It’s always funny to see the gyms full right after the new year and then by March, it’s almost back to its default attendance. We tend to spend so much money on gym membership and exercise equipment, hoping to do better each time. At the end of the day, you have to find out what works best for you.
I for one, hate the gym. I stopped going to gyms around 7 years ago. Home workouts have been working just fine for me and I have successfully been consistent with those. I have had a virtual trainer and I also follow some fitness pages on YouTube. This has been the better way for me to stay fit, right in the comfort of my home.
For today’s blog post, I am not here to tell you how you should or should not go to the gym but rather to talk about the gym clothes you can wear to the gym. Whether you work out from home, outdoors or in a traditional fitness centre, your gym outfits need to work for you. Choosing an active lifestyle starts with investing in the right clothing and workout gear.
I would be sharing my favorite websites to shop for athletic clothing. If you are curvy or top-heavy like myself, I would also be sharing my favorite sports bras, shorts and workout leggings. These would come in handy if you’ve been struggling to fid good sports bra or other gym clothes. Keep reading for the best workout clothes for women.
Image source here
Before we dive into the different outfits you can wear to the gym, I would like to share my favorite websites to shop for gym clothes. These are websites that I have either personally shopped from or come very highly reviewed by regular women. Their workout clothes are made to be comfortable yet resistant.
*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through the links, at no cost to you.
Where to shop for gym clothes as a woman
i) Gymshark
Gymshark is a fairly recent athletic brand that has been able to combine comfort + style into workout gear. I especially appreciate their biker shorts and sports bras that fit women with larger chests. If you are looking for a good high-impact sports bra, I suggest you check them out. Their high support bras with front zippers are my favorite.
ii) Nordstrom
You may be wondering why Nordstrom is on this list but sometimes we forget that Nordstrom carries some of the biggest fitness gear brands. For workout leggings, 1 of my favorites is THIS PAIR from Zella. It’s made from such a durable fabric that I still wear them, 5 years later. You can also find the perfect pair of waterproof Nike running shoes.
iii) Lululemon
Lululemon is synonymous with yoga pants. Their yoga pants are among the most popular in the world. They come in various lengths and colors so that you’re sure to find a pair right for you. Everyone raves about how Lululemon yoga pants lift your behind and have a very high comfort level. You can also find great tank tops with built-in bras (A and B cup sizes)
iv) Sportchek
For my Canadian readers, Sportchek is a great one-stop shop for everything you need to crush your fitness goals. They carry so many renowned fitness brands, allowing you to shop for both gym t-shirts and track pants as well as water bottles and yoga mats.
If you are looking for the perfect gym bag to last you for many years, THIS North Face duffle bag is a great choice. It is made from synthetic fabrics and features lots of compartments you can use to store all you need for a gym workout.
Now that you have a good idea of where to shop for some of the best gym clothes and workout gear, let’s cover the different ways to dress up to head to the gym. I would try to include options for the different weather conditions. You may want to bookmark this post for future reference.
What to wear to the gym as a woman
1) Tank top + leggings
Whether you’re just starting a more active lifestyle or have been at it for years, this is an outfit to make you look the part. A tank top is a great option if you do not wish to show any belly. A well-fitted tank top can have a slimming effect, especially if paired with leggings in a dark color.
Get the look HERE
If you have a smaller chest, you can skip a bra altogether by choosing a tank top with a built-in bra. If you’re going to be doing a lot of sweating, choose tanks tops made from breathable materials. IF you wear a C cup and above, choose a bra with at least medium support.
2) A tracksuit
The best thing you can wear to hit the track (indoor or outdoor) is a track suit. They’re easy to rip off and start jogging and come in many different styles and colors. You could wear a tracksuit to do some warmup exercises, or you could have a pair of shorts underneath your suit.
Get the look HERE
Complete your look with a pair of comfortable running shoes. If you sweat a lot from your face, a headband may be necessary to keep the sweat out of your eyes. We can’t have the sweat ruining a great workout! Workout tops such as tank tops or drop arm shirts could also be worn underneath your tracksuit.
