J'AIME January 2018

FA S H I O N
Get active!
NEED A BOOST TO KICKSTART YOUR NEW YEAR FITNESS REGIME? AMY NORBURY
ROUNDS UP SOME OF THE MOST STYLISH SPORTSWEAR OPTIONS WHICH MAY JUST
CONVINCE YOU THAT IT’S TIME TO HIT THE GYM
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LET’S face it, for the next few months our mornings
are going to be cold, dark and dreary. Therefore, the
last thing we want to do is haul ourselves out of bed
an hour earlier in order to go to the gym, right?
Well, tracking down some fashion forward, functional
threads may just help to convince you otherwise.
Investing in some hot new gym wear is a sure-fire
way to up your motivation levels and fill you with
the enthusiastic energy you need to kickstart your
training regime.
Forget the dull grey jogging bottoms of yesteryear,
today you can make a real fashion statement while
you’re pounding the pavements or pumping iron.
In recent years sportswear has taken on a seriously
stylish tone - and no more so than at Puma, where
they welcomed none other than pop superstar and
style icon Rihanna as creative director. Her Fenty x
Puma range has seen sportswear cross over into high
fashion, becoming a hit all over the catwalks and
seeing designers such as Alexander Wang follow in
the ‘althleisure’ trend which incorporates sportswear
into everyday dressing.
While the Rihanna influence has created a stunning
collection, if not all that practical for participating
in actual sports, Puma’s latest collaboration with
American singer and actress Selena Gomez has been
designed with performance in mind. The Phenom
collection, which hit the shops just last month,
combines a gorgeous aesthetic with technology which
keeps comfort, support and manoeuvrability at the
forefront.
So what do you need to look out for when you’re
shopping for your new gym wardrobe?
When it comes to trainers, fit and functionality are
everything. Poorly fitted trainers can do more harm
than good, so it’s important to get fitted properly
to ensure your kicks of choice are suitable for the
activity you’re doing, be it high-impact sports,
running or gentler sessions in the gym.
For effective exercising, comfort is key. There’s
nothing worse than feeling restricted in your workout
by unsuitable clothing. Opt for leggings and vests
which fit closely to the body for maximum range
of movement and look out for functional materials
which draw sweat away from your body to keep
you dry and comfortable throughout your training
session. A solid sports bra is a must too, whatever
your size.
And if you’re going to be road running in the dark
then neon colours are a funky, fashionable and also
safety-conscious choice since brights make you more
easily spotted.
Tick the boxes for comfort and style and you’ll be
ready to hit the ground running - and probably want
to stay in your gymwear all day long.
TECHNICAL VELVET
SPORTS BRA, £65,
LEGGINGS, £98,
AND TOP, £120,
EVERY SECOND
COUNTS