Fashion editor Alice Keegan considers how our clothing choices may impact our ability to achieve our fitness-focused goals set for the New Year.
New Year's Resolutions. Love them or hate them, every December 31st our minds become preoccupied with them (along with other pressing issues including just how much glitter is too much glitter). Every year we inevitably commit ourselves to promises to be more active, spend more time in the gym, or pick up newer, healthier habits. If keeping these promises makes you feel more daunted than motivated, having a good collection of clothing and accessories in your wardrobe (or gym locker, gear bag, or even just your online wish list) may be the secret to sticking to these personal goals.
As you embark upon this well-travelled journey to a healthier lifestyle, how you choose to set out and achieve your personal fitness goals is completely up to you. With access to information related to the gym, health and wellness and more readily available and practically at your fingertips, you may resolve yourself to testing your body’s limits through yoga or Pilates, challenging yourself to a run a few times a week, or taking up a totally new sport/activity. Maintaining these resolutions can be challenging and it is estimated that most New Year's resolutions are abandoned by February. When considering this statistic, we may find ourselves wondering whether there are any ways we can combat this and prevent any negative feelings of failure or dissatisfaction/disappointment with ourselves.
Perhaps one key factor that often is overlooked in the pursuit of these goals is the unique contribution that activewear provides. Since the pandemic, people have been spending more time in activewear than ever before. Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, and Kaia Gerber are snapped more in leggings and sports bras than they are in mini dresses and skirts. Choosing the right activewear clothing and accessories can not only enhance your workout experience but can also be a source of motivation and inspiration.
Choosing the right activewear clothing and accessories can not only enhance your workout experience but can also be a source of motivation and inspiration.
By blending fashion and function, sticking to these sometimes seemingly insurmountable challenges can be made all the easier. An example of this would be opting for suitable footwear, accessories and clothing items that are both worth investing in and aesthetically appealing. It’s important to abandon any whims of "beauty is pain" and embrace the essentials - a good quality pair of runners will pay off massively with regards to their functionality, practicality, and usefulness. Brands such as Nike and New Balance have rightfully earned good reputations for their creation of performance-driven footwear, recognising the crucial aspect of footwear in fitness fashion. Whether your preference in terms of personal goals is running, weight-lifting, or more, selecting the appropriate athletic shoes can influence your overall performance. Comfort and endurance; though they may seem to be in opposition, these brands have found the key to make them co-exist.
It’s important to abandon any whims of "beauty is pain" and embrace the essentials - a good quality pair of runners will pay off massively with regards to their functionality, practicality, and usefulness.
Other brands currently experiencing acclaim include yoga attire brand Alo Yoga, adored by supermodels such as the Hadid sisters, while Lululemon is iconic in this current cultural sphere, taking pride of place in many TikTokers’ enormous and expansive wardrobes. However, it should be noted that these brands are extremely expensive, and whilst offering items with a flattering fit, comfortable construction and a plethora of lengths and styles, any brand will be infinitely more attractive, so it may be a good idea to branch out and explore lesser known (or less cost-effective) brands.
You could look at well-known brands such as Adidas and Nike (OGs in sportswear) and specific products they carry which may suit your needs. Nike offers a vast array of varying and versatile clothing. From cosy sweats to enjoy more laid-back workouts indoors, to reaching your fitness goals whatever the weather in warm puffers, they are experts at combining comfort and purpose. They also carry individual collections and unique additions to elevate your exercise ensemble. Puma, Champion, and Irish-owned businesses such as O’Neills are also budget-friendly without requiring gym goers to sacrifice quality or compromise comfort.
In this climate-conscious environment, it would also be worth your while to look at more eco-friendly options - so that if you fail to meet your fitness goals, you could make up for it morally by indulging in more ethical apparel. Tala, an activewear brand creates pieces made from recycled and natural materials. There is no need to spend half your paycheck in the more high-end retailers, rather there are affordable alternatives that are still valuable forms of athleisure. For instance, you could browse the pages of Depop sellers, or even your local charity shops such as Oxfam or St Vincent de Paul.
Marrying style with function is now a primary aim for athleisure brands, and today the market is flooded with fashionable options, delivered by retailers, including Under Armour and Puma. They provide a multitude of styles to cater to a wide variety of diverse tastes, preferences, and requirements. As we welcome this new year, we should do so with optimism about our goals, and the importance of activewear we actually like should be accounted for.