With Olympic Fever building every day, I don't think sport has ever been trendier than it at this very moment. Whether you're into running, yoga, tennis, swimming, rock-climing or even pentathlons, there's no way around it: sport is hot right now.
It has definitely inspired me personally, as I decided a few months ago to start living a healthier lifestyle – I started with a gruelling 5-day juice detox, quit the overpriced gym I never went to and enlisted the help of my fantastic personal trainer Wayne, who's helping me change my shape and my attitude to sports in general. I'm not about to run a marathon anytime soon, but I'm in better shape than I've ever been in my entire life.
My drastic lifestyle change has left me with a huge dilemma though - what do I wear? Before, on my very sporadic workouts, I usually wore a pair of leggings with several holes with a stretched, old, oversized t-shirt usually reserved for laundry days and never to be seen in public. Don't judge – you know you've been there too!
But seeing as these days I probably spend more time in my gym kit than anything else, I want it too look good. Well - as good as lycra CAN look on a person. It's been a real journey but I've discovered so many amazing, affordable and great looking sportswear, it's become my latest obsession. My point of all of this is, a gym kit doesn't have to be unfashionable or expensive at all.
Whilst the first stop for most people would be to head for Nike or Adidas – who undeniably have some great stuff – it can get a bit pricey if you're buying as much as I am, so I've been looking for some great alternative brands. H&M have quietly launched a sportswear range, offering some lovely basics, and some more fashion-forward pieces (I do wonder how my trainer would react if I showed up in a gold metallic sports bra?), with most prices below a tenner.
Images via H&M
Gap also surprised me with their GapFit range – not only does it look really good, technically the clothes are as advanced as most major sports brands. I personally love the tops with the built-in bras and comfy fit of my running trousers. The beautiful Bar Rafaeli is the face of the range. If there was ever a motivation to start working out...
Sweaty Betty is also great for basics, whilst American Apparel is my go-to shop for hoodies and t-shirts. And of course, Adidas by Stella McCartney is by far the most fashionable sportswear out there – some pieces wouldn't even look out of place in my daily wardrobe – but it's definitely a bit more expensive. But we all deserve a treat sometimes, right?
Images via Adidas by Stella McCartney
At least now when I walk home after my workouts, I know it's just my purple-looking face people are staring at, not my questionable slogan T-shirts.
