Who designs women's sportswear? Is it sadists?

[Shhthebabyisasleep]

I do not want to wear itsy bitsy short shorts. Believe me, no one wants me to wear itsy bitsy short shorts. I don't want cut aways in the back of my vest. I don't want lots of drapey fabric. I don't want hareem style three quarter length training trousers. I don't want to look sexy when I play sports. I want to be comfortable.

What I want is a pair of shorts that finish within nodding distance of my knees, in a colour that won't show sweat, in a sensible, cool, stretchy fabric. And a tshirt that reliably hides my monstrous sports bra, again in a colour and fabric that is aware that its purpose is to get hot and sweaty. And that isn't fuschia pink.

So after spending a bewildering 30 minutes in the women's section of a sports clothing shop I wander over to the men's section and WHAT DO I FIND?? Can you guess?? It was rail upon rail of wicking fabric shorts with elasticated waists all sold in waist measurement size (oh yes, men get to measure their waist and buy clothes accordingly. They do not, it seems, have to guess if this particular brand has assigned them medium, large, x- large or elephant, or spend soul crushing minutes in the dressing rooms trying to wriggle out of a fuschia pink 'medium' tshirt that would be a bit tight on a 2yr old). And endless tshirts in all sorts of colours except fuschia pink, in that lovely cool sporty fabric.

I would buy from the men's section gladly, but I'm not man shaped.

I ended up buying some men's shorts but of course they have a nadger net in them. Perhaps I'll keep my half time oranges in it.

[Sunnydaysablazeinhope]

Men.

Try lululemon. Apaz as designed by women it's the bomb.

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

Definitely men!

I ordered a sleeveless running top recently, it was see through and so large it didn't cover my running bra at the front, sides or back. It was ludicrous. Even the ones I did keep which aren't see through gape massively around my armpits.

I'm a size 10 to 12 but have to buy large running tops so they aren't skin tight and do cover my arse!

Don't even get me started on colour, I'm sick of pink! I like to be seen so not keen on black but I hate pink!

[Shhthebabyisasleep]

I had not heard of Lululemon but I've just had a look - exactly the same tiny shorts, black trousers and weird drapey yoga stuff. But at least I know realise the root of the problem; it sells clothes for yoga, running and cycling. Only 4 things on the site are for cycling. Somehow it is assumed that women sports are yoga and Running. That's all we do, apparently, so that's what they design clothes for.

[trixymalixy]

I tried to buy a pair of shorts last year. I gave up. They were all ridiculously short.

I keep seeing people with leggings under shorts, which I really don't get. Is it for a special purpose, or is it because the shorts are too short? Can anyone explain?

[specialsubject]

you got it. Never buy stuff for women if something made for men will do. No stupid frills, no ghastly pink, functional, long-lasting and usually much cheaper.

buy the shorts and cut out the net. Easy.

[BomChickaMeowMeow]

I nearly always bought men's sportswear fifteen years ago for this reason. Today is not much better, especially in the high street. "Sports shops" just sell clothes for casual wear, people who buy most of that stuff haven't been near sport since PE at school.

I recommend Wiggle, SportsDirect and Amazon - go for running type stuff even if you don't run, much more sensible. Ron Hill, More Mile etc won't break the bank. Men's football "training" shorts seem to be a nice length- shorter than the kit shorts which look stupid on me (and most footballers, IMO).

I sometimes wear short dance shorts over normal leggings in winter because the leggings are too thin to wear on their own, my bum feels more covered and secure (!), and I think it flatters my body shape.

[Waxlyrically]

Completely agree with this! I run and hate most women's running stuff all too tight, short and pink. I do the leggings underneath shorts for this exact reason. Leggings alone no good as can't get a long and baggy enough top so end up with VPL issues, shorts alone and chafing sets in.

[LadyMud]

For cycling, take a look at Team Estrogen. Even though it's American, I've found the prices very competitive, and delivery excellent. Not so easy for returns, though.

In the UK, check out Minx Girl, particularly the Urban section.

[grumblepuss]

Oh god yes!
I wear a sports bra... I don't want it to show under a vest.
I also don't want some sort of pseudo elastic shelf thing in the top. It won't be supportive enough and will then get in the way of my proper bra.

Also why are leggings really long and jogging bottoms quite short?

I also quite like blue, bright green, orange, purple,grey etc. Not only hot pink.

Someone I know has opened a bike shop I keep telling him I want cycling gear in ladies fit but not FUCKING PINK or BABY BLUE.

[CMOTDibbler]

I saw the Ana Nichoola clothes at the London bike show and they were really nice.

My running stuff is Karrimor (black and purple) or Ron Hill, and my cycling stuff is hi vis

[NotGoodNotBad]

Must be men. I bought a sports bra recently and tried on about half a dozen before I found one that was big enough on the boobs without being loose underneath - if I was well-endowed I'd understand it but I'm really not. The mediums were so tight I could hardly breathe in them - what women who actually have decent boobs wear I can't imagine.

[BikeRunSki]

YY to all this! And women specific stuff sizes are tiny!

Howies diva limited, but very good and properly sized, range of running and cycling kit. They are my "go to" place.

[BikeRunSki]

"Diva" should read "do a".

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

Yup. I have an H&M sports vest - it's tight on my hips, baggy at the waist and has huge armholes and comes down quite low at the front to show my giant sports bra. Not a good look.

I also wear shorts over leggings - this is to disguise the wobbliness of my lower tummy.

[Glitteryfrog]

I also don't want some sort of pseudo elastic shelf thing in the top. It won't be supportive enough and will then get in the way of my proper bra.
This a million times!
I need my boobs strapped down for a gym class not in a crop top.

[rubybleu]

Try googling trail running shorts - they seem to be longer.

Lululemon et al don't do cycling kit because there are already perfectly good specialist cycling wear manufacturers who spend millions on technology so is generally preferred by both male and female cyclists. Lulu/Sweaty Betty can't compete with that.

[BikeRunSki]

Corinne Dennis cycle wear is designed more realistically.

Also have a look at Minx Girl from time to time she has the US brand Pearl Izumi in, which are excellent and properly sized (I'm a booby 14 and 5'8").

[Thefitfatty]

I generally buy women's calf length spandex, but wear mens tops. They're just better.

I'd also love it if they designed sports bras to be less chafing. I don't need fancy, I don't need neon, I need it to not rub away the skin underneath my boobs when I run.

[fiorentina]

I get a lot of my sportswear from Decathlon. It's fairly boring stuff but exactly what I need. No crazy patterns and good dark colours that hide sweat.

I read recently of some new companies that were making decent cycling wear designed for women, I am trying to think where, but I will try and find links.

[KatharinaRosalie]

what women who actually have decent boobs wear I can't imagine

Proper bra sized sports bras from Freya, Panache or Shock Absorber. Those stretcy crop tops from sports brands are for decorative purposes only.

[BikeRunSki]

This women's cycle wear popped up on FB today and made me think of this thread.

[Queenbean]

I found some really good stuff in TK Maxx, obviously there is no consistency but it was much more practical than other stuff I've seen

Also, good old m&s has some lovely stuff in just now

[JamieVardysParty]

I live in Nike and Adidas leggings and their oversized tshirts.

Alternatively, I buy junior boys shorts in the biggest size (I'm a 12) and racerback vests over a normal vest.

[BabyGanoush]

I struggle to find tennis clothes, and at 45 a tiny skirt won't do