Truthfully I didn’t start really exercising until about 3 years ago. Let’s just say that when I was at school it wasn’t exactly my, ahem, forte, and that informed my relationship with physical activity for most of my twenties.
Needless to say gym attire was not at the top of my priority list, however when I did make the decision to try and shoehorn (at first!) exercise into my life one of the catalysts that made it easier was creating a great workout wardrobe. Doing so meant that I felt good in my work out clothes which in turn meant I was more incentivized to work out. Plus if I had spent money on my new gear then I certainly wasn’t going to let it go to waste!
Now, I am not saying that everyone should go out and splurge on mountains of new gym clothes — but just a few items can make a huge difference. Try and think about it in the same way you would your regular wardrobe. Few of us would feel inspired to do anything in a hole-ridden, over-washed, bed t-shirt paired with saggy stretched-out sweat shorts. Even if you’re already a work-out aficionado then it’s always nice to give your gym outfits a refresh, even the most tenured of you will get a boost from something new!
A staple of exercise outfits for me is to keep it simple, and color blocking is an excellent way to do this. When I first started buying stuff for the gym I would only get items in black, grey and white. That way I knew they’d all go together with minimal effort; i.e. when I was pulling them out of a drawer, bleary eyed and half-awake at 7 o’clock in the morning.
Coordinating sets also make gym dressing even easier and if you stick to simple colors on those too then they can be mixed and matched, a win-win. If a black/grey/white palette isn’t your vibe then try another monochrome alternative — do all green, all pink or all maroon, either way head-to-toe is the way to go! (I couldn’t help myself).
If you do like a bit more variety, then throwing in one bright item can be a good way of mixing it up a little. So you might do an all-black outfit but with a bright sneaker. Or neon shorts with a white t-shirt and white sneakers. My advice is stick to just one item in this bright palette…or you could run the potential of being mistaken for someone on their way home from an 80s theme night.
Finally, fit is king, or queen! This doesn’t mean that oversized isn’t an option but remember there is a difference between oversized and over-worn. If an item has lost its shape because it’s been through the mill too many times then it might be time for an update. New gym clothes are an investment in your fitness as much as any gym membership or class pass. If you know you’ll feel good getting dressed for exercise you’ll be more motivated to do it in the first place!
Visit www.the35style.com for some of my favorite work-out looks and brands.
