What do you wear to exercise classes?

[MyRealNamesBernard]

I read somewhere, recently, (on Pinterest, I think), an article about fashion for 30-something women. It listed ten "wardrobe staples" a woman should have acquired by the time she is in her 30s. Needless to say, despite being 37, I had none of them - things like a real leather jacket (it would make me look like Terry from 'Minder') and a smart, tailored jacket etc etc. One of them, however, was 'proper gym clothes'. Apparently, the article said, an old pair of leggings and an oversized Nirvana t-shirt just won't cut it any more.

Bugger... this is exactly what I wear to my exercise class. To be honest, the leggings are so old they are starting to look more like 15-denier tights, and I am sure, yesterday, the woman behind me was laughing because she could see the pattern on my knickers showing through. I am about to start a pilates class soon, so I thought it was about time I bought something grown up.

Any ideas.....

No ideas - I wear comfortable and mostly old stuff. It gets sweated in and washed so much anyway.

I do recommend some lycra. I have a pair that seems to 'hold me in' as it were. I wear a baggy t-shirt with them. No knicker pattern on display either...Not that it would bother me!

A pair of jogging bottoms and a tight vest top. They're comfy and the top doesn't end up riding up or falling over my head when I'm doing mountain climbers or whatever.

TK Maxx is your friend here. Go and have a look. A pair of Capri pants will set you back about £15.
However, I would ignore what said article told you, I have managed for 41 years without a leather jacket, and am not bad on the stylish front.
You'd be better to get a really good sports bra and stick with the Nirvana top than trying to look "fashion forward" in a blinking gym class, no one there gives a hoot!!

Have a couple of pairs of leggings (one of which are posh running tights type bought in sale last year), a vest top (for body pump, zumba type classes) and a tight-fitting t-shirt (for pilates, body balance type classes). Needs not to be baggy for pilates or it'll end up showing all when you're hanging halfway upside down.
They show all my lumps and bumps, but I look the part!

Yes, get 'proper' gym clothes. More comfortable as material is better, and you don't have a gaping hem showing the rest if the class your belly and bra.

Good sports bra is essential - needs to be supportive and if doing high impact stuff minimise any bounce! I wear sweat wicking fabrics when doing high intensity exercise as I sweat like nobody's business - long length quick drying sports tops and lycra mix leggings or capri pants - plus good supportive trainers.

Agree with BafanaTheSober - TK Maxx is great for gym clothes. I buy my gear from there.

And yes, ignore these "essential items" type articles. The only essential items you need are the ones that you think you need or when you are getting dressed you think "I wish I had... to wear". I would look spectacularly crap in a leather jacket, crisp white shirt, trench etc that always seem to be on these lists!

Fushi do some great quality sports wear, they've got a sale on atm as well www.fushi.co.uk/sale.html#/page/1

Read Hadley Freeman in the Guardian on exercise wear for a light hearted debunking of fancy kit:

www.theguardian.com/fashion/2015/jan/26/exercise-lifestyle-sportswear-designer-fitness

Although I agree it should be fit for purpose (and ideally not covered in cat hair, as per my Pilates outfit this morning )

I wear lycra calf length bottoms and tops. I get mine from Sports direct usually, but I did get a new set yesterday from Peacocks for £17 for both top and bottoms. Lots of clothes shops do seem to be selling exercise wear now fairly cheaply. Ive never seen anything I liked in TK Maxx for cheaper than anywhere else TBH.

For running I wear longer length bottoms and long sleeved tops in winter. In nicer weather, its just the same as I wear in the gym.

I like the idea of the stuff that doesn't show sweat... where do you buy this from? I think the sports bra and the top that doesn't expose said sports bra when I do a hand stand (hah!) sounds like exactly the sort of thing I am after. I noticed my boobs were flying all over the place at the exercise class I did last night, and not in a good way (I am not painting a very good picture of myself here, am I?).

Hadley Freeman is genius. I love that article.

So, for my next question, do you buy sports bras in your normal size or is there another technique ie going one size smaller...? I am a graduate of the Mumsnet Bra Intervention Revolution and find it tricky to find bras in my proper Bra Size. Are there any good sports bra brands?

Thanks so much for the very helpful replies.

I'm a 30FF - I really like Freya Active sports bras and shock absorber bras which seem to do the trick in keeping my boobs in check - and I buy them in my normal bra size. For Pilates you don't really need hard core bras though as its not high impact - I wear a normal bra when doing my pilates classes.

Sweat wicking tops - TK Maxx a good bet, Sweaty betty (always in the sale), sheactive, H&M do some good sports tops too - its a case of finding a top you like the look of and which suits you lengthwise (I hate, hate,hate tops that end at the waist and prefer longer length ones). Dark colours also generally better to hide sweat.

I really like forever 21 for sports wear, good thick quality vests and leggings. To my classes I wear yoga pants or harem pants and then a forever 21 vest over it and a nike half zipped running top. Keeps me warm in class

Also I don't wear sports bras on their own as I find they either give me mono boob or don't work well on their own so I wear a normal bra and a tank top style sports bra over it, keeps it all in with a nice shape (I'm a 30FF)

Agree Forever 21 is great and very affordable too. Love Sweaty Betty but it is pricey

Agree Forever 21 is great and very affordable too. Love Sweaty Betty but it is pricey

Don't forget matching socks as for Pilates you will be taking off your shoes.

Other than that comfy clothes that you can stretch out in. And with cuffs on the legs / fitted legs as they will ride up otherwise. Same for top.

Monoboob yes that is a good way to describe sports bras that don't have much shape. I have a shock absorber ultimate run for running but regular crop top bras for Pilates.

I like h and m fitness stuff, and Nike and Adidas.

Sports direct and tk Maxx do proper fitness stuff but at lower prices.
I wear- brightly coloured sports bra
Tight racer back clima cool moisture wicking veat
Running tights
Thema thin technical swop l/s top for warm up/cool down.
If you are prone to sweating- wear a slim panty liner, the you won't show the dredded vagina sweat!

Agree Forever 21 is great and very affordable too. Love Sweaty Betty but it is pricey

Thank you! Off to TK Maxx and Forever 21 I go...! Cuffs on jogging pants for Pilates is a great tip. I'm a newbie to it, so that's very helpful.

USA Pro gear from Sports Direct is cheap and it lasts well -top and bottoms. I like the 3\4 bottoms as they fit well and have good thick material. Nike dry fit v neck tops are simple and last well to.

Forgot to say this is a great bra and doesn't give you mono boob this one is a lovely red.

Nike leggings and longish vests for me