Working up a sweat in activewear

Kit out in activewear that will make you want to work up a sweat, writes Christina Kuntz.

Some people will roll their eyes at the idea of spending money on “cute” workout gear. After all, if the whole point is to get your blood pumping and work up a sweat, does it really matter if your singlet or your shoes are stylish?

Well, that depends. If you have no problem dragging your butt out of bed in the morning to hit the gym, then no, it probably doesn’t matter what you wear.

But for those of us who require a little extra motivation to get off the couch, a funky pair of running tights could make all the difference.

It’s no secret that clothes can impact your confidence and make you feel good

(or bad) about yourself, and activewear is no exception. In fact, a study in 2012 showed that what you wear actually changes how you act (known as “enclothed cognition”, if you want to get technical).

In other words, if you love your new sports top, you’re more likely to want to wear it. And once you’re wearing it, you’re more likely to want to be active. Heck, it might even boost your performance, if it makes you feel more confident.

Remember Serena Williams’ “Black Panther” catsuit that caused such an uproar at the French Open? She said it made her feel “like a superhero”. She then followed it up with a tutu – a small act of rebellion that proved she’s well aware of the power of clothing, both on and off the court.

The good news is that there is no need for athletes (or wannabe athletes) to compromise function for fashion. These days, stylish sportswear is easy to find, whether at LuluLemon or Lorna Jane or good ol’ Rebel Sport.

Even celebrities are getting in on the game – Gigi Hadid and Victoria Beckham have done collections with Reebok, Kate Hudson has her Fabletics line and Beyonce has her Ivy Park range, to name a few.

If you really want to be on trend, just look to the fashion runways for inspiration. The retro trend is alive and well in activewear. Bold 80-style tracksuits are making a comeback, and even sportswear can’t escape the leopard print that has taken over this season.

Ruffles, mesh cut-outs and cropped sweatshirts continue to be popular, and bike shorts – those Kardashian favourites – are finally back in sportswear (where they belong).

When in doubt, go for something fun with a cool print or bright colours – that should help get you off the couch (and maybe even into a spin class).