Athletic Aesthetics
[ 14 January 2008 ]
“I have a very big dilemma. I basically live at the gym, I work there, take/teach classes there, and work out there (duh!). I desperately need your advice. I work out, take or teach a class everyday and also work in the nursery there and come in contact with a lot of the gym clientèle. I need help. I need wardrobe appropriate items that i can wear in daycare and then go straight to teaching my classes or working out. Is there any advice you give me? I fear if you can not help me no one can.”
Of course I can help you! I think the thing with athletic wear is that it’s very easy to throw on trackpants & a baggy t-shirt & feel like that’s enough. However, if you’re dealing with customers or teaching classes, you need to step it up a little bit. The key is to look for athletic pieces that can be interpreted as “normal” clothing, & then dress it up or down as appropriate.
While you might need to take a change of shoes or remove some accessories, these outfits should take you easily from clients to calf stretches!
Abercrombie polo shirt; Delia*s heart belt; Le Coq Sportif vintage tennis skirt; Puma visor; blue bangles; blue crocodile bag; Rykiel Homme striped socks; Adidas by Stella McCartney silver sneakers.
Miu Miu cracked leather headband; Adidas dress; Gargyle gold leather slip-ons.
Adidas t-shirt; Adidas by Stella McCartney tennis skirt; Wheels & Dollbaby pink cardigan; Lululemon jive legwarmers; Converse sequinned Chuck Taylors.
Topshop black satin turban; T Luxury striped tunic; silver bracelets; Adidas by Stella McCartney tennis dress; Miss Selfridge black leggings; Fossil watch; Dorothy Perkins bag; Repetto Guillemettes.
...& a “practical” outfit for good measure. Lululemon t-shirt; Lululemon shawl skirt; Lululemon cropped pants; Nike sneakers.
Extra For Experts:
k-Bee leotards are amazing. Holographic! Glitter! Rhinestones! Hell yes!
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala
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I want that adidas dress badly! and those gold shoes…and those holographic leotards! mon dieu!
i’m interested if you actually think you could work out in those outits, though. if you’re an aerobics instructor, skirts (especially without leggings) probably aren’t going to cut it. The last outfit looks the most work-out-able, though the first one is pretty good.
Well, if you throw bike shorts under any of those skirts, I’m sure you could do anything you pleased!
Ah, the magic of Polyvore.
Great outfits, Gala! The black and white tote made me gasp!
those sequined chucks are possibly the awesomest things i’ve seen in a long while
How topical! I’m venturing into the instructor industry myself! Sweetie, those are all gorgeous and you are without doubt insanely clever (those legwarmers!!!) and I am gonna bookmark this page so hard! Like h.d. I’m all “where are the pants?” Bike shorts will preserve modesty and allow freedom of movement. One does, though, need to ensure people taking one’s class can see what one is doing. (Like a shoulder stand, for example.) How to make pants look chic when your (fully-functional! strong! flexible!) legs are not your best feature . . .
Adidas by Stella McCartney is LUSH! But I am all about that blue Le Coq Sportif vintage tennis skirt.
Totally get this problem, I have drama classes / rehersal 6 out of 7 days, and wearing yoga pants gets really old after a while.
Ohhhh, I was meaning to ask you a question similar to this all last semester (I am a theatre major in College, + I had a movement class every single day… but still wanted to be chic + warm in the upstate NY winters… a tall order, I know).
Of course, next semester I am taking more “covered in paint type” classes, but there’s no reason I can’t make a few investments for my “going to the gym on break” type days! Thanks, Gala!
I am pretty much THRILLED that you found polyvore Gala. ‘nuff said!
My own gym dilemma is that I desire to wear gym clothes that represent my personal style yet I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard. Because, let’s face it, most people do wear track dacks and scrungy tops to the gym and if you actually coordinate your outfit, you stick out like a sore thumb (which is not my fave thing to do, I am shy).
These are super-cute, athletic-looking outfits, but don’t seem too practical, just pricey. Might I also recommend some UnderArmour brand clothing; as far as I can tell they have a lot of really trendy-like shirts that are hot in the gym and out of it! (especially when you add accessories, like you suggested) UA’s quality is also better for exercise than, say, Abercrombie’s (which starts to twist after a few washings – speaking from experience!).
I like to get very comfortable and free moving yoga pants with a slim cut top (with jacket if needed) and yoga/European sneakers.
Probably with a sports bra underneath too. I personaly find greys, whites and pale chartruse-yellow one of my favorite combos.
Here’s my take on ideas for what to wear:
http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=627381
Luv
Poochie
I like to get very comfortable and free moving yoga pants with a slim cut top (with jacket if needed) and yoga/European sneakers.
Probably with a sports bra underneath too. I personaly find greys, whites and pale chartruse-yellow one of my favorite combos.
Here’s my take on ideas for what to wear:
http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=627381
Luv
Poochie
Ooh, pretty.. If I wasn’t the laziest little child on the planet I would be all over that black Adidas dress :)
I actually wanted to say that I wandered all over Queen St today & thought of you :) Especially since I managed to drag my boyfriend into a photobooth & sparklify & stamp the hell out of our pretty faces :)
Was your old apartment on top of Whitcoulls? Or am I just deluded? They look so gorgeous!! I love the huge windows, I imagine living there all the time :)
well im going to be a nursery school teacher one day and these are not unlike what i already like style wise. they are great!
