Workout attire for the mature woman

Hey ladies, if you were designing workout clothing, what would you do differently?
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Replies

  • Verdenal
    Verdenal Posts: 625 Member
    mgalvin12 wrote: »
    Hey ladies, if you were designing workout clothing, what would you do differently?

    Longer tank tops. I recommended them to a company called Title IX years ago but they never came out with anything. I recently bought a tank from Lululemon but it was ridiculously expensive.

    I'm mature now, but even when I was young I was always turned off by the tight, skimpy high-cut leotards and leggings look. I always wore a T shirt, shorts and/or running tights.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    Verdenal wrote: »
    mgalvin12 wrote: »
    Hey ladies, if you were designing workout clothing, what would you do differently?

    Longer tank tops. I recommended them to a company called Title IX years ago but they never came out with anything. I recently bought a tank from Lululemon but it was ridiculously expensive.

    I'm mature now, but even when I was young I was always turned off by the tight, skimpy high-cut leotards and leggings look. I always wore a T shirt, shorts and/or running tights.

    I feel like tank tops are so long already. They annoy me because the go around my belly and make me look pregnant. I always cut them shorter.
  • cenafan
    cenafan Posts: 398 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    CTcutie wrote: »
    Make tank tops NOT cling to mah belly!!

    Same.

    I'd like a pair of shorts that aren't corny and long to the knees, but that my *kitten* also does not eat. For now I pretty much can't wear them.

    Watch for lululemon clamdiggers. It's an older style but they may bring them back. Luon with a ribbed waistband and fit to the knee. One of my fav styles.

  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    I run to colour. My girlfriend, a contemporary, doesn't. I love spandex for leggings, and looser, wicking tops. Make sure there are little pockets.

    There is not a decent runner's windbreaker out there that isn't pink. I want a windbreaker that covers my butt.

    There's nothing more miserable than to come in from a cold run, sweating, with a frozen butt.

    And while you are at it, add reflective tape.

    Look into the Target C4 line of running jackets. They may hit your needs.
  • jlscherme
    jlscherme Posts: 157 Member
    I'm tall, I'd love to have just regular Medium sized t-shirts or tanks to be longer. 99.999% of all tops hit right in the middle of my butt. To get them longer, I have to get XL or XXL, or men's...and then they're baggy all over. Hate. I want my crotch and my butt covered.

    Also, another "tall" complaint: I would LOVE to find bike shorts, or just spandex shorts, that actually hit right above my knees, as they show in the PHOTO on the package. Due to long upper legs, these shorts hit several inches above my knee, so my excess lower-thigh flab bulges out at the bottom. GAWD I hate that. I've even bought Tall from Title IX spandex shorts (thinking their quality would translate into a correct tall fit), and they're still too short. I can't fold up capris, the lower hem is too tight when it reaches my lower thighs. Ugh.

    In essence, if a company decides to make a "tall" version of anything, can you not think of the truly tall women instead of this faux-tall?

    (jeans, too...."tall" sizes are still too short for me in most cases).

    JCPenney's Xersion brand and Made For Life brand carry tall women's. At 5'11'' they are almost too long!

  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    I run to colour. My girlfriend, a contemporary, doesn't. I love spandex for leggings, and looser, wicking tops. Make sure there are little pockets.

    There is not a decent runner's windbreaker out there that isn't pink. I want a windbreaker that covers my butt.

    There's nothing more miserable than to come in from a cold run, sweating, with a frozen butt.

    And while you are at it, add reflective tape.

    Look into the Target C4 line of running jackets. They may hit your needs.

    C9... oops

    https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=C9+jacket
  • Sunna_W
    Sunna_W Posts: 744 Member
    Hanes.com has some really comfortable clothing for men that I like for myself. They have: 100% cotton, tagless T-shirts (also long sleeved for cooler days -- these also make great sleep shirts); 100% cotton Jersey jams, with deep pockets (my i-Phone plus fits and I safety pin it closed) and draw strings (I cut them and make shorts for the summer); and their women's bras (Hanes Women's Constant Comfort™ X-Temp® ComfortFlex Fit® Pullover Bra 2-Pack - which go to 3X) are also very comfortable.

    If you are the creative type, you can also decorate the shirts and pants and make them more girly by sacrificing one of the colored T-shirts for appliques and stripes. So, for the price of a pair of Lululemon yoga pants and a Saturday afternoon, you could have some really cute and highly functional work out clothing.

