There is a particular kind of frustration that comes from standing in front of your wardrobe on a cold morning, trying to find something that works for a 6am class and the rest of the day that follows. Summer activewear is easy. Winter activewear — the kind that actually keeps you warm without restricting movement, and then holds up through the school run, the coffee, the errands — takes more thought.
The answer is not more gear. It's the right pieces.
Here is what we've been reaching for this winter at Roze & Thorn, and how to wear them.
Start With the Layer That Does the Most Work: Sherpa
The sherpa quarter-zip and sherpa jacket have quietly become the most useful pieces in the winter activewear wardrobe — and the reason is simple: they're warm without being restrictive, they layer cleanly over a sports bra or a sweater, and they photograph beautifully without trying.
The PE Nation Rotate Quarter Zip in Coffee is the version of this we keep coming back to. Made from 100% recycled polyester in a soft-backed sherpa fabrication, it's lighter than a full fleece and warmer than a knit, with the kind of plush texture that reads luxurious rather than athletic. The Coffee colourway — a deep, warm dark brown — is one of those neutrals that makes everything around it look more intentional. Wear it zipped up for cold-weather commutes, unzipped over the Retreat Stripe Sweater for an extra layer on the coldest days.
For those who want the full-jacket version, the PE Nation Lennon Sherpa Jacket in Black delivers the same recycled polyester sherpa with a full-zip front, a high collar, and contrast pocket panel detailing. In black, the plush pile creates dimension and texture rather than colour — it's the kind of piece that looks effortful without any effort at all.
The Trackpant That Isn't Just for the Gym
The knit trackpant has had a long rehabilitation from its 90s associations, and the current generation of mid-weight, wide-leg knit pants are the piece that makes activewear wardrobe editing possible: they go from the gym to the coffee shop to the school pick-up without requiring a change of clothes.
The PE Nation Retreat Knit Pant in Iron is the one to know. An 80% viscose, 20% nylon blend gives it a fluid, soft drape that holds its shape through a full day of wearing — the elasticated waistband sits comfortably, the wide leg falls cleanly, and the contrast side panel reads as a design detail rather than a sporty stripe. The Iron colourway is a deep charcoal that pairs with almost everything: wear it with the Retreat Stripe Sweater as a matched set, with the Rotate Quarter Zip over a sports bra for a more casual combination, or with a simple fitted long-sleeve top when you want the pant to do the work.
The Knit Piece That Goes Both Ways
The question of what to wear to the gym that can also do an afternoon out is solved more easily by a good knit than by any other category. A well-constructed stripe knit in a considered colourway moves between active and lifestyle without announcing itself as belonging to either world.
The PE Nation Retreat Stripe Sweater in Iron Stripe does this well. The same viscose-poly-nylon blend used in the Retreat Knit Pant gives it a warm, elevated hand feel that reads more ready-to-wear than typical activewear knitwear. The Iron Stripe — dark iron base with bold green and white horizontal stripes — is the colourway that connects to the broader PE Nation winter range without requiring the full set. Wear it with the matching Retreat Knit Pant as a co-ordinated set, or with denim and a boot when the gym session is over.
The Graphic Tee: The Underrated Winter Layer
The oversized graphic tee is the most underrated piece in winter activewear layering — and the reason most people don't use it is that they haven't found one with a graphic worth building around.
The PE Nation Current Oversized Tee in Black solves that. The bold green and white "Never Chasing" PE Nation graphic on a black base reads as streetwear as much as activewear, and the oversized silhouette with dropped shoulders works under a sherpa jacket or stands alone with a legging and sneaker. The green in the graphic connects back to the PE Nation contrast stripe detail in the Retreat Knit Pant — the pieces work together without matching, which is the best kind of co-ordination.
The Jacket That Transitions Best
The PE Nation Radius Jacket in Coffee takes the classic track jacket silhouette — full zip, clean collar, contrast sleeve stripe — and refines it in a deep coffee colourway that holds the white sleeve stripe without looking retro. The cropped silhouette keeps it relevant, and the construction is precise enough to wear into the rest of the day with tailored trousers or denim.
How to Layer for Winter Activewear
The most common mistake in winter activewear dressing is adding too many layers, or choosing pieces that don't work together proportionally. The approach that works:
Start with a base — a sports bra or fitted long-sleeve top. Add one knit or mid-layer piece: the Retreat Stripe Sweater for a fashion-forward combination, or a fitted thermal for a cleaner silhouette underneath. Add the outer layer last: the Rotate Quarter Zip in Coffee for a relaxed, off-duty finish; the Lennon Sherpa Jacket in Black when you want something more structured. Keep the bottom half simple — the Retreat Knit Pant in Iron, a black legging, or tailored trousers depending on where the day takes you.
The goal is not to look like you're dressed for winter. It's to be dressed for winter while not looking like you made a concession to it.
Shop PE Nation Winter at Roze & Thorn
The PE Nation July Capsule has landed — Retreat Knit Pant, Retreat Stripe Sweater, Radius Jacket, Lennon Sherpa Jacket, Rotate Quarter Zip, and Current Oversized Tee — is now available at Roze & Thorn, Mona Vale.
Free shipping on orders over $200.
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.