I consider myself a fashionista. In real life and in my running life. I may be a Skirtsports Ambassador, but I wore them before I became an ambassador and even if they didn’t continue to choose me as an ambassador, no doubt I’d continue to work as an unofficial ambassador.
Today I am joining up with the Friday Five 2.0 from Fairytales & Fitness and Rachel @ Running on Happy and sharing five reasons I think stylish running clothes are important — way beyond just looking good. Some of my points are obvious; and some might just get you thinking — in which case, I’ve done my job.
Why Not?
There are cute workout clothes at pretty much every price point. So why shouldn’t you look good when you work out? If money is an issue, hit up Kohls (even if I really don’t like that store for reasons I’m not going to go into right now) or Target.
Generally people with poor self esteem are the ones in the men’s shorts and baggy tops — which doesn’t make them invisible like they hope it will. Of course it’s true there’s some people who simply don’t care, but keep reading my next point.
If you look good, you feel good
It’s true. I truly did not feel like a runner when I first started running. Which is not unusual. Dressing in cute clothes helped me with the old “fake it til you make it” mentality.
But it runs deeper than that. Cute clothes can boost your confidence — they truly can. They can make you feel powerful. Fast. Gazelle-like. Even if you really aren’t!
I worked hard for this body
And I still work hard for it. Not that working hard will ever make me a Cameron Diaz, but still, I lost a lot of weight and I’ve kept it off (so far, knock on wood). So why would I cover up with baggy, black, unflattering workout clothes?
You don’t have to follow me long to realize that I don’t. And there’s another benefit of stylish running clothes, a serious one: I get ribbed a lot — by friends, by my husband, by people in my running group — that they can see me coming from a mile away.
Good, I say! That’s important. Maybe that driver will see you, too. Or maybe those people will remember your colorful outfit if, God forbid, anything ever happens to you on the run.
Stylish clothes are usually well made
I’m a firm believer in you get what you pay for. It doesn’t always follow that more expensive clothes are better made, but most of the time, that’s the truth. Not only are they better made, but they’ll last for years, too.
I have very few running clothes that have worn out. Which is why my drawers are bursting with running clothes!
Function first
My holy grail — in workout clothes and shoes — is functional. If it’s not comfortable, if it doesn’t offer the pockets I need (no matter how many I have, it seems like I’m always running out of space to stash stuff!), then I don’t care how cute it is (maybe).
The good news is that when a company takes the time to make workout clothes cute, they often put a lot of thought into making them functional, too. Pockets in all the right places. Ports for headphones. Shorts that don’t ride up. Just enough compression to support your muscles.
I hope I’ve convinced you that looking good on the run is about so much more than just looking cute. That it can help your self esteem and confidence, make runs easier, and might even just save your life.
So let me know in the comments:
All black or all the colors?
Did you ever think your running clothes could save you?
Do you have to match (ever worn mismatched socks — I haven’t!)?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Yes, indeed, I’m all about the fashion 😉 I agree, it’s the less-confidant peeps in the baggy clothing, and I want to give them a hug…and hand them a fitted tank top LOL
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I know, — I often try to say something nice to those people on the run, because I’ve been in their shoes. Weight/body image/self esteem is something I’ve struggled with my entire life.
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I totally agree with your theory! It’s fun to look good cus you DO feel better. For the longest time I did not buy any running tops because I had SO many from races and I wore them. I don’t feel as great in them as when I wear a stylish tank.
Thanks for linking up!
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Oh, I was the same way with running tops! I wear my race tees to walk the dogs . . .
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I do love me some cute running clothes!
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😉
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I totally agree with “If you look good, you feel good”. I don’t consider myself a “fashionista”, but i do love my cute running clothes!
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Who doesn’t want to look cute? 🙂
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Fashion is not my “thing” but I do like what I like — which is usually bright colors. They make me feel better. I love my Gym Girl SportSkirt but wish it was a tad shorter.
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I agree about bright colors — sometimes you have to bring your own sunshine
Shorter, really? Well, you do have the legs for it! I wonder if you’d like the Jette skirt? It’s one of the shorter ones. It’s super cute. And it just happens to be on sale. 🙂
I actually really like it, but I find the grippers can cause chafing for me on long runs (or if it’s really hot) so I usually only wear them for shorter runs. I wouldn’t think you’d have that problem, our builds are very different, but of course I don’t know.