    Ref: http://www.instructables.com/id/Monstrously-Easy-Applique-on-T-Shirts-and-More/

  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I would like to not display the company logo.
    I like solid colors not patterns or lots of writing. More color choices between black or neon pastels would be nice.
    I like the fit of Danskin Now activewear pretty well.
  • mgalsf12
    mgalsf12 Posts: 350 Member
    Thank you all for the feedback. How do you all feel about wearing skin tight pants in public? I think I look good, but I see other women and I can't help think that it looks like they forgot their skirt! Any thoughts?
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,185 Member
    I don't like or wear shorts, leggings or "compressing" pants for working out so I find my choice of pants very limited, and that really annoys me. I have three straight legs pants (one for cooler months) and I take care off them like a baby. I am also short and petite so getting something in my size is like looking for a needle in a haystack. All the workout gear is made for body types that only exist in the brochures or the runway. I don't have or buy special tops for the gym; I just wear whatever is getting too old to wear in the street.

    I don't run or jog, but I did buy a nice sport bra at Soma on line and I may get another one later. They are not cheap, but they are pretty and worthy.

    @mgalvin12
    I am not fond of tight clothing, specially pants. I am short, a small pear shape and old, and I firm believer that women need to dress according to their shape and to certain extent, according to their age. Some ladies can wear tight pants in public with a nice long tunic, and some wear them anyway regardless of their body type or other people opinions. I can't so I don't.

    This is what I believe and stand for but women can, and they will, dress the way they like or want. But since you asked, I am giving you my opinion.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    I wouldn't wear leggings in public without a long shirt. I have a nice enough rear, but a lot of loose belly flab due to 90 lb weight loss, and it needs a little help to look good.
  • VegasFit
    VegasFit Posts: 1,232 Member
    I'm pretty happy with my workout bottoms but I stick to Nike or Old Navy compression. As far as tops go I'm a tank top person cause I feel constricted in anything else. Not that I have been cycling I can appreciate a back large pocket big enough for my cell phone because a few tank top options like that for when I am lifting solo at the gym would be nice. Since I tend to work out in the mornings I do run errands afterwards in my workout clothes. It's very common to see. Unless I was already working out for the day I wouldn't put on workout clothes to just go out in.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    mgalvin12 wrote: »
    Thank you all for the feedback. How do you all feel about wearing skin tight pants in public? I think I look good, but I see other women and I can't help think that it looks like they forgot their skirt! Any thoughts?

    I don't usually exercise in public.
    I would feel fine wearing knit activewear leggings or shorts to exercise in public though. My pants seem thick enough to me not to look like tights missing a skirt. I would probably wear a looser hip length shirt.
  • WanderingRivers
    WanderingRivers Posts: 612 Member
    capaul42 wrote: »
    Real pockets. Not these tiny little pockets you can't put anything in.

    AMEN!
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    cenafan wrote: »
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    CTcutie wrote: »
    Make tank tops NOT cling to mah belly!!

    Same.

    I'd like a pair of shorts that aren't corny and long to the knees, but that my *kitten* also does not eat. For now I pretty much can't wear them.

    Watch for lululemon clamdiggers. It's an older style but they may bring them back. Luon with a ribbed waistband and fit to the knee. One of my fav styles.

    I think I have those actually. They're the best I've tried yet, still a LITTLE long.
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    I'm 62. Right now I wear leggings, a sports bra, and some kind of shirt. If my middle trims out I would wear a shimmel with no issues. And I went to the grocery this evening straight from the gym.
  • Skipjack66
    Skipjack66 Posts: 102 Member
    Really what I want is a good workout bra. I'm 6' tall and I haven't been able to find a bra for YEARS. Because my torso is so long, it means my bust line is MUCH lower than a shorter woman. So all those "throw over your head" bras don't work for me because they end at the middle of my boobs. And because I am a swimmer I have really large shoulders, so if I actually manage to get one of those things over my head, then I'll never get it off without dislocating my shoulders. Currently I'm wearing ten year old bras. They are pretty sad looking things.

    And if we are on the tall thing, longer everything. Longer sleeves, longer tops, longer pants, longer tights, longer shoes, longer shorts. A longer bike shirt would be nice too, which would mean the pocket starts at my low back instead of at my bra line. I'm "mature" at 51, but what I really want is stuff that fits my frame. But if you want specifically mature fashion - I'm less likely to wear neon or patterned tights. Gimme solid black or grey. But lap swimming swimsuits? Gimme all the crazy colours!! Yes to high cut, but a little longer please so they don't creep up my butt while flip turning. Just no giant back cutouts that come around to the sides, cuz they don't flatter quite the same as on a young thing.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    mgalvin12 wrote: »
    Thank you all for the feedback. How do you all feel about wearing skin tight pants in public? I think I look good, but I see other women and I can't help think that it looks like they forgot their skirt! Any thoughts?

    I almost always run some errand or other after the gym, and I'm not changing, so I'll be wearing my leggings/capris to the store often. Never bothered me. I do throw on my sweater as it gets chilly being sweaty by all the fridges.