Women are constantly in motion. Not in the aspirational sense, but literally, physically, moving through a day that does not pause long enough for a wardrobe change between the court and the country club, the errand and the dinner.
Most sportswear was designed for performance. Most fashion was designed for stillness. The pull toward athletic dressing that moves the way a woman actually does, without requiring her to look like she is working out, has been building for a reason.
Nana Jacqueline’s Spring-Summer 2026 collection, Soft Motion, starts from exactly that premise. It brings NJ’s signature old money glamour into the authentic state of everyday movement, a distinctly Beverly Hills attitude designed for the court and the country club alike. Soft Motion arrives in two moods: the first athletic and refined, the second leaning into a 90s influence of denim sets, retro knitwear, and asymmetrical satin. This post covers the first. Available starting today, January, 27, 2026.
What Are the Best Luxury Athleisure Dresses for Spring Summer 2026?
The best luxury athleisure dresses for spring and summer 2026 balance athletic-inspired structure with feminine silhouettes that read polished across multiple occasions. Look for ribbed knit construction that shapes the waist without restricting movement, contrast detailing that functions as a design element rather than a performance feature, and A-line or flared skirt shapes that introduce fluidity without losing the sport-luxe sensibility. Nana Jacqueline’s Soft Motion collection is one of the strongest executions of this aesthetic this season: fitted ribbed knit minis with pearl-button detailing, halter-neck tennis dresses with graphic contrast trim, coordinated knit sets with built-in shorts, and one-piece rompers designed to feel like a second skin without sacrificing refinement. A color palette of soft pastels, saturated reds, clean whites, and composed greys gives these spring summer 2026 fashion pieces their distinct, considered energy. Soft Motion is not gym wear. It is athletic fashion designed for real life, and that distinction is exactly what makes it worth wearing.
Our Five Favorite Pieces from the Soft Motion Collection
01 — The Wilhelmina Dress for Courtside to Cocktail Hour
The Wilhelmina Dress is the piece the collection is built around. A fitted ribbed knit mini in four colorways (pink, yellow, light blue, and grey), it holds its shape through the day without holding you in. Stretch lyocell yarns allow for real movement while the ribbed construction maintains the waist silhouette, and a curved side slit introduces motion at the hem. Contrast trim at the neckline and armholes keeps the line crisp. Faux-pearl buttons run the front placket, a detail that reads feminine without undercutting the athletic sensibility of the silhouette.
Each colorway has its own register. Pink leans soft and romantic, with contrast trim that keeps it from tipping into sweet. Grey feels modern and composed, equally at home on a city afternoon as on a warm-weather getaway. Yellow is the season’s boldest call in this group: saturated without being loud, the kind of color that earns a room without asking for it. Light blue sits at the calmest end of the palette, fluid and quietly polished. All four move from daytime events to casual dinners to vacation dressing without effort.
This is the dress for the woman who wants one piece to cover a full day and wants it to look like she thought about it.
What to Know
Best for: Warm-weather getaways, country club lunches, daytime events, casual dinners, vacation dressing, spring and summer outings.
Styled with: Helene Silk Scrunchie, Marlene Scrunchie, Valencia Earrings, Julisa Necklace, and Kendall Leg Warmers
Shop the Wilhelmina Dress →
02 — The Elle Dress for Life Beyond the Court
The Elle Dress is Soft Motion’s most direct conversation with the vintage tennis moment. Available in white with black contrast and red with black contrast, it opens at a halter neckline that frames the shoulders while bold trim lines define the collar, placket, and hem with graphic precision. A ribbed waist pulls the silhouette together and an A-line skirt releases it. The effect lands somewhere between a Wimbledon archive photograph and a Beverly Hills terrace at noon: polished enough to read intentional, easy enough to actually move in.
In white, the Elle is crisp and classic, the dress that photographs well from every angle and needs nothing added to work. The red colorway shifts the register toward confident: bold contrast lines against saturated color, a silhouette that holds its shape while the skirt moves freely. Both read as well at a daytime event as at a casual dinner where the dress needs to arrive before you do.
What to Know
Best for: Courtside, country club luncheons, sporty-polished events, daytime outings, summer lunches, casual dates.
Styled with: Gemma Handband, Kendall Knit Headband, Amor Earrings, and Kendall Leg Warmers
Shop the Elle Dress →
03 — The Wilhelmina Set for the Green to Golden Hour
The Wilhelmina Top and Skirt were designed as a matched set and as separate pieces, a distinction that matters for a collection built around real dressing. The halter crop top features a structured placket, ribbed waist detailing, resin buttons, and contrast NJ embroidery. The A-line skirt mirrors the contrast trim through its pocket detailing, and built-in knit shorts underneath allow the silhouette to stay clean while the wearer moves freely. Together, the set reads coordinated and confident. Separately, each piece carries its own without explanation.
