I recently got back into exercising after a bout of physical therapy and low-effort daily dog walks, only to discover that my workout clothes, now older than I care to reveal, were a little outdated (read: small).
For both at-home personal training sessions and Pilates Reformer classes I’ve wriggled into a rush-bought pair of problematic Pact leggings* and an old Frankie Shop tee (I know, that’s why we’re here). And since I consider dressing well a form of self-care, this sorry getup desperately needed a speedy upgrade.
Cue my laser-focused hunt for a new workout wardrobe.
Like any new clothing purchase, this one needs to tick some boxes. It obviously has to look right, shouldn’t make me feel self-conscious, and needs some serious staying power (i.e. no embarrassing tears or unraveling threads).
From left: yoga pants / shorts & hoodie / track pants, long tee & tank / tartan jacket & leggings / jacket tee & shorts
Unsurprisingly, as someone who spends an inordinate amount of time on social media (for work), Literary Sport has my attention. Their full-length leggings, merino mesh tees and soft sweatpants (see above) definitely pass the aesthetic test. Same for Jamie Haller’s retro-feel athletic shorts and butter-soft hoodies. But, truth be told, I’m a little shy about a leg reveal away from the pool. Then there’s Ayr’s billowy track shorts (only a few left, but these are similar) and matching jacket, which look far too good to peel off after a sweat session—but again, shorts.
Anyway, above are all the options I’ve been mulling over (should I reveal my legs, for me, or no?). But with limited firsthand experience of rigorous workout-outfit testing (and a hunch that other nascent exercisers on this app might appreciate the insider intel too), I leaned into my fashion reporter instincts and asked women well versed in putting athletic-wear through its paces to share their advice.
Ahead, a slew of sporty Substackers—runners, hikers, pilates lovers, and weight lifters—reveal the brands and pieces they love; plus, some very necessary tricks for keeping sweat stains and odors at bay.
*So, those Pact leggings. I got them because they’re 100% organic cotton and I didn’t want to sweat in plastic. They came in a pack of two and the first pair split in an embarrassing spot (gah!). The other pair remains in tact, I wear them to class every day. They’re extra long, tight, high rise, but, given their twin’s speedy demise, I live in a constant state of anxiety that they’ll give out at some point during class. I’m honestly not sure if I was just unlucky with that pair, or if the brand isn’t up to the task, but herein lies my search for something I can put on and not worry about.
Jessica Thompson of In Out Around
What type of workouts do you do?
I walk 10,000 steps every day, do the Tracy Anderson Method three times a week and Booty by Bret Contreras three times a week, and have one rest day. I wrote more about it all on my Substack.
Tell me about a typical workout outfit?
I’ll share a hard-learned lesson first: I was consulting for a company and wore one of their light colored sets to a workout class. It was sorbet and so cool, but once I started sweating, the leggings turned sheer, like, really sheer. I certainly revealed more than I intended to! So be careful in lighter colored pieces!
I look for compressive-but-not-claustrophobic fabrics with interesting details, like high necks, cutout backs, mesh panels, or a print, like this Lululemon snow leopard bra and leggings set.
Do you have any favorite brands?
My go-to is Héros, which was founded by a former stylist and Pilates instructor who uses a compressive eco-tech fabric, but I still hunt eBay and Poshmark for vintage Adam Selman Sport, and occasionally add an Alo bra top or mesh layer. For actual gym sessions, I’m loyal to Beyond Yoga’s bras, shorts and leggings in “Darkest Night,” and I often layer with a quarter-zip or Roucha’s Janssen Jacket.
How do you wash your workout clothes?
Everything I own is machine washable. I’ll add a splash of Tyler Diva Wash with Branch Basics detergent, and always rely on this Japanese stain stick for anything stubborn. Having lived in Barcelona and Paris in my twenties during the 2000s, I picked up the European habit of changing out of gym clothes before running errands, so don’t often wear mine during the day. On the odd occasion that I do, I’ll throw an oxford shirt or my Roucha jacket over the top so I feel more put-together.
Visit Jessica’s Substack here
Jennifer Atilemile of To Life With Love
What type of exercise do you do?
I have a personal trainer who, depending on my work/travel schedule, I try to meet with twice a week. I also like to get one or two hikes in, and maybe a pilates class. If I’m traveling, I’ll either use the hotel gym for a quick workout, or if it’s a city that I’m familiar with, like London or NYC, I’ll jump on to ClassPass and take a pilates or yoga class.
Tell me about a typical workout outfit?
