Weekend Wardrobe

I like to get fit and er, look pretty. The latter is usually unsuccessful, but cool workout clothes help to put a shiny veneer on an otherwise short and sweaty mess. Bit like polishing a turd. Anyway, what I’m saying is that good fit clothes are important. When I’m wearing powerful or bright clothes I feel powerful and bright which shines through to my workouts like a summer morning. The vast majority of womens fitness wear is pretty bland and generic, with lots of black, lots of high viz and way too much purple, which is without doubt the world’s worst colour. Just man up and be blue already.

I thought I’d share some awesome workout clothes with you, either to get your 2013 training off to a bang, kit you out for a new years resolution to get fit, give you new training armour for a spring challenge (any marathoners?) or just add to your already fabulous fit wardrobe.

Set Bang Pretty

I discovered Set Bang Pretty quite recently and I love the things they have in stock. SBP is a women’s gymwear boutique, stocking small and independent fitness designers such as Body Language. My favourite piece on their site at the moment is these galaxy leggings:

Lorna Jane

Lorna Jane is a top women’s fitness wear brand from Australia who have FINALLY started selling their lycra loot over here. For me what makes LJ stand out is the detailing in the back of their vests and sports bras - it’s feminine without being too ‘girly’ (I’m not a fan of ‘girly’) and jazzes up an otherwise purely functional piece of kit. Although not the most detailed of the lot (if you’re after pretty, check out the amazing laser cut Divine sports bra) I love this ‘Determined’ bra. Wear it solo in the gym or out in the summer and let whoever is behind you eat your flipping dust.

H&M Sport

When H&M first started selling sportswear I was sceptical. Sportswear takes an absolute battering with sweat, elements and intense hot washing - could budget sportswear really stand up to it? It appears that answer is YES, FLIPPING YES OF COURSE. I’m a total convert. I have a pair of capris and a lycra vest from H&M and they’re both amazing. The vest is a bargain and a beautiful fit, tight without being tooooo tight and it keeps it shape really well. Buy it. I also love this fashion take on a high vis vest - no longer do you need to look like a builder during your winter training, as this vest is super reflective without a HINT of yellow.

Sweaty Betty

Sweaty Betty is always reliably and undoubtedly good. We all know this. My new favourite SB piece is the boyfriend tech tee, that I’ve been coveting for a while and finally bought when it went in to sale (what can I say it just fell in to my basket). It’s got a wide neck, loose fit and a taper to the hips so it doesn’t drown you and it doesn’t flap about while you’re out doing da ting. It’s soft and shapes and sweat wicking and oh gees, it’s great. I love it and I want it in every colour. (If you’re interested, I have the charcoal marl and my sister has this dashing peony print one).

Nike

Everyone knows that Nike are the dons of forward thinking sportswear design and can be relied upon to produce season after season of sell-out lairy leggings (just make more XS ones goddammit). However today I’m not going to point out something lairy. These new Shield Lunarglide+4 are awesome armoured up knights in shining armour when it comes to winter running. I love the Lunarglide+4 anyway and now they have amazing super waterproof winter proof Nike shield technology stuck to the outside I’m a sucker for them all over again. I say go all black, like your fearless training heart. Go smash up Parkrun like the puddle conquering boss you are.

(Here’s some lairy Nike shorts, in case you’re feeling cheated)