Proper gym attire is pretty important in my book. Appropriate gym attire is even more important. I often get questions about this topic from my friends and I answer with the same answer every time, “be comfortable.” I was recently at my gym and I asked myself that question again. I gazed around looking at my fellow gym patrons and began my analysis. I came to the conclusion of some definite do’s and don’t’s.
Do
- Wear comfortable clothes.
- Wear good shoes, splurge and spend the extra money on good workout shoes.
- If you are a heavy sweater wear a hat or sweatband.
- Bring a towel if don’t prefer a the latter two.
- Wear a synthetic, the new gym clothes are better at whisking away sweat and keeping you cooler than regular cotton.
- Look good buy some new things. When you go to the gym you need to be confident otherwise you waste your time.
Don’t
MEN
- Wear your shirt from high school with holes and sweat stains.
- Wear a shirt that is too short-I don’t care how good of shape you are in, the short shirts are not cool
- Wear short shorts. If you are a runner its okay to wear them, if you are working out and not a runner wearing short shorts, the fact is, sometimes people can see what they do not what to see.
- Wear underwear or compression shorts please. Why, go one tip back.
- Wear flannel cut-offs, leave that to the comedian.
- Wear boots or any other shoes that are steel toed.
- Tennis shoes from when you used to be in shape or when you used to run your six minute mile.
- Wait a week to wash your workout clothes– Every other day is acceptable, given the degree of your workouts.
- Wear a small back tank top and be out of shape. It is not flattering. Rule of thumb for tank tops—You must be in great shape, muscles big and lots of them. If you are one of those small tiny guys who’s ribs stick further out than your abs, its a no go. If you are over 300lbs and not Ronnie Colemanesque its a no go. I know you are probably comfortable but make the tank top a goal to wear some day.
- Wear the big massive headphones that voer your whole ear.
- Wear cologne or anything you think makes you smell better. It stinks and is distracting.
- Wear your sag your shorts with your boxers at your waist. Seriously that is awful.
- Wear wife-beaters.
Women
- See most of above.
- Wear perfume
- Wear the spandex with the thong part on the outside. Its not cool.
- Big 1980’s socks are out too.
- Wear your husbands or boyfriend’s 3XL shirt. Its too big and looks extremely tacky.
All in all how you dress is your perogative, however be cautious. Being comfortable and being too comfortable is different. Dress appropriately if your pants are falling down or your shirt is obviously too small people will notice, in turn you will feel more awkward.