I love Adanola right now. They’re super light fitting, and make me feel snatched without any hectic compression. They also pass the roll test. I very much dislike Skims. I tried to love them because they were size inclusive but they’re heavy on the leisure not athletics. I also love the Monday Body Melrose pant, and the Devin bra for hiking and pilates; they’re super comfy, just not for running. I’ve also been loving vintage VS Pink yoga pants from Depop for my hot girl walks.
I tend to pick more neutral colors like black, brown or navy blue in case I have to run an errand before or after class. I’ll throw a shirt on over my set and look and feel semi put together.
In terms of fit, I need no front seam, want the fabric to lift my butt a little bit, but not be too tight that I spill out over the top or, when I sit, the fabric rolls and exposes my belly. I had a top once, that when I did a pike, my boobs almost fell out, and I didn’t realize it also turned see-through with sweat during a HOT sculpt class, that wasn’t dimly lit. Sadly, as an owner of bigger boobs, things like that tend to happen. I’m yet to find a good workout bra that looks cute for high impact workouts; maybe I’ll find one here! I’m in between a L/XL, but always size down in leggings, so get an L.
How do you wash your workout clothes?
I do a lot of hot sculpt classes in LA, and I’m just generally a hot sweaty mess. I love the Ded Cool laundry detergent, and pop all my activewear in the wash on cold with it. It always comes out smelling great.
Visit Jennifer’s Substack, here
Katherine Douglas of Running Wylder
What type of workouts do you do?
I run and do Pilates/sculpt-style workouts with a side of yoga, aiming to move daily just to clear my head. I prefer lighter weights with higher reps over heavy lifting since I end up less sore and tight.
You own a store, so have the intel on this—which brands are your favorites?
Right now, it’s Pruzan for cool, accessible fits made for real female bodies; Copenhagen’s tiny-but-mighty Rytme Sport; and Bandit, whose bras I can’t live without for their pocket storage, even though I mostly wear a bra for social convention rather than support needs. I’m especially loyal to Currently Running—I own multiple elite and pro tops, which read more like a cropped tank than a sports bra, and a pant that I’ve sold to half my friends and have worn everywhere from a run to a fancy Paris dinner to an 11-hour flight home. UNNA rounds it out, both for their striped tees and their linerless tempo short, which doubles as travel gear, beachwear, and a running short.
What makes a piece stand out for you?
The biggest thing I look for isn’t fit specs (my needs are low, I’m an A-cup with no chafing beyond my armpits), it’s whether a piece has personality and fits into my wardrobe rather than making me feel branded head-to-toe.
After having a baby, I got tired of maintaining two separate closets, “real clothes” and “running clothes,” especially when my husband, who wasn’t running or postpartum, didn’t face the same tax on his wardrobe budget.
That frustration is part of why I opened my store: to carry pieces technical enough to genuinely perform on a serious run but styled enough to wear in regular life, because I have zero patience for “performance lifestyle” basics that only look cute for a Saturday pilates class. I wear my true size, even when that means a snugger fit in bras; compression is the point, and sizing up for comfort just means losing support once things get sweaty.
How do you take care of your workout clothes?
Laundry is not precious in my house. Everything gets washed together, it’s survival of the fittest, and I’ll add a splash of white vinegar if there’s lingering odor, especially after travel when air-dried bras hold onto more scent. I wear as much of my activewear out in the world as possible, but I avoid the head-to-toe “athleisure” look.
I want the technical details, like mesh, zip pockets, or a split hem, to sit in tension with something decidedly non-technical, like a lace tank, sweater, or embroidered blouse. That contrast is what gives the outfit personality instead of reading as a Pinterest search result.
Visit Katherine’s Substack, here
Katelyn Cnossen of Spilling the Tea
What type of workouts do you do?
I'm rediscovering my workout routine after a 15-month hiatus. I was a new mom, drowning in postpartum, and hanging on by a thread, but now my son's older, I have a better grasp on my routine. Right now, I'm loving pilates—I found a studio that offers childcare so I can join a 45 minute class, twice a week. I also walk with my son in his stroller or take an occasional jog. I'm so grateful to live in the PNW where we have access to endless trails; I consider an adventurous hike part of my normal workout routine, and this skort (above right) is taking me backpacking on Mt Hood this weekend.
Tell me about a typical workout outfit?
A great workout outfit totally depends on the activity you’re doing. But let me start by saying this:
How do you get a bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. The same goes for workout clothes. If you’re at the gym in clothes, those are your workout clothes.
I wear the Nike seamless bike shorts and sports bra to workout in. I like them tight with minimal fabric touching my body; a stark contrast from my baggier, personal style. For hiking, I prefer longer shorts or this skort (mentioned above) by Gramicci; I love that the brand offers outdoor wear that doubles as street wear. It’s a good alternative to Patagonia or The North Face.
