Get dressed to shed excess

As long as it's comfortable, your garb shouldn't matter a jot, but given that most of us mind rather a lot what we look like, and may be feeling sensitive about the extra pounds amassed over the winter, the choice of exercise kit becomes quite a significant one.

The good news is that there is now a great range of choice of fitness clothing that is feminine, colourful and functional, but doesn't sink to the revealing crop tops and scanty shorts favoured by television stars promoting exercise DVDs.

We want to look presentable, competent and appropriate, and, as ever, there are plenty of images of famous faces exercising and looking great to inspire us.

Elle Macpherson is a fine example of how to dress for exercise, whether in revealing sleeveless t Men Nike Free 3.0 Run + 2S ops and Lycra leggings, or in layered, long sleeve T shirts and slim trackpants.

As is Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, who can make a plain T shirt and running shorts look great (the slick ponytail, the shades and the fabulous legs help). Geri Halliwell tends to play it low key in sleek, black, close fitting workoutwear, light years away from the bright, shouty stage costumes for which she used to be known.

, oddly, tends to look a bit of a scruff when snapped outside in her jogging kit. Even her extraordinarily well honed body can't make baggy, three quarter length trackpants and shapeless sweatshirts look good, something that we should all remember.

From a practical point of view, what to wear depends on what you are doing. For jogging, you want leggings or running tights that don't flap around your ankles. Look for tops free from c Men Nike Free TR Fit hafing seams. Also recommended is hi tech material that wicks away sweat, rather than clinging to your skin in a sodden mass. Dress on the onion principle, in layers that can be peeled off as you warm up, though you will then need to tie them around your waist.

, you need kit that will stretch in all directions and fit you fairly closely. Your instructor needs to be able to see what your body is doing. Also, should you choose to stand on your head, you don't want a top that falls down to your armpits, blinding you and revealing your midriff. Nor do you want anything too skimpily cut, or else when you bend double it will ride up your back or over your hips.

Dress codes vary. In my local formerly council run gym, the majority of the clientele is male, thesort who like to push weights. No one wears anything more exciting or colourful than a navy T shirt. At the slick, whitewashed premises of Tenpilates in Notting Hill, west London, the kit is deliberately body conscious to show off the lean, sculpted muscles that the classes create. Jemima Khan, one of the regulars, does a nice line in snug leggings and several clinging, but demurely layered, purple vests.

Plenty of serviceable kit among the mainstream brands can be found on the high street, but if you're looking for something with a little more flare, seek out new specialist ranges such as the women's running wear from Thoosa. "I have a real passion for running," says Caroline McNally, who started the company. "But I found that functional yet stylish running apparel was surprisingly hard to find. Women's running clothes all seemed to be designed for men, but in smaller sizes."

SweatyBetty, founded 1 0 years ago for much the same reasons, now has 25 branches nationwide and inspires passionate loyalty among its fans (Elle Macpherson loves the stuff and has even been spotted outside the Kensington shop waiting patiently for it to open). SweatyBetty also stocks ski clothes and swimming costumes, plus the collection Stella McCartney designed for Adidas. It's so fashionable you'd hardly dare wear it for exercise.

If you like to look sporty outside the gym, the latest boots to own are Mukluks from Fitflop. Snug as

but much better for your feet, they have a built in "wobbleboard" in the midsole to make the body's stabilising muscles work harder as you walk. Such is their popularity that they are selling on eBay for far more than their retail price.

Posted by: runningasd21 at 03:36 AM | Comments (24) | Add Comment
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