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Colors, for sure….especially purple 🙂 My socks always match each other even if they don’t match the rest of the outfit.
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I have seen runners with mismatched socks. Usually they’re busy moms. 🙂
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I typically wear black bottoms and all of the color for the top (my running drawers are overflowing with blue tops – I need to branch out). I love to match! I have a plethora of colorful socks that I coordinate with my clothes and shoes!
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I rarely wear black at all these days, but at least you’re wearing some colors. 🙂
I do try to match socks, but sometimes contrast is good too!
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I’m with you on looking good. I’ve always matched my tennis clothes and most players do not. My motto was “If I don’t play good, at least I can look good.” The same theory has carried over to running. I do see many of the faster runners that wear whatever. Would you trade that for looking good??? Probably yes.
I love Skirt Sports and I am happy to be an ambassador because their prices are out of my budget (even sales) but you can still look good shopping at Target. I do not wearing running skirts, however, unless I’m running.
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Would I trade cute clothes for running faster? Why can’t I have both? 🙂
I totally agree that there are cute clothes at all price points (as I mentioned). Actually, I buy regular clothes there too!
I’m sitting in a skirtsports skirt as I type, even though today is not a running day. They’re awesome for dogwalking. For Hiking. Some you could definitely wear to work (but obviously not all).
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There are some styles that I could wear but I only buy ones for running (GGU).
You could have both. But I’m saying that some runners and many are really fast do not care what they wear especially the running clubs. They wear their club tank and black compression shorts for every single race.
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But OTOH, some Olympians really do care!
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Never seen an elite running in a skirt. I might not either if I had their thighs.
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But they pay attention to their hair, their makeup, their nails . . .
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I love my Running Skirts because they don’t ride up. I wear compression shorts under skirts and shorts, and the shorts can ride up at times. The skirts don’t.
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And rightly so! If it feels good, wear it! I say if they can see you a mile away, that’s awesome. “She came, we saw, she conquered!”
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That would make a good tshirt. 🙂
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I still prefer black, but thanks to SkirtSports (and Sparkle Skirts) I have branched out some 🙂 I do tend to buy bright yellow running shoes though!
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I try to match my shoes to the majority of my running clothes. 🙂 But I’ll be mismatched too — function over form!
I do love Sparkleskirts too. That’s funny that you like both black & sparkeskirts. )
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You always look stylish! I rarely match (another reason I love black!) Haha!
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Ooh tell me why you don’t like Kohl’s! I love Kohl’s, but I like to hear the scoop. 😉
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Nah, it’s a long story. Very poor customer service. They have nice stuff, just hope you don’t ever have a problem that requires some service!
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I have some color but I can safely say I am not making any fashion statement with what I wear. Our local Kohl’s doesn’t carry good compression pants & I wish they did. I did find some running clothes in TJ Max that were reasonable.
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Target’s Champion line is really good. I rarely find good running clothes at TJs or Marshalls — regular clothes, yes, but not running clothes.
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Usually I like to look good, but mainly black leggings. I tried some coloured/patterned ones but they make my bum/tum look so massive that I only wear them indoors on the treadmill now! For summer I have 2 matching shorts/tops combos that I like- I wear them for holiday runs. If I wore them for parkrun I’d feel like I looked like a bimbo!!!!😆
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I don’t think there’s anything wrong with black leggings per se (except maybe int he summer). But I think you get my drift.
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So I would have previously politely disagreed, until this Christmas. I usually by running clothes (often with the tags still on) at used clothing stores. So none of them match. But I like it because is something rubs me funny I can just re-donate it. But this Christmas my fiancé, who doesn’t love my mismatched style BTW, bought me like 15 winter running items that all match each other. He asked a girl that worked there what she would want and then bought everything she suggested. Anyway it sure is fun to look cute while you’re out there! Lesson learned.
As for visibility I try to buy nothing black since I do run at night sometimes. But I add a reflective headband and ankle straps, a headlamp, led light bar across my chest and a flashing blue light on my back. Perhaps honey has a point about the outfits after all!
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Glad you have some cute running clothes now!
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