Get the Right Stylish Workout Clothes

Have you ever arrived at the gym to realize your workout attire is so not making you want to run 3 miles or go to that class full of people? Maybe you realized you wore a cotton shirt that's going to show a lot of sweat, your worried you're butt looks weird in the tight spandex, or worse- you have pantsgate (yeah I didn't know what it was either..read on to find out)? Whatever it is, you should go to the gym in an outfit that is going to get you pumped, excited and feeling cute! With all the exercise attire out there, it should be easy to have a whole wardrobe full of workout wear. However, if you're like me you've realized nice workout clothing can be pricey and you want to make sure you're getting the best attire for your body that will enhance your workout, not hinder it. 

Molly just about to teach a cycling class wearing
Victoria's Secret Sport workout attire

To obtain a better understanding of the importance of getting the right workout wear, I interviewed Molly Keading, a Group Fitness Instructor at the YMCA and Core Fitness in Fargo, ND. Molly is graduating in May with a degree in Exercise Science with a Coaching minor and plans on working as a Personal Trainer. She always has the cutest workout clothes and along with her advice and further research, I have addressed some important factors to help you find the right workout attire! 

Where to Shop
Molly gets her workout apparel from a variety of stores, however, she's very particular about where she gets what. "I go to all different places. For buttons, I like Lululemon because they have tight compression pants which I need." For sports bra's and tops, she suggests Victorias Secret Sport, "all of their athletic clothes are really nice," she notes. I agree with Molly that Victoria's Secret has really nice workout clothes and they are also very stylish! She also likes Under Amour tank tops and Target sports bras. "Forever 21 has some workout clothes too, but I haven't tried there's because they may not be the best quality," said Molly. However, I have a pair of workout leggings from Forever 21 and they have worked well for me so far. If you're on a budget and looking for a variety of cute options, Forever 21 and Target might be the places for you. However, if you're willing to spend a little more for quality, then Victoria's Secret and Lululemon are great options. All these places offer many styles and colors, and I suggest mixing and matching for fun, sporty looks! 

Get the Right Material 
When I asked Molly what features she looks for in workout clothes, she immediately replied, "the material, I always feel it... they need to have stretch but also be tight." If you know you're going to sweat a lot during a workout, it's important to choose breathable, synthetic fabrics that wick the sweat from your skin. Rodriguez says the best fabrics for this contain polypropylene, such as COOLMAX® and SUPPLEX® because, "they allow the sweat to be evaporated from the skin but do not soak clothing and leave you feeling sweaty and uncomfortable." Cotton, on the other hand, does not evaporate sweat from the skin and can soak clothing, making you feel icky after a workout. Another thing to look for in material is the thickness. When my boyfriend mentioned he could see through my Champion brand (from Target) workout pants at the gym one day, I freaked and haven't worn them since. However, I discovered other women have been unknowing victims of this occurrence, called pantsgate, too. In addition be being see-through, too thin of fabrics will not provide good support or be long lasting. To ensure the fabric is thick enough, do a check by bending over in the fitting room and making sure you're completely covered, it's definitely not worth risking the embarrassment. 

The Right Attire for Your Activity 
According to American Fitness Couture, "The first factor to consider when choosing workout clothes is the type of exercise you’ll be doing." Along with that, Rodriguez emphasizes that your clothing shouldn't get into the way of your activity. You wouldn't want to wear wide-leg pants for running or biking in case they got tangled in the pedals or your feet. For pilates or yoga, comfortable crops or pants with some spandex for easy stretching usually work best. Along with activity type, your body type should also factor in. Molly suggests long pants for cardio if you are more bottom-heavy so you won't experience rashing. However, shorts work well for weight-training. In addition, she advises tank tops for doing cardio to stay cool and tighter fit tops for weight-training. 

It all Starts with Your Feet

Molly likes to wear Nike shoes when teaching classes

"Shoes are the most important thing for a workout," states Molly. Molly likes Brooks for running and Nikes for teaching classes. Therefore, brand of shoe should also factor into your activity as running shoes offer support in different areas than basketball or cross-training shoes. Since the type of athletic shoe you choose can make a significant difference in your workout performance, do your research on what's out there for your specific needs. Molly realizes workout shoes can be expensive but notes, "No matter what you do you have to use your feet and you need good support or else you'll get injured...It's worth the cost for a good pair of shoes." 



What brand and type of workout clothes do you prefer? 


Sources: 
-Diana Rodriguez. (2009). http://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness/choosing-workout-clothes.aspx
-http://americanfitnesscouture.com/how-to-choose-the-best-fitness-fabric-for-workout-clothing/
-Molly Keading, personal communication (March 18, 2014).