Weekend Warrior – How To Sweat In Style
August 16, 2013
By Brian Maynor
August 16, 2013
Love it or hate it, exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Most of the time we start a routine because we are motivated to change how we look and feel, but wearing outdated, baggy shorts and t-shirt really isn’t going to help sustain that motivation.
Even though you are “just going to sweat in them” invest in new workout clothes that fit, not swallow you. Trust me if you happen to catch a glimpse of yourself in the gym mirror you want to see the benefits of your hard work, not a hot mess in sweaty baggy clothes. Here is my take on outfits that you want to wear and we want to see at the gym:
1. Get fit. That may be the mantra as you work out, but it should also be the mantra of what you wear while doing it. Wearing fitted clothing is important even in the gym. Walking around in tights and just a sports bra may not be ideal, but baggy oversized sweat pants or shorts and a t-shirt isn’t much better.
You can still have full range of motion to lift weights and run on the elliptical in clothes that fit. Plus it helps your motivation. We all want to look good, that’s the reason we go to the gym. If you like what you see then you will keep going to the gym and working hard. If you don’t it will be nearly impossible to sustain your commitment. Don’t let what you wear defeat your goals. Ban the baggy clothes from your gym bag.
2. Update your shoes. The gym is no longer a place for ‘tennis shoes’. It use to be just a matter of finding a brand, style and color you liked, but now there are special shoes for every activity from running to weight training and they come in every color combination imaginable. With all of the choices just make sure you find the right one for your activity and that will coordinate with your workout wear.
Having three to five specific gym outfits that coordinate is not asking too much. You don’t want everything to match, just make sure it all goes together.
3. No white socks! Nothing screams ‘I haven’t set foot in a gym in over a decade’ louder than white socks. Ideally we shouldn’t even see your socks. Low profile or ‘no show’ socks are so common and popular right now there is no reason not to embrace them. Your feet are still fully covered and your shoes protected. Try them out. I guarantee you won’t notice a difference in how they feel, but the age of your outfit will drop instantly.
4. Not your ordinary water bottle. I’m sure you have seen the commercial about saving enough plastic to cover Mount Rainer and while I am all for being environmentally conscious, I am also a little vain. Unless you have an endorsement deal, why would you want to carry around a product specific water bottle when there are so many stylish and neat ones available? These are both great protective carriers for glass bottles, but if you are worried about the possibility of breakage go with a stainless steel option. You have put this much work into updating your gym look; don’t stop at the water bottle.
While no one looks their best after leaving the gym, when it is inevitable you will run into someone you know or want to impress, you can look better. What you wear is like the workout itself, an investment that should be taken seriously and given your all.
I am always curious to hear about your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and help make your work wardrobe pull double duty. Email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
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