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What to wear: functional, fashion-forward running (Part 1)

Posted May 31, 2007 at 02:15 PM by Jessica Galvano

Section: Her Gear & Apparel, Special Features

This is the first part in a series on activewear for active women.  In this part, Jessica Galvano focuses specifically on your running fashion needs.

You have the motivation, the early morning wake-up was easier than you had imagined, and an energizing breakfast has lifted any lingering lethargy. You’re ready for all but one thing: what to wear. The last step in preparing for a run . . . but this step can also be the most time consuming. The question of “what to wear” only makes getting out the door more difficult; with weather, comfort, and style complicating the decision, a seemingly thoughtless process can quickly become a demanding chore.

The quick answer to the “what to wear” dilemma: great clothes! A simple enough solution in theory, but the reality that clothes are designed for the “typical” runner makes actually finding great running attire a daunting task. Let’s face it: while some of us may fall into the “typical” category, most of us do not. Even with the expanding market of athletic apparel, clothes that suit your body and personal style are difficult, if not virtually impossible to find.

Enter most major athletic stores, for instance, and you find yourself in a dichromatic sea of baby pink and sky blue. While this pastel palette compliments some, for others (myself included), such colors only manage to dull skin tones and induce nausea: what convinces manufacturers that women desire the colors of infancy, anyway? And even if some do prefer the pinks and blues, where’s the variety, the functionality?

The ultimate key to a practical running wardrobe is synthetics; these fabrics are the most breathable and they dry the fastest—qualities that apply most obviously to tops, but that are equally important in bottoms. With synthetic clothing in no short supply—countless manufacturers now market women’s activewear—so the issue is not a lack of availability, but a lack of style and function. Running may be our first priority, but who’s opposed to looking cute and feeling comfortable before the sweating and wheezing set in?

Fortunately, some companies are beginning to produce running apparel that has a broader appeal. Well-known brands like Nike, once a major proponent of the pastel runner, now acknowledge that many female athletes are donning brighter colors and bolder patterns. Embracing this new demand for diversified running clothing, Nike offers apparel in a variety of seasonal styles and shades. For summer, Nike’s “NikeSportsTee Crew” is available in twenty colors and their ever-popular “Tempo Track Short” is now offered in fifteen shades to coordinate perfectly, satisfying the active fashionista in all of us.

Priced at $25, the “NikeSportsTee Crew” is a welcome alternative to the traditional sweat-absorbing cotton t-shirt; made of Nike’s Dri-Fit fabric, this semi-fitted, breathable tee—also available in a tank top for $20—is a great basic for any runner’s wardrobe. Available for preview at www.nikewomen.com or for purchase online at www.nikestore.com, these colorful options can brighten up your run without a trip to the store.

For less widely advertised (though equally high-quality) brands of women’s running clothing, sites such as www.athleta.com and www.marika.com offer the same convenience of shopping from home. From Athleta, a $49 “Seamless Run Tank” boasts seamless construction and quick-drying synthetic fabrics along with a stylish yet subtle multi-tonal design. Another seamless tank option, Marika’s “Seamless Strip Tank”, which retails for $34, similarly unites fashion and function with crisp horizontal stripes and an athletic fit that reduces chafing.

If fitted tops aren’t your thing, Hind makes a lightweight, looser fitting tank that features UV protection; the “Ultralite Tank” comes in eight vibrant colors and can be purchased at www.activasports.com. At $25, Hind’s tank is an affordable top that ensures cool and comfortable summer training. Committed to selling “active gear for powerful women”, Activa sells both widely marketed and harder-to-find brands of women’s apparel including (but not limited to) Moving Comfort, Scout Performance, and Asics.

Sports bra selection aside (see the article “Attention Female Runners: Sports Bra 101” for more information about sports bras), tops are usually the relatively painless part of putting together a successful running wardrobe—bottoms, on the other hand, oftentimes require more thought. Should they be shorts or capris? Loose or fitted? Liner or no liner? With or without pockets? Mostly based on personal preference, there is no “best” choice for bottoms. Nike’s $28 “Tempo Track Short”, however, has earned a reputation as a solid option; with Dri-Fit moisture-wicking technology and an internal pocket for keys or cards, these shorts are a warm-weather favorite.

As an alternative to the Tempo’s looser fit, CW-X designs running tights that have the additional benefit of providing support to key muscle groups. The “3/4 Conditioning Tight” hits below the knee, supporting the hamstrings, knees, and IT-band while a shorter style, CW-X’s “Pro Fitshort” hits upper-thigh with focused support on the lower back and hips. The advantages of added support will, however cost you, so be prepared for prices around $70 for the 3/4 length tights and $48 for the shorts. For these suggestions and more CW-X gear, visit www.seejanerunsports.com or www.paragonsports.com.

A more everyday spandex, Athleta’s “Walkabout Knicker” is a great 3/4 length tight; featuring a hip pocket with a convenient zip closure, these tights ensure that the belongings you take on your run make it as far as you do. As part of Athleta’s own running collection, the “Walkabout Knicker” sells for $49 at www.athleta.com. 

While a run itself can sometimes seem daunting, the right clothes can drastically restore momentarily faltering enthusiasm to former zeal. Getting ready is half the battle. So, toss out your old cotton t-shirt and opt for one of the functional and stylish options now on the market. Once in your running attire, there is only one thing left to do: enjoy your run!

Photo 1: Nike Tempo Short
Photo 2: Hind Ultralite Tank

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Tags: women's running clothes, activewear, asics, athleta, capris, cw-x, dri-fit, fashion, hind, marika, moving comfort, nike, nike tempo short, nike women, scout performance, technical clothing, uv protection

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