Women's Exercise Attire

0 Comments Published by Paulla on Friday, April 08, 2005 at 5:45 PM.

In the 1970s, when I was in grade school, if I tagged along with my mom to the local gym while she did her stretches, I hardly noticed the attire. All the women wore long t-shirts, baggy shorts or maybe sweat pants. When I participated in field day at school, we often ran the 50-yard dash or did the long jump in bell bottoms.

Then the 80s happened. In high school I joined a gym with a friend to do aerobics, weight lifting, and mainly, to visit the tanning booth. We showed up in gym shorts and t-shirts for our first aerobics class, but we were way underdressed. All the women had big hair and were dressed in skimpy neon thong leotards with equally neon tights or stirrup pants. Make-up and jewelry were required. So we conformed and bought the ridiculous tight, colorful garb and did our aerobics in far less comfort, but with a lot more looks from the guys.

In the 90s when I was having babies, I discovered all-women’s gyms where I saw clones of my mother and her friends from the 70s, in long t-shirts and baggy sweats. It was very freeing and comfortable. Once in a while a skimpy young thing in tight neon still wondered in, but she never stayed long.

Today, there has been a wonderful new invention called “wicking material.” Wicking material “wicks” moisture away from your skin and causes it to evaporate almost immediately. From ultra-thin tank tops to t-shirts to fleeces and warm winter wear, wicking products are a must for anyone wanting to exercise these days. Just about any type of clothing needed for exercise is available; even socks and hats. Gone are the thongs and heavy tights. Modern women that we are, we get sleek pants, thin fitted shirts, and snug but thin micro fleece; and we get it all in every color of the rainbow. We look good.

Now I can go to the gym and do the treadmill for 30 minutes without having my cotton t-shirt stick to my back. I can jog down a wintry street or go skiing without having to throw off my sweaty gloves or leave my jacket unzipped. I can even wear neon if I so choose. Make-up and jewelry are optional.

0 Responses to “Women's Exercise Attire”

Languages

"I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men."
~Marlene Dietrich

Latest

Featured Writers

Become One!

FashBlog.com