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.

What is wrong with picking up male shorts in shops like JD sport?

I have good running gear by Odlo.... Designed for women, not tiny. Not too pricey. I am tall and size 16 and have very malt shoulders, long since given up on any women's sports tops! I swear by cheap men's training tops (like big tshirts) from Decathlon.

I also have huge feet and can only buy men's trainers.... Just occasionally I think I'd like pretty pale blue flashes on them rather than 'manly' dull colours

... Manly not malty shoulders even!

Can anyone post pictures of stuff the DO like? That is what they want.

I don't have trouble but I presume that's because I'm not fussy (some of my shorts may be mens). Wondering what styles people want. Need pictures.

(not £70 for a pair of shorts I hope)

not sure you you need pictures lljkk

for me, things like joggers often come in either too thick a fabric for exercise - so this in a lighter fabric would be brill

the T-shirt here is a classic example of what I don't want
www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-rich-vest-and-joggers-set/p/ds270ab2db330a4dae82d54d8e2afd7d37?prevPage=srp

I want a lightweight cotton t shirt that isn't fitted anywhere and a dark colour so sweat doesn't show. I've ended up using standard issue cotton t shirts which wouldn't normally matter but again the only one I have that is "light" enough to work out in actually came from Pineapple - not cheap but a good buy and has survived 100s of workout and washes. Very lightweight indeed.

Even when I was really skinny I didn't want something constricting me while working out. even if it has dri-fit - I find that not too useful tbh but I don't run long distances or anything.

the stupid shelf in some T shirts mystifies me as well

Shorts - I would want them mid thigh myself, again I think 1/1000 women at the gym can wear those.

also stretch is quite overused in my humble opinion. if you get more lightweight loose fit yoga pants - all the way down to the ankle - you wouldn't need quite so much stretch anyway.

I don't really care about being fashionable while working out and tbh I think a lot of women don't care. We would rather have practical stuff. I think the pricey fashionable stuff is often worn by people who aren't actually working out tbh.

"Elephant" I know the type of rasist you are then. Fattist arse.

Under Armour makes good t-shirts. The fabric is very light and breathable, but not clingy. I have them in several colours - and last year's colours are very reasonably priced as well.
www.underarmour.co.uk/en-gb/womens-ua-twist-tech-v-neck/1258568.html

I was young and giddy in those days, and never went running or did any form of exercise. We just used to use the sportswear prediction books and see what the trend predictions were for the next season, and then design stuff based around that. I'm not actually sure the activity or end use was ever really seriously considered. Although we did think about the fabrics. But function was bottom of the list.

I. Knew. It. I was fricking right!

I often compose mental MN threads in my head at the gym on the subject of sportswear and the pinkness of it. Apart from anything else, pink is an awful colour on me and I couldn't find anything in my budget that wasn't pink.

If I wanted to look attractive, I certainly wouldn't wear leggings with pink flashes on the hips. They are the absolute antithesis of a slimming effect.

There is a difference between sports wear and fashion spots wear.

I wear leggings from sports direct. 3/4 length, they do full length. Cheap and good quality, they last forever. If I want shorts I buy womens kick boxing shorts from a local stockist.

Again tops I get from sports direct. Then have both revealing and none revealing. I also buy from screw gym wear.

Fat lass at the back get it right - they make clothes with curves, long enough to stop skin being revealed and they actually think about covering bras (their tri suit is carefully cut round the armpits for instance) and about being figure flattering. The woman that designs their stuff says pink is surprisingly popular (she says its marmite - either people only want it or loathe it), but they obv do other colours.

An odd recommendation. I got some workout leggings from new look recently, they are really good! They don't go see through in the bum, stay in place, are long enough and have washed really well! They are a jazzy (but dark) pattern but they do have plain ones also I think. Really chuffed with them.

Try H&M. They do shorts with cycling shorts already attached.
I'm 52, 5'4" and size 10/12 but I have real boobs, hips and curves and their stuff fits me really well. Some of it is plain and functional, some pink and some funky. There's a good range of tops, vests, leggings, sports bras and shorts. Plus it washes well and doesn't cost the earth.

lorelei.. actually, I do need pictures! I really don't know what people want. I was just curious, couldn't follow what people want.

I run in variations on cargo shorts & trousers, because they have pockets. I need pockets for my sleeves, buff, gloves, phone... And an ordinary cotton t-shirt.

I imagine the other people on thread want something like these half-length trousers, with lycra tops.

glad it's not just me that loathes pink and lilac, the dreaded elastic bra-shelf, and cutesy cutaway features...

Orangeanddemons "We just used to use the sportswear prediction books and see what the trend predictions were for the next season, and then design stuff based around that. I'm not actually sure the activity or end use was ever really seriously considered"

Thank you, this explains a lot! I've been wondering why pilates tops aren't LONG and tight, so they don't ride up when on the mat. Now I know!

If I could find pictures of what I want then I would buy whats in the pictures. I can't find what I'm looking for.

I want bottom halves that are a high enough rise not to create a muffin top and to stay up while running. I want bottom halves that arent almost indecently tight around the crotch and bum. I want to be able to wear a pad if necessary witout the outline of it visible from 50 paces, I want tops that are long enough to cover said outline.

I get my cycling stuff from Howies (not a huge range, but adequate). I noticed that they do a kind of skort for running that I will give a go once my fractured pelvis heals .

Lljkkk
I don't have pictures, currently using joggers that are too thick anyway.

Unfortunately sportswear is influenced by fashion, just like any other clothing. We did research the fabrics such as coolmax or whatever. But they rest......well we just sat and drew what we fancied. I don't remember ever doing any market research into what people actually wanted 😵. No one cared as long as it sold....which it did.

Fortunately l no longer do this job. It was great fun whilst it lasted though😄Even if l was responsible for a million hideous shell suits.