How to Make Working Out Work Out

By Meaghen Ng

For some, motivation to hit the gym, take an exercise class, or do any other form of working out is as simple as envisioning oneself in a two-piece barely there bikini. Not the best mental picture. Yes, this is most often the best incentive to drive oneself to exercise; this year, however, with a focus on fashion sportswear, we now can add a healthy dose of fashion into our fitness regime.

Summer makes navigating your local gym parking lot onerous—all the more reason to bike or jog there. Once inside, lengthy gym lineups make it easy to blow off the elliptical in favor of hand-to-mouth repetitions on sun-filled city patios. To the extent that many of us are health conscious, we’re also prone to staying indoors once the weather becomes undesirable. If we do manage to scrape ourselves off the couch, usual exercise apparel may consist of old college sweats and oversized tees that doubled as nightgowns.

At least, it used to be. Stella McCartney has recently launched a sportswear line for Adidas, and she has followed the trend to design casual counterparts for the sophisticated set wanting to look their best at lunch-hour workouts. There are many innovative athletic apparel pioneers, and mangy gym gear just doesn’t cut it anymore. Our elevated standards demand the right fit, function, and fabric, all part and parcel to our healthy lifestyle mantra. Recently, there has been a shift in designing activewear, whereas years past saw fit and function take precedent over fashion.

Perhaps because of our lifestyles that are active in every sense, being busy requires style collections to take us from exercise class to afternoon tasks without a wardrobe change in between. At the forefront of this shift are styles to suit every body. For men and women of all ages and every shape and size, athletic ateliers have answered the bell.

Start with quality fabrics in sustainable options: hemp, organic cotton, soy, and bamboo are excellent picks for activewear. Surprisingly, they’re also luxuriously soft and can add a feminine flair to a largely masculine-centered field. With natural abilities to breathe better than what processed fabrics have, they’re fast drying and wick away moisture, and also have antibacterial properties that are resistant to mold and mildew. In addition, ecofibers are hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and UV resistant—great for outdoors summer activities.

Invest in quality basics (trainers, pants, sports bras) and supplement with funky accessories, tees, and tanks. Yes, the ’70s short-short is back, but only sport this trend if you’re actually sporty. Summer also means the start-up of beer leagues and baseball. This could be the time to let your inner fashionista shine, even if your baseball swing doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to step up to bat in a creation all your own. Headbands, wristbands, knee-high socks, whatever—the key is to have fun.

In building a good gym wardrobe, look for styles that suit your lifestyle. At the very least, looking the part may help to get you to the gym (and bypass the beach). If all else fails, at least you’re dressed appropriately.