I had an epiphany at a party the other day – I was talking to my friend Liz about the capsule wardrobe series and she said that she “wished” she could wear her gym kit more often because it was so comfortable.
And I said “But Liz, why don’t you just, you know… WEAR IT?” and she said “Well, I don’t want to stay in sweaty gym kit but I feel like a fraud wearing it if I’m not going to the gym.”
And my mouth… fell… OPEN, ladies and gentleman. A fraud? A FRAUD? I wanted to shake her… but Liz Liz LIZ!!! Just think of the years of discomfort you have suffered by not wearing your gym kit just because you are worried about being a fraud! Be a fraud. Join me in fraudulence.
Come on seriously, how many of you out there ARE THERE who are not taking at least one or two days of the week to legit just wear sportswear, with no intention of doing any sports?
Because this really is the key to life and happiness. Good sportswear, mixed with non-sport items is a specific look, some people call it “athleisure” but you don’t have to. It has been for a few years and will continue to be.
If you don’t do this already, as part of your wardrobe I really recommend you have at least one smart sportswear outfit and allow yourself to wear it even though you never plan to break into anything more than a light sweat (of fear) when your toddler busts for the road.
All my stuff could do with being replaced, but I can’t really justify it. But if I was building a boss sportswear wardrobe from scratch I would get these:
Still the boss of the legging, Lululemon makes some kind of magic 4-way stretch material that ensure these are comfy, non-saggy, non-digging. Also really expensive but genuinely the best. I tried some on once but couldn’t afford them.
I also once a year buy myself 3 brand new pairs of TopShop 3/4 length black leggings and wear these, too. There are all sorts of mental splattery-patterned kind of sports leggings around at the moment but for true capsule wearability, get something nice and plain. My Sweaty Betty ones are covered in butterflies – embarrassingly so, and so I wear them inside out so they look plain blue.
Sports Bra
Now this is a minefield and I am no expert – for serious jumping up and and down I have an old Nike thing that does the job – but my boobs are not huge.
Spikers, do you have any recommendations for brilliant sports bras for those with really massive tits?
Long vest
I have a very long back, which means that I cannot wear leggings and a t-shirt for fear of exposing to the world a very unflattering view of my personnage. On sportswear days I have to layer over leggings and sports bra one of these Hush vests, which are very long and cover anything up you’d rather people didn’t see.
Sweatshirt
I love sweatshirts. I have three – a coral one from Gap, a navy blue one from John Lewis and one that says NAVY on it that my sister got me from America.
The shops are not overloaded with good sweatshirts at the moment. Obviously I am looking for something completely plain, no writing or zips or patterns or anything. This needs to be an incognito item you can wear over and again.
I found this from H&M:
There is this “cute” sweatshirt from asos but I worry it’s a little too short to be truly flattering:
This looks good from Jack Wills – just a simple restrained logo, no-one will be able to tell where you got it from.
The key thing to look for when getting a sweatshirt are that the fabric isn’t too thick – no point in adding bulk where bulk is not needed AMIRITE LADIES.
For full athleisure effect, mix sportswear with non-sportswear items.
So if you have gone for an ice-white trainer, wear those with this sporty kit. Sometimes I will wear the leggings and the long vest and the trainers, but with a denim shirt over the top.
Don’t forget your accessories! Your gold Dinny Hall hoops and a good pair of sunglasses will add an unexpected and rakish air to the entire thing.
If it’s cooler, wear the entire ensemble with a denim or leather jacket on top. Or in the winter with a very smart town coat. I have it in my mind that Karlie Kloss might do something like this, but I may be making that up.
I am well endowed in the chest area and bravissimo is my go to for sports bras. So supportive.
Can I point out that this is also the basis for an excellent city holiday (I know I know – no pool or sunbathing involved) capsule wardrobe! Combining existing Spike capsule and activewear items = perfect sightseeing/schlepping around a museum outfits! 🙌🏻
Also for sports bras – Panache Sport 5021 – yes I’m being specific – is the dream!
Oh, and plain sweatshirts FTW! Bonds do BRILLIANT plain, good quality, cheapies!
Freya sports bra is absolutely brilliant. Péter jones/John lewis sell them. loving this series thank you so much x
Check out Lorna Jane, too. An Aussie brand that is beginning to make its way out from the antipodes.
My comment disappeared before – but I would really recommend Nimble Activewear from Aus. They’re the bomb, do the whole ‘four way’ thingy but are much, much cheaper. Good designs too – nice black / navy options as well as the whole patterned trend!