3) Gym shorts with a t-shirt
Ready to show off some leg while hitting the gym during the summer months? Shorts are probably the first thing that come to mind. If you don’t want to pull up to the gym looking too sexy, pair your shorts with gym t-shirts. These tend to be looser fitting or oversized.
Get the look HERE
You could opt for biker shorts if you want a more fitted look. Training sweat shorts could be worn if you want a looser fit. If you intend to be doing a lot of jumping, don’t forget to wear your high impact sports bra.
4) Yoga pants + a crop top
On your first day back at the gym, you probably won’t be going as hard as you can. It’s always advisable to start smaller and keep building as you get stronger. Yoga is always a great form of exercise to turn up your body heat and get stretched. A cute gym outfit you could wear is a pair of fitted yoga pants with different crop tops.
Get the look HERE
The cropped top would show some skin while the fit of your yoga pants should give you a more sculpted derrière. This should create a flattering and cute gym outfit that could motivate you to keep working out. Opt for a pair of high waisted leggings to create the illusion of a smaller waist.
5) Leggings + a jacket
On the rainy days where you still need to make it to the gym, it’s best to throw on a jacket on top of your workout clothes. Make sure your choice of jacket is light, made from synthetic material and preferably with sweat-wicking fabric as well. This comes in handy especially if you’re jogging outside on a cold day.
Get the look HERE
Your choice of leggings could be a pair of basic leggings or you could opt for a flared legging during the colder months. Leggings of different shapes and length could be worn during the different seasons. For example, cropped leggings would work great during the warm weather.
Complete your look with a pair of white sneakers and a tank top or t-shirt underneath your jacket.
I hope that you have gotten some great options of simple gym outfit ideas. Throughout my years of working out, I have noticed that the right activewear can motivate you to workout. Ladies gym wear does not have to be overly sexy but you should feel free and comfortable.
Image source here
I filmed this video below showing you how I styled my new Gymshark pieces:
PGlmcmFtZSBmcmFtZWJvcmRlcj0iMCIgYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuPSIiIGFsbG93PSJhY2NlbGVyb21ldGVyOyBhdXRvcGxheTsgY2xpcGJvYXJkLXdyaXRlOyBlbmNyeXB0ZWQtbWVkaWE7IGd5cm9zY29wZTsgcGljdHVyZS1pbi1waWN0dXJlOyB3ZWItc2hhcmUiIHRpdGxlPSJHeW1zaGFyayBNaW5pIEhhdWwgb24gYSBDdXJ2eSBXb21hbiBWaWRlbyIgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iNTAwIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL2VtYmVkL1pxS0REbzJFQ2Q0P2F1dG9wbGF5PTAmYW1wO211dGU9MCZhbXA7Y29udHJvbHM9MSZhbXA7c3RhcnQ9MjMmYW1wO29yaWdpbj1odHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy50aGVhbmthcmFxdWVlbi5jb20mYW1wO3BsYXlzaW5saW5lPTEmYW1wO3Nob3dpbmZvPTAmYW1wO3JlbD0wJmFtcDtpdl9sb2FkX3BvbGljeT0zJmFtcDttb2Rlc3RicmFuZGluZz0xJmFtcDtlbmFibGVqc2FwaT0xJmFtcDt3aWRnZXRpZD0xIiBpZD0id2lkZ2V0MiIgZGF0YS1ndG0teXQtaW5zcGVjdGVkLTc9InRydWUiPjwvaWZyYW1lPg==It’s important to shop for the right workout clothes before starting your fitness journey. Look for clothing that contains moisture-wicking fabric. If you plan to do high intensity workouts, you should also invest in high impact sports bras.
Do check out my post: The 10 ways to wear a crop top for some more outfit inspiration.
I also have a post titled What to Wear With Yoga Pants All Year-Round for outfit ideas you can use to style your yoga pants.
If you’re headed to your first pilates class, check out my post: What to Wear to a Pilates class for some great outfit ideas.
Until the next post,
XOXO
Theankaraqueen