familiar with workout dresses from having a background in tennis, so it was no surprise to me that the dress would be practical for low- to high-intensity workouts. Although the brand isn't exactly reinventing the wheel when it comes to exercise dresses, Outdoor Voices makes it a stylish option you can also wear to food markets and rooftop brunches.

Recently, Outdoor Voices redesigned its beloved Exercise Dress with a few new details to make it even better. I tried the new version out and, thanks to convenient pockets and sweat-wicking fabric, I'd say it's arguably one of the most versatile pieces of clothing you can stash in your closet.

The old versus the new

The Reviews team tried the original Exercise Dress design about a year ago and we were impressed beyond measure. This year's iteration, though, offers smart updates that take it to another level. With the addition of adjustable straps, a seamless spandex bodysuit liner, two inner pockets, and leg grippers, the Exercise Dress is better than ever.

Cut from Outdoor Voices' LightSpeed fabric, an ultra-lightweight performance woven fabric, the dress is designed to dry quickly and move with you. It's incredibly sweat-wicking, and my dress kept me cool during my everyday workout routine and even a full day at a Florida theme park.

What the dress is like to work out in

I admit I initially felt skeptical toward the swishy fabric and snug fit as I don't own many pieces similar to the lightweight nylon. But when I wore it while working out, its comfort and flexibility shone through. True to its promise, the fabric moved with me as I walked on an inclined treadmill and cycled through my ab routine.

I have a shorter torso in proportion to my legs, so the built-in spandex liner rested a little low on me. Still, the grippy ends kept me completely secure and I saw zero sweat marks after my hour-long workout.

How it wears throughout the day

After being impressed by the workout results, I put the Exercise Dress to the ultimate test: wearing it all day at an amusement park. In peak Florida heat, which feels like a magnifying glass tracking every move, the Exercise Dress kept me cool and breezy. Neither the material nor straps stretched out throughout the day, and the compressive fit gave me great support even sans sports bra. I carried a fanny pack, but next time I'll rely on the conveniently hidden side pockets. It held my phone and cards comfortably the entire day without weighing the inner bodysuit down. There's nothing better than walking around hands-free when you're on the go.

The bottom line

Although $100 may seem a tad steep, this sporty dress does it all and is well worth it if it's within your budget. Whether you're playing tennis or going to the mall, there's no limit to the many ways you can wear this dress. Stylish, reliable activewear can also boost confidence and offer motivation for working out, and the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress delivers on these flawlessly.

The Exercise Dress (button)