Gym clothes are really taking on a life outside of workouts. Everywhere you go you see women in chic gym-worthy attire, but they’re not actually working out.
The rising popularity of workout clothes have even led to the creation of sites like Kate Hudson’s Fabletics, which lets you get customized workout clothes delivered to you on a monthly basis (or you can simply buy outfits as you choose).
With that being said, there are some certainly some workout clothes DON’Ts, just as anything else in fashion.
- Don’t be too revealing. This can cover a lot of different looks you might be sporting at the gym, including super short shorts, and skipping a shirt in-lieu of a sports bra. The gym is not an excuse to look like you’re wearing club gear, and there’s no reason to attract unwanted attention. Many gyms are even embracing pretty strict dress codes to prevent people from being too revealing with their gym clothes.
- Cotton shirts aren’t good for gym attire, particularly if you sweat a lot. Cotton becomes extremely wet, and when you have a drenched t-shirt it’s not only uncomfortable, but also not very fashionable.
- Baggy sweatpants are out as gym attire. Not only are they unflattering, but they don’t work well from a logistical standpoint either. Baggy sweatpants can become caught on equipment—especially bikes and elliptical machines. Plus, if you want to look chic when you’re running around town after the gym, baggy sweats aren’t the way to do it.
- Loose shorts can be problematic, especially if you’re doing something like a yoga or Pilates class. When you wear loose shorts, there’s the potential you’re going to be giving everyone else in the class quite a view. They can also be annoying when you’re trying to work out, since they can become bunched up. If you’re not a fan of super-tight spandex shorts, choose fitted leggings instead.
- If you do opt to wear leggings to the gym, make sure they’re not so thin they’re see-through—think back a few years to the Lululemon scandal, where women wearing their yoga pants were really creating a stir by wearing sheer pants.
- Low cut workout tops have become really popular as workout clothes have become more high-end, but really, what kind of workout can you do in a low cut top? They’re not likely to provide a lot of support, and you aren’t going to be able to focus on your actual workout because you’re going to be constantly readjusting or worrying about a wardrobe malfunction.
A few gym trends you SHOULD be trying include:
- Neon—the gym is a great place to experiment with bold color choices
- Cropped tops on top of sports bras
- Fun sneakers—go crazy with your sneaker choice and select something outside of the box
- Add a baseball cap to your gym look—it hides a sweaty head full of hair, and is cute and sporty. It helps your outfit easily translate to the rest of your day.