Love this! Thank you. Always feel too guilty (re the fraud thing) to wear leggings on the tube. Can you do a piece on leather jackets please? So many out there right now, so many unnecessary straps and buckles.
Go directly to All Saints! Do not pass GO xxx
The massive-knockered NEED a Shock Absorber Ultimate Run Bra. It is a work of genius. And I have tried a lot. If I am doing super serious exercise or have just had a baby I wear this with a cheap, tight M&S Santoni crop top over the top to make sure everything is compressed!
I have massive tits and have recently discovered, to my delight, that M& S do a huge range of sports bras that zip up at THE FRONT! This is a revelation as I now don’t need to struggle for 20 mins whilst trying to hook up the back of my super strong elastic sports bra round the back. ✔️
I could write an essay on sports bras for those cursed with big boobs (30G is my personal affliction). I favour compression, the panache 5021 mentioned is great but it separates and makes them look prominent, never what I want. I wear it with racer back vests for spin class, but it doesn’t work for me when I’m doing something with more movement, or when trying to create a vaguely normal shillouete!
My recommendations are the Enell or Shock absorber D+ full cup. The Enell is hideous, it only comes in super shiny material and has front hook & eye fastenings, but straps them down wonderfully. Annoying it’s only sized by back, and having a small back and a massive cup size I get mega cleavage so only wear it under things cut high enough to hide this. The shock absorber seems like it shouldn’t do the job (it’s not even under-wired!) but it does. Generally everyone in life wears way too big a back size in all bras, but for the shock absorber you need to go up (my 30 becomes 32) but you can keep the same cup size or even go a bit smaller. I confess to wearing this most days, it makes me feel so much better about my boobs under t-shirts or my new Uniqlo crew necks.
Oh and if you’re doing really active things (I run) them get a Booband! It’s a weird velcro support that goes over the top part of your boobs. Wear it under a loose t shirt or vest as it’s also hideous, but it’s anti-jiggle effect is incredible.
Rosie thank you for this complete and instructive advice
Thank you so much Rosie! I have tried the bras you mentioned as have a similar rack and never find anything sturdy enough for running… have just ordered myself a booband!
For sports bra’s has to be a Shock Absorber (terrible name I know!) I’m a double G and they don’t move!
Ditto Shock Absorber bra!
Double ditto Shock Absorber! If you google around you can usually find one in the sale if you don’t mind an unusual colour (non-capsule but as it’s mostly hidden under capsule hopefully allowed)
I run and vouch for shockabsorber and Brooks juno bras. Gap do nice leggings although they are useless for running as they fall down but nice for general wear. I quite like Zara for legging type black things as well. Thanks for the post. I’m glad we have moved on from mens stuff. It was very useful but I’m more interested in myself.
Loving the honesty here ‘It was very useful but I’m more interested in myself’. 😂👍🏻
I KNOW that made me laugh too
Bravissimo for all bras. I’m a 32FF and theirs are the only ones that don’t lead to black eyes when I run 😂😂
I tried this ‘athleisurewear’ thing on the school run the other day, and was inundated with comments about being ‘off to the gym then?’ (well, 5 people said it, which seemed a lot). I felt such pressure to conform to their expectations that I detoured to try running in the park instead of going straight home, in case they were going to check up on me. But I’m not really a runner and I didn’t have a sports bra on and, oh it was just ridiculous.
Perhaps my outfit was too ath and not enough leisure though…
Shock absorber and Nike clothes they make long vests and last forever
This Casall Iconic Sports Bra is the shiz, comes in a variety of colours, it says C-D but I’m more of a D-DD and can lift mine into them, better if the bra is slightly on the smaller/tighter side as it holds you in. I used this website the other day and it’s not dodge;
https://www.boobydoo.co.uk/casall-iconic-sports-bra-black
I absolutely hate shock absorbers, unbelievably uncomfortable.
oh and Lululemon leggings are great, as are these Sweaty Betty Level leggings, barg at £27
http://www.sweatybetty.com/clothes/bottoms/leggings/black-level-workout-leggings/
for tops H&M have a v good, reasonable selection in their gymwear….
TK Maxx excellent for picking up some nice leisurewear.
Can anyone recommend some seriously high waisted leggings? I have one pair now looking alarmingly thin and of course style is discontinued.
