The Rise of Gym Fashion Trends
In today’s world, even the gym has turned into a catwalk; gone are the days you could hit the gym in a pair of old sweat pants and a baggy old t-shirt; well, you can still wear that, but we can guarantee you will feel pretty out of place when you see everyone else wearing the latest gym trends. Going to the gym isn’t a fashion show, we know that, but it is a place you go to feel good about yourself, so why not wear some clothes that will help you feel good? As well as general gym clothes, there are also specialty clothes for certain classes: pilates, yoga, zumba, and spin classes. All of these classes have specific equipment or clothing that is advised to wear, but you can also look great in it. Here are all the latest in gym fashion;
Sports Bra
This for all us ladies is an obvious must-have, but you can make your sports bra into a fashion statement too. The type of sports bra you want will really depend on the type of workout you are doing, high-impact or low-impact, as this will determine the amount of support you need. When it comes to buying a sports bra, you should treat it like buying a normal bra; you should always try it on!
For high-intensity workouts, you will need a sports bra that is a size, this way it will be a snug fit. This isn’t essential for lower-impact exercise, so you could go for sports bras that aren’t bra-sized. When you are trying them on, it is important that once on, you jump up and down; this will show you if you are compact. If there is a lot of movement, then you will need to try on another, as little movement as possible is what you want. Warning: you don’t want to be spilling out, so don’t go too tight!
Low Impact Sports Bras
- Low impact sports bras – these are where you can really have some fun, they come in great colours and patterns. These types of sports bras a perfect for the smaller-chested women, but they are also great for things like yoga and Pilates. Most of these a racerback, which means you have more movement, they are lightweight, and tend to come in sizes small, medium, large, etc. There are several different fabrics you can get them in; we would highly advise the DRI-fit fabric, as this will always keep you dry, no matter how much you sweat.
These types of sports bras are available everywhere, from supermarkets to sports shops, and really depend on your budget will depend on where you get them from.
Medium Impact Sports Bras
- Medium impact sports bras – if you need a little more sport but you still want the seamless bra, then look for ones with thicker straps. You can also get medium impact bars that actually have bra cups in them, and these are great for people who have a bigger chest, as they help to feel more supported; and they are also great if you have to run errands after the gym.
Medium impact bras tend to be a little pricier, and we would advise spending a little more on them, as you can guarantee the support is going to be better.
High Impact Bras
- High impact bras – these are what you want for hardcore workouts; running, the gym, spin, body pump classes, etc. These are also the bras for those of you with larger chests to get because once you are in them, you aren’t moving anywhere! They are obviously bulkier than your lower impact bras, but this is needed for the more exercise you will be doing in them. They always come in the actual bra size, and some of these will be the shape of a normal bra or have the cups hidden.
Like the medium impact bras, these do tend to be more expensive, but then there is more to them than the seamless bras. A good quality high-impact bra will last you a long time, so it’s definitely a good investment.
Bottoms
There are a number of different bottoms you might want to wear depending on the exercise you are planning; leggings are great for running, going to the gym, and going to a class workout, and you can of course get them in different lengths. There are also shorts, loose-fitting and tight; these are ideal for yoga and Pilates, especially with the latest trend of Bikram yoga (hot yoga); shorts are a definite must.
Leggings
- Leggings – these are really the ideal pants for any exercise, they are tight-fitting fitting so they might not be for everyone (if you are a little self-conscious), but they are very comfortable, and they don’t get in the way of any machines. You can also find that you can get a number of different styles, in length but also in the waist bands; some come with extra material on the waist that you can fold over – great for hiding muffin tops! Gym leggings have come a long way from being just black or grey, and now that it isn’t uncommon to see the famous faces walking around in them, you can not only get them in an array of different colours but also different patterns too.
Sweat pants
- Sweat pants – these are great for those of you who prefer something of a loose fit; they are also great for a cover-up to wear on your way/way back from the gym. Sweatpants are, of course, a long-running fashion, and you can buy them almost anywhere. However, if you aren’t a massive fan of the baggy look, then there is a new style of slim fit sweatpants that takes on a more leggings form, but they are still made out of the same sweat pant material.
Shorts
- Shorts – in the summer, shorts tend to be a must, and for those of you who hate shorts, fear not, sports shorts are actually way more flattering than the denim hot pants on the high street. You can choose between tight-fitting and loose-fitting, and the great thing about some of the loose-fitting ones is that they come with built-in stretch shorts underneath for added support and range.
Tight-fitting yoga shorts are great for yoga and Pilates; they allow you to keep cool and have the full range of movement you need.
Tops
When it comes to tops, you can shop forever as there is so much choice; from vest tops, to t-shirts, to long sleeves; when it comes to tops for gym clothes, you can have one of everything. With gym tops the main influence is really the weather, in the winter, especially if you are working out, outside then a long sleeved shirt would be better, and you don’t need to worry about getting too hot, because most of the long sleeve shirts come with a build in climate control which means it will keep you warm in the cold but once you are warm from working out the top will a keep you cool. You can also get base-layering tops that you can wear under baggier tops to keep you warm, or you can wear them over a thinner vest and remove them once you have warmed up.
Choosing the Right Gym Tops
The best advice we can give you for tops is to look for DRI-fit. This material is great because it keeps you from feeling your sweat, which helps keep you cooler and helps you work out longer. You can get DRI-fit vest tops that are great to wear under baggy tops if you prefer loose-fitting clothing. Some tops also come with built-in bras; these are great for smaller-chested women or for those of you who want a little extra support.
Trendy and Functional Gym Top Styles
When it comes to styles of tops, it really is what works best for you, as you will still have plenty of choice. The racerback shirts are what are particularly in fashion at the moment; not only do they look cute, but they also give you a better range of motion. They are also a favorite of many women because they have bigger armholes, meaning they don’t chafe your underarms.
Trainers
These are probably the most important part of your gym outfit, and it’s not for what they look like but rather the support they offer you. It is highly recommended that before you buy a pair of trainers that you go somewhere and get advice on what style and support you need. This isn’t something that is going to cost you a fortune either; in fact, most sports shops have this service in-house, so you can get looked at and buy your trainers in the same store.
Choosing the Right Trainers
Depending on what exercise you are planning on doing will depend on the type of trainer you want, and many places offer different trainers for this, e.g., running trainers. You can also buy specific training trainers, which are ideal for gym wear.
Trendy Footwear for Yoga and Pilates Classes
As well as trainers, you can also get footwear for specific classes such as yoga and Pilates; the studio wrap shoe is the latest fashion trend. They are great for those of you who need extra support, or those of you who don’t like to have bare feet, and they prevent slipping; they offer you all of this, but they feel like you are barefoot. The wrap is made of natural stretch foam that crosses over the top of your foot; you can either get ones that tie by wrapping around your ankle or ones that just slip on your foot.
