Work It Out: How to Plan the Perfect Gym Outfit

Fear keeps 65% of women out of gyms, while 25% are afraid of being stereotyped, and 49% are concerned they’re not wearing the right clothes.

If you’ve ever prepared to go to the gym and thought, “What do I wear?” you’re not alone in that 49%!

So how do you craft the best gym outfit? In this article, we’re going to help you find the gear you’re looking for so you can be confident when walking through the doors of the gym.

Gym Outfit Tips for Looking and Feeling Your Best

You might think that it doesn’t matter what you wear to the gym as long as you’re comfortable.

In reality, what you wear can have a dramatic effect on your routine and performance. Good gym outfits keep you comfortable but also supported. The gym clothes you choose should aid your flexibility and mobility.

Let’s take a look at some gym attire and tips that will work for you.

1. Choose Moisture-Wicking Clothes

While cotton is indeed comfy, it fails at the gym. Cotton absorbs moisture and makes your clothes heavy and wet which is not what you need during your workout. After a while, that sweat will start to breed bacteria leaving possibilities for skin infections.

Aim for moisture-wicking clothes during your time at the gym. These fabrics are specially designed to pull moisture away from your skin keeping you drier than traditional cotton.

If you’re unsure what fabrics work well for you, check it out first before buying.

2. Bottoms

Gym pants come in a variety of different forms, so your best bet is to choose them based on the activity you’ll be doing. Yoga pants for yoga class, compression capris for spin class, and so on. Your bottoms should be comfortable and allow you a wide range of motion.

Some women enjoy wearing shorts with elastic, bike shorts, or something similar. You can choose to match your top and bottom, but it’s not necessary.

3. Leave the Icing at Home

Jewelry gives your outfit a little extra boost, but not with your gym clothes. It can be somewhat of a hazard or become lost during your workout.

Necklaces can beat against your chest or face during movement, or become tangled in earbuds. It’s challenging to hold weights with large rings, not to mention they could cause indentations or other serious damage to your hands or fingers.

If there’s jewelry you can’t part with, consider leaving it safely locked away in your home. Leaving it at home ensures that it’s safe and won’t become lost at the gym or injure you in any way.

4. A Well-Fitted Bra and Undergarments

Your everyday-underwire bra is not going to cut it at the gym. Many sports stores have several to choose from, but you’ll get the best fit by being professionally measured. Try on different styles while mimicking the movements you do at the gym to find the one that works for you.

Without proper support, your workout could be painful especially in your upper back and shoulders. If there’s one place you can splurge, it’s on a supportive sports bra.

Don’t forget about other undergarments. Lacey underwear has its place, but the gym isn’t it! Stretchy and comfortable is the way to go.

5. Fancy Footwear

An excellent supportive shoe is a key to a workout because lack of support can cause pain in the hips and knees. Try to stay away from wearing older shoes which may have lost their support overtime or have wear and tear. If you need to buy new shoes, look for ones that are not too tight, light, cooling, and offer you support for the type of workout you do.

As far as socks go, athletic socks work best because they keep your feet dry with moisture-wicking technology. Sock height depends on preference, and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a pair that you like.

6. Avoid Extreme Clothing Choices

Tight-fitted gym clothes restrict fullness of motion and flexibility. Compression clothes are good as they are healthy for your circulation, but going too tight makes your workout uncomfortable.

You can’t deny the breathability and coziness of loose-fitting clothes, but these are still not the best choice. One reason will be if you are training with a personal trainer who needs to review your form. When you wear baggy clothes, your form is hidden, and your trainer can’t help you.

A popular choice for women is tank tops with stretchy form-fitting fabrics that maintain a cool temperature and avoiding any tops that are low cut. Always check with your gym to make sure that you’re adhering to dress code.

7. Hair Up

Put the curling iron down! While not a clothing item, you don’t need to spend hours on your hair before heading to the gym. You can still look presentable by pulling it back nicely to keep it out of your face.

8. Best Face Forward

Same for make-up.

The problem with make-up at the gym is that when you work out your pores open up and sweat to keep you cool. Sweat combined with oils, dirt, and other bacteria build up on your skin right underneath your make up. This leads to clogged pores which turn into acne.

During your workout, a fresh face and a bit of sunscreen are sufficient. And don’t forget to cleanse afterward!

9. Think About Your Workout

Ultimately, the best workout clothes will be the ones that allow you to move with the activity you’re doing. Before you head to the gym or a class, ask yourself, “What should I wear when I’m doing (insert activity here)?” Most likely, you’ve done the activity before and know how comfortable you are.

10. Don’t Sweat It

At the gym, you’re there to focus on you. Worrying about your clothing selection shifts your perspective from taking care of you to what others think. Set aside your fears of what others will think of you and zero in on your workout and not your appearance.