Shorty sweatshirts are hopeless for leaning over anything; mine always dunks into the washing-up water. I wouldn’t get another that short though it looks good if you’re just standing about!
http://www.rebelsport.com.au/Product/Berlei-Women-s-Electrify-Underwire-Crop-Top/38591501
I don’t know if you can get these in the UK, but this is the only bra I’ve ever found that works for really high impact gym work (think Body Attack or Insanity) and I have huge wobbly breasts. Comes in a back strap version which is perfect for us who can’t find bloody normal clasp sports bras that are comfortable in a big size (i.e. NONE of them).
Wouldn’t be even be kidding if I said it genuinely changed my gym life for-evah. No soreness even with 60 minutes of hardcore plyometrics.
Hello! Athleisure forever. But what do you think about the bum issue, sometimes wandering around in leggings I can feel er exposed…
hence the long vest from hush or get a sweater in a big size. Huge long slubby cardigans (that come down past your bum) are about to come back – one of those, a jaunty scarf, your Dinny Hall Hoops and you’ll be away
I can vouch for shock absorbers too. I’ve got pretty massive tits and they hold me right in. You can get them on Amazon which is always handy!
I can’t face trying on the lululemon leggings for fear of falling in love then being too skint to buy them. Even the sale made me weep a bit.
Sweaty Betty are also a bit spenny but not quite as bad and last for fucking ages. I tried their sports bras for a bit which were good once on but have a very fiddley fastening which is a pain in the arse so I haven’t checked them out recently (the old ones don’t fit post baby) The vests there are really nice too, long and sweat whick of whatever the techy sport term is.
I love sweatshirts but always find the neckline doesn’t suit me and I feel huge. Am I being daft? I love them on anyone else but always have to get a hoodie for me
I don’t suppose you fancy doing a capsule work wardrobe do you esther? I’m going back and have no idea what to wear and I love your wisdom!! Xx
May I ask if you then wear your sports bra all day? I can’t do this as I find them all too uncomfortable after a couple of hours. Can one wear a normal bra on athleisure day or is that just cheating?
Hannah no, I only wear a sports bra if I am actually running. Otherwise a selection of crop tops of various age from Gap and M&S
Sorry if this is going a bit off subject but bigger boobs seems to feature quite frequently on these blogs. I discovered a factory outlet in Northamptonshire that sells Fantasie, Freya and Wacoal and other good makes. They have an online shop http://www.leialingerie.com/outlet/search.aspx selling current stock as well as stock at outlet prices. They do swimwear too and there is a limited range of sports bras
Fantasie swimsuits are great for big bobs and flabby stomachs! I tried on loads and loads of swimsuits this year and liked the Fantasie ones best, beating Miraclesuits and other even more expensive ones. Swimsuits: sadly another entry in the ‘you get what you pay for’ list.
Tchac. *BOOBS* not bobs. If I had bobs I wouldn’t need cup-sized swimwear …..
Berlei shock absorber for big boobage. I have had one for 2 years that must have been through wash about a thousand times and is still fab. Also have a big matronly contraption from Bravissimo that is also great for if you actually intend to exercise whilst eating it.
Stupid autocorrect. FYI, I have never eaten a sports bra!
There is an online company called Boobydoo who are great for big tit sports bras. Sweatshirt wise UNIQLO menswear have a perfect grey one … my other half is on his 2nd because I claimed the first one.
BOOBYDOO
For the skint big bosomed lady, Asda (yes, Asda) t shirt bras under a lycra vest top. Mine don’t move and they are F CUP.
Those lululemon wunder under pants are hands down the Best Buy in my entire wardrobe. They are SO comfortable, no seams or digging, no need to hitch up or pull out of your bum. They also make your bum look pretty pert and mine is relatively chubby and dimpled. They are well worth the investment and I challenge anyone to regret the purchase. I’ve worn them at least twice a week for the last 2 years through pregnancy and maternity leave too. And they wash up great and line dry super quickly. GO BUY. In terms of boob wear- if you’re really going for the comfort/leisure side rather than the ath side then ditch the restrictive sports bra and go for a soft non-underwired yoga bra from sweaty Betty. Maybe not enough support for huge boobs but I’m a D and more than happy with that (definitely no actual running). Can I second the request for a work capsule- a, back to the corporate world shortly and would be interested in your thoughts. If only I could rock up in the Lycra 😀
Georgina thank you for this very helpful and instructive comment! I am working on capsule workwear – it’s not really my area of expertise so I need to call in some ringers…
The Fold, Me & Em, Everlane for capsule workwear.
Lululemon Enlite bra for bigger boobs, not sure for super big, but has been brilliant for 30G, no back fat! Expensive though, as are leggings, but they suck everything in so finding it worth it.