You really like that topshop turban, Gala! Those legwarmers are love.
I absolutely looove the last two outfits!! They are gorgeous.
i’ve recently started exercising daily, but i still can’t face athletic apparel … it’s completely ridiculous, i go running in seventies gunne sax or sixties scooter dresses, which is as terrible an idea as it sounds.
but your article makes me think i should face the beast … or at least move towards a leotard & turban aesthetic – i don’t think i’m ready for shorts of any description just yet!
Oh man, those leotards make me want to start taking ballet classes again just so I can have an excuse to wear them. Just yesterday I was looking at my old tights/leotards/wrap skirts with my friend and laughing at how silly they look.
I love that shawl skirt! In fact, all the stuff on the lululemon site is every different kind of awesome :-D
This is great, because alot of the time I can’t go home before I go to the gym, and don’t want to bring extra clothes with me, so I have to wear things appropriate for running errands AND the gym. I usually wear anything that’ll go over a pair of leggings (leggings are essential for me at the gym, because I just don’t like sweat pants!)
These outfits are really inspiring, because they have an athletic look to them, but they are also cute and stylish! The vintage tennis skirt is adorable. Hmm, maybe if I cultivate an ‘athletic aethetic’ I’ll start working out more than once a week! (buying a cute adias hoodie might do the trick too! I’ve always wanted one…)
lilah — Thanks dolly! I know that sometimes it can be really hard to motivate yourself to exercise, I’m in the same boat baby! I do find it easier if I have a fun outfit to wear while I do it, shallow as that sounds. Hey, whatever works! Oh & I encourage buying Adidas stuff. I have two of their track jackets (one with a hood) & I LOVE them.
I lubblubblubb your purple & green Adidas jacket Gala, always have. & it’s not just great for girls either, I bought Mike two Adidas tracksuits in 2007 (one black with gold stripe, the other dark grey with silver stripe) & he loves them!
Gala, you are a MIND READER. I was thinking just hours ago that I should ask you about athletic wear! :O I love the Repetto shoes so much.
I reckon layering might come in handy. What about wearing a skirt or cardi or accessories over tight fitting gym pants/leggings, they can be easily stowed away just before working out. Or how borrowing from hip-hop dressing? Hoodies and sneakers come in so many styles and colours these days. I love quirking up my sneakers with different shoelaces – try four different laces, two in each shoe (it looks well wicked, well in my opinion anyway).
By the way Gala, I wanted to mention that I’ve been visiting your website regularly for a few months now. I find your views on cultivating personal style so refreshing. :)
Wow great stuff!
I made small noises out loud when i saw the Repetto shoes…i am hunting them down now as i must have them.
Also that black Adidas shirt style dress is so nice,going to try and find it tomorrow when i go to Oxford Street _
Great looks! Love them!
I love the “practical outfit”. Oh Gala, I wish we were pilates buddies :-P.
Gala, your eye for colour is amazing. Zomg! I want to lick the screen the combinations are that good!
I love you for this! I hate gym class at school because everyone else seems so well put together and I always end up all dumpy and gross! :orders orders orders:! Having Visa is great for a grounded 16 year old! (oh boy!)
Amazing ideas Gala! You make me want to completely redo my wardrobe with athletic inspired clothes!
Now THIS is the type of athletic wear I adore!
Not only that, but it would look great if it was worn in the summer (well, in my climate anyways) on those days were you want to be comfy, but not have to wear sweats.
Triple A+ Gala!
oooooo, I love some of those items and outfits so much!!
Who knew athletic attire could be so practical, fun, and chic at the same time?
On a related note, I was watching Ellen (the talk show) one day, and she interviewed Victoria Beckham… and Victoria basically said that she doesn’t work out b/c she can’t wrap her head around what to wear to the gym… BUT GALA CAN! :)
Awwhhh thank you cuties!
sandr+ — I love VB but I think that whole “I never go to the gym” thing is a put-on. Have you seen her body? Girl is BUFF! Anyway, I appreciate the sentiment ;D
Pfft. VB doesn’t go to the gym, she doesn’t need to, I’m sure she’s got one in her own house!
Hey Gala, thanks so much for the workout outfit inspiration! I have a gym related question. Is it necessary to remove all my makeup before I work out? even if I just wear tinted moisturizer and concealer? Thanks again!
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much! All those ideas are adorable! You are the greatest!!!
I’m a bit slow on the uptake but what a great article. I’m yoga teacher and have been struggling to find appropriate teaching-wear which still retains a little glamour.
So thank you, and ps, I’ve splashed out on the Lululemon leg warmers because they are too cute not to be mine xx
Lululemon does great workout gear that also looks really smart – I wear it to work in my corporate job sometimes. It’s super-comfortable, and while it’s not that cheap, it is long lasting. I’d highly recommend their stuff.
All of these outfits are really adorable.
Unfortunately, not very useful for someone who has never been inside a gym..
What would help is information about what kinds of things to wear to university .
My high school had an extremely strict uniform and I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like trying to look lovely everyday.
My mum says that I should adopt a uniform and wear similar kinds of things every, but that sounds way too boring. I think I’m going to do some research, make lists and go shopping :] (using your blog as inspiration, of course. All of your articles are great!)
:]