Three colorways: pink with white contrast, white with red contrast, and red with black contrast. The pink set is warm and soft without being girlish; the structured placket and resin buttons keep it refined. White-red is sharp and graphic, the kind of set that reads sport-luxe from across a room. Red-black leans into the boldest register of the collection: high contrast, high confidence, for moments when the outfit should arrive with intention.
What to Know
Best for: Lawn parties, warm-weather getaways, casual dates, daytime outings, vacations, styled summer events.
Styled with: Veronica Silk Headbands, Mirabelle Teardrops Earrings, and Mirabelle Teardrop Necklace
Shop the Wilhelmina Top →
Shop the Wilhelmina Skirt →
Soft Motion — Your Questions Answered
Is luxury athleisure appropriate for non-athletic occasions?
The best pieces in this category never look like they came from a gym bag, and that distinction is everything. Luxury athleisure done well means silhouettes that borrow athletic structure without performance-specific detailing. The Soft Motion collection is designed precisely for this: ribbed knit construction that shapes the body, contrast trim that functions as a design element rather than a technical feature, and feminine finishes like pearl buttons and gemstone details that shift the register entirely. Wear them to daytime events, casual dinners, vacations, and warm-weather gatherings without any qualifying explanation.
What fabrics work best for athletic-inspired spring and summer dressing?
Stretch lyocell knit is doing the most work in this collection for good reason. It drapes with weight rather than cling, which means the garment holds a shape rather than revealing one. Ribbed construction adds structure without adding volume, keeping the silhouette composed through movement. For warmer weather, lighter knit weights in soft pastels (blush pink, butter yellow, pale blue) read cooler on the body than heavier jersey. The Soft Motion pieces are designed to feel light even in their most fitted versions, which is the real test of whether athleisure fabric is actually doing its job.
What should I wear to a casual spring event that still feels put together?
A fitted ribbed knit dress with contrast detailing, like the Wilhelmina, solves most casual summer event dressing without overthinking it. The knit construction keeps the piece comfortable in warm weather, while the structured neckline and refined detailing read intentional rather than thrown together. For events with a slightly dressier register, the Ava Dress with its pleated skirt and gemstone buttons introduces the right amount of occasion without tipping into formal. Keep accessories minimal; the silhouettes in this collection carry the look without additional punctuation.
04 — The Ava Romper for Morning Miles to Mid-day Meetups
The Ava Romper is the collection’s most uncompromising piece. A halter-neck one-piece in smooth knit with subtle vertical ribbing, it keeps the line uninterrupted from shoulder to hem: no waistband break, no layering required, no fuss. The open back shifts the mood without disrupting the silhouette, and contrast trim at the neckline and hems gives the piece its graphic definition. In red with black contrast, it reads bold and direct. In grey with black, composed and modern. In black with pink, the contrast is quieter but the impact is not: a sleek outline with just enough warmth to prevent it from reading severe.
This is the piece for warm-weather confidence: spring evenings, vacation days when one decision covers the full look, off-duty city afternoons where ease and impact need to coexist. The knit moves with the body without losing its shape, which is exactly what a second-skin piece should do and rarely does.
What to Know
Best for: Morning workouts, spring and summer evenings, vacations, casual nights out, daytime city dressing, travel looks that need to work across conditions.
Styled with: Helene Silk Scrunchie, Audrina Earrings, Gigi Necklace, and Kendall Leg Warmers
Explore the Ava Romper →
05 — The Ava Dress with Knit Shawl, Composed on and off the Court
The Ava Dress is where the athletic silhouette opens into something more clearly evening. A reverse halter neckline and fitted bodice in high-twist lyocell knit, chosen for its fluid drape and quiet sheen, flows into a softly flared umbrella-shaped pleated skirt. Three gemstone buttons along the placket add a point of shine that reads intentional rather than decorative. In black, the dress has an understated drama. In pink, it is soft and romantic without losing the structural confidence of the silhouette.
The matching knit shawl, available in black, white, and pink, completes the look without overcomplicating it. A precisely cut back neckline anchors the shawl on the shoulders so it stays in place, while ribbed finishing at the hem gives it enough structure to read as an intentional layer rather than an afterthought. Worn together, the dress and shawl offer a complete look for evenings and events. Separately, the shawl works as a transitional piece across the rest of the collection: over the Wilhelmina on a cool evening, over the Elle between the court and the club.
What to Know
Best for: Tennis dates, casual cocktail hours, garden parties, warm-weather celebrations, vacations with dressier moments.
Styled with: Kaia Hair Pins, Kaia Earrings, and Théa Ring
Explore the Ava Dress →
The Soft Motion Edit
Soft Motion launches February 27, 2026. The full collection extends beyond these five pieces into coordinated knitwear, denim sets, asymmetrical satin separates, and lightweight coats designed for the in-between weeks of spring. The second mood of the collection, with its 90s influence and more glamorous edge, is covered in a separate edit launching alongside the collection.
Explore the full Soft Motion Collection →
Heading to a warm-weather spring getaway? Nana Jacqueline’s luxury resort wear was made for those moments too. Discover our best-selling dresses that is as perfect as your destination.Â
