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MPG Sport is a clothing brand that means to bring performance materials into everyday life, fusing smarter technical fabrics with fashionable styles that might not yet meet the functional standards that they should.
While MPG’s activewear has been made to feel so comfortable you’ll regularly want to wear it even when not headed to the gym, they’ve mostly stayed within the “athletic” lines of athleisure since their inception.
But as it doesn’t make sense (now more than ever) to go through significant portions of your life uncomfortable — like the time you spend at your desk every week — MPG has recently released their first collection of work-centric clothes made out of performance materials. And to cut to the chase, if you commute to work (by bicycle, subway, or by foot) you’ll likely want to grab one of their $ 48 button-ups with breathable (and stylish) panels built right in. In the 21st century, you really don’t need to compromise so often. You can have comfort, great tailoring, and affordable pricing all in one piece — as opportunely demonstrated below.
While a first collection might not garner immediate confidence, this one certainly impressed us in our testing. The performance materials really did make a difference, and MPG managed to deliver on those at the same time that they kept the designs understated and semi-fitted to allow for multiple use and a polished look. At their price point, MPG’s “Work Edit” pieces are overall more than valid options to replace whatever pieces you’re looking to upgrade in your closet.
You can find our thoughts and the individual pieces we tried below, or you can shop the entire collection directly here.
Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks Guides editor
MPG Sport Instagram
When it’s that in-between time where fall and winter meet, it can be hard to find the right jacket to wear. They’re either too bulky and overly warm or too thin to protect you from wintry winds. MPG Sport’s Solstice Insulated Fleece Jacket strikes the perfect balance with its slim, light, and cozy design.
The fabrics are light and breathable, but the interior quilting kept me nice and warm on the first truly crisp fall morning of the year. The jacket mixes matte black fabric with quilted sleeves and accents that have a slight sheen to them. The cuffs of the jacket even have thumb cutouts that help keep my hands warm. I especially love the slim profile of the jacket, which is perfectly fitted to my body. I’d recommend checking the sizing guide carefully and perhaps going a size up to ensure a good fit, because this jacket is tailored.
Solstice Insulated Fleece Jacket, $ 118
Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter
MPG Instagram
I have a lot of white button-downs, but there’s a reason that I was interested in trying this exact variation — my own pairs either don’t sit well or don’t allow for much breathability. Since I walk to work, the materials that allow for free air flow and don’t compromise fit have become increasingly important to me, and this shirt delivered there like few others. Its four-way stretch also means I can wear it home on a bike just as comfortably as a performance shirt.
The well-integrated, permeated panels on the sides, upper back, and waist of this shirt make it comfortable to wear layered or on its own even on hot days. As a result, it might look slightly more technical (also thanks to the polyester and spandex blend fabric) than you’re used to, but all in all, I grew to like that about it — it looks modern as well as being functionally much more lightweight and breathable. My opinion was that the technical edge made it appear like a shirt that could have been retailed for much higher than $ 48 — for the price point (and even without considering it), I was really impressed.
While I was able to wear it on its own without being too transparent, this is a thin shirt and I wasn’t surprised to see it being layered in other images used by MPG Sport. Depending on what you’re planning on wearing underneath it, you might need/want to wear something underneath for added coverage. That wasn’t the case for me, but the material is light and white.
Milano Technical Dress Shirt, $ 48
Connie Chen, Insider Picks intern
MPG Sport
As a California girl through and through, I am ill-equipped in the coats department to face New York fall and winter seasons. I always thought that warm coats had to be heavy or bulky as well. This fleece coat proved me wrong. Based on its lightweight feel and soft spongy texture, you wouldn’t expect it to keep you warm, but through chilly temperatures and winds it effectively protected my sensitive West Coast body.
I love any coat with front zip pockets because that means I can easily reach for my phone, keys, and MetroCard when I need them.
Outside of the coat’s great practical use, I also appreciated its oversized yet clean silhouette. It’s modern and simple and I can see myself wearing it anywhere from the office to a show.
Granville Fleece Cocoon Coat, $ 78