Bought the H&M khaki shirt this week, wore with my panama. Shouted CAPSULE in my head.
Saw this on Facebook a while ago and now think of it whenever people say ‘activewear’
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CYRENWT8lz8
Seriously though, wearing activewear not to exercise seems to be a big thing in Vancouver and I think it’s quite a fashionable place?
THANK YOU! I was reading all the comments thinking SURELY someone would link to this song. “Doing absolutely nothing in my activewear” goes through my head on a near-constant loop.
Lorna Jane leggings are fantastic. I’m a (rigorous) daily exerciser & over 10 years have tried so many different brands of lycra & hands-down these win on all fronts. I’ve now got about 7 pairs- all ace. I’ve also got 30G boobs- have tried loads of sports bras & am currently really enjoying an underwired one from Freya that clips in the middle at the back if you like. I can’t bear non-underwired sports bras. In big sizes they look SO awful. And I would always always always buy black sportsbras- the funky coloured ones/white ones look hideous after a few washes.
Asics trainers are also my favourites!
Thank you Rachel!
And today I received a mailshot from John Lewis ‘New In: Athleisure – Streamline your athleisure look with fitted layers, lightweight performance fabrics and luxe loungewear’ maybe they are reading The Spike too!
I just got back from the shops and thought you’d like to know that the Hennes sweatshirt is really good. It’s drapey and lightweight.
Thank you Cimpy this is exactly the sort of field reporting I expect and rely on from Spikers
the best sports bra for big boobs and running/high impact is Enell. It is horrific, like a 70s disco straightjacket but the boobs DO NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT IS AMAZING.
https://www.boobydoo.co.uk/brands/enell?gclid=CKrx0NzU3tUCFQVuGwodh6cBXw
My best sports bra is Sweaty Betty and it’s the second most expensive thing in my activewear wardrobe. It has one of those clippy things at the back which sucks my boobs tight to my chest and makes running much more comfortable – I don’t have massive boobs, just big enough for bouncing around to be painful. The rest of my activewear is a complete state, a rag tag collection from sports direct and free t-shirts.
I get the need to do activewear well if you’re actually going to be seen in public, but is it necessary to be well put together when you’re only going to the gym?
This is really less about going to the gym and more about activewear for when you’re not especially active
Enell bras – ugly as fuck but they work!
Aother vote for Panache here. I’ve got this one https://www.panache-lingerie.com/shop/product/sports-full-cup-3?colour=782 and its almost my best bra I love it so much. And it has a clip so you can make it a racer back if you like (I am allergic to visible bra straps). For the rest I go to Gap – their long sleeved tops have holes for your thumbs, like my cardigans did when I was at boarding school, and also Hush for their long vests. If you are on a budget though then Decathlon, the French sports hypermarket which has stores all over the UK has super leggings and shorts especially for hardly any money.
Concur with Enell, the original and best thanks to Oprah, or the Panache for two boobs not one. 36K here, thanks a lot breastfeeding. I’ve been wearing stretchy bras from Cake for athleisure purposes. Perky decent shape and very comfy non-underwire, who cares that they’re maternity/nursing, all the other of same in big sizes are for my grandma.
I don’t have time to read through all the comments above, so apologies if these have already been recommended: for leggings which will make you WEEP with joy at the comfort and deliciousness of them, get yourselves to All Saints. Not sure how great theyd be for working out – theyre soft cotton, not lycra (I cant work out because I have three children – which is my excuse for everything until the end of time) but for the comfiest day wear ever, you cant beat them. I just bought a pair last week for a long-haul flight, they cost £40. But the BEST thing about them is that they have a stretchy bit of maternity-esque material at the waist which you pull down to protect your camel-toed modesty, so having to worry about a long-t to cover up your personnage is not an issue. (online they’re called “leggings and skirt” but it’s not really a skirt – no matter how they depict it in the catalogue photos. It’s just a bit of stretchy material). So so so comfy, I can’t tell you.
Those leggings sound great but look a bit weird – does it look like a skirt in real life?! also I don’t think all saints will accommodate my massive arse and thighs. I’m in serious need of new leggings though, I live in a couple of sad pairs from M&S so a pair that make me weep with joy sound amazing!
It didn’t occur to me that the extra material was a skirt – I just assumed someone had FINALLY addressed the “yikes-I-have-very-visible-lady-parts” conundrum which hits me every time I wear leggings. The material is very fine – almost like soft merino wool – and stretchy so it’s more like those maternity bands you wear to cover fleshy-bump parts when you’re pregnant. Basically, it doesn’t look