How do you take care of them?
I wash on a cold cycle and hang them out to dry. We use Tide Free & Clear based on The Wire Cutter recommendations. I’ll also add baking soda in the wash to help freshen them up. Don’t hate me, but I have to admit, I don’t sweat all that much. It’s the truth, and neither does my mom, so our clothes don’t get that stinky or gross.
Visit Katelyn’s Substack, here
Nadia of Nouri Paris
What type of workouts do you do?
My movement practice is simple: weights three times a week, 10K daily steps (so easy in Paris), and mobility, yoga, or fascia release on recovery days. It all ties into what I call Single Ingredient Life, a philosophy I’ve written about extensively on Substack, that I apply to food, beauty, and clothing, alike.
What do you wear?
I haven’t worn leggings in over a year. I want range of motion, not compression, so everything I wear is 100% natural.
My concern with most activewear is that synthetic fabrics, especially when worn sweaty or in heated rooms, let chemicals leach into the body more easily.
I shop mostly secondhand on Vinted, or at my local vintage shop, and when buying new I go to H-O-R-S-E (their high V-neck tee & track pants are particularly good), Los Angeles Apparel (good for capri leggings & track shorts) or Jungmaven (great for hemp singlets, & leggings with a drawstring waist, so you won’t keep adjusting during class). In the weight room, I wear looser bottoms, like these ones by Alex Eagle, so I can squat and bend. And pair them with a smaller top, so nothing’s in the way when I lift; and yes, I like seeing my arms and abs in the mirror.
How do you wash your workout clothes?
Natural fibers don’t need special treatment, so I use a natural detergent and line dry everything, and vintage pieces only get better with more washes. Because none of it reads as “technical workout gear,” it all crosses over effortlessly: a cropped vintage tee works with denim, cotton sweatpants go under a vintage fur coat for errands, and my cotton bralettes double as everyday bras. My style icon is Brad Pitt’s character in the F1 movie: soft, worn-in and uninterested in plastic-y tech fabrics.
Visit Nadia’s Substack, here
Pilates and the City by Tammy
What type of workouts do you do?
As a Pilates instructor and mum of two under three, movement has to fit around real life. I do mat Pilates at home three to four times a week, one strength session, one run when possible, and lots of walks.
What do you wear?
I started working out again six weeks postpartum, and quickly learned most activewear isn’t built for breastfeeding or early postpartum bodies. I’m not big on matching sets, but I love a simple black top and bottom, layered with an oversized oxford shirt or a knit after class. I personally don’t like the look of a head to toe gym outfit on me, and I’m often heading straight on to do a bit of shopping, or to a coffee date with friends, so tend to combine activewear with ‘normal’ pieces from my wardrobe. For instance, leggings and an oversized sweatshirt or my Rag & Bone rugby sweatshirt with ballet flats. Or a boat-neck top with Skims flare leggings to elevate and mix things up. If I’m not in ballerinas, I usually wear my super lightweight ‘lucky’ ASICS GEL-1130 sneakers.
What about accessorizing?
Accessories, like a headband or scrunchie, just adds a personal touch and makes you look ready for the next activity.
I almost never use a gym bag, I just use one of my regular handbags instead, unless I really have a lot to take with me. I also wear studs instead of hoops, so I don’t need to think about removing jewelry before working out.
How do you wash your workout clothes?
I just wash my workout wear as normal, but merino wool is big in Scandinavia for working out in, and needs to go on a gentler cycle. But its natural fibers resist odor, so it needs washing less often anyway.
Visit Tammy’s Substack, here
—The Chosen One—
After much deliberation, I’ve decided on this:
I love the idea of natural fabrics against my skin for working out based on the sweat-and-absorption theory Nadia highlights above, so went for these GOTS certified organic cotton leggings (a sturdier replacement for my current ones), and matching sports bra. The leggings are full length, so reach beyond your ankles (elongating), and have a matte rather than glossy finish. (Note to self: they say they’re for “low impact activity,” can be machine washed cold (hallelujah) and should be air dried).
With fans whirring before we’ve done anything more than switch springs or clamp in the jump board, it can often start out cold in the pilates studio, and this merino mesh top is the perfect lightweight layer—I love it with these high vamp Italian leather ballet flats. And these grip socks are a non-negotiable.
What do you wear to work out?
Everything’s linked on Shopmy, here.
What stood out for me is how much more we value moving our bodies than before. I've always believed that looking good in a class makes me work even harder. Shallow? I think not! Glad to discover so many new to me labels in this post.
It’s so great to see what people who actually exercise and care about style wear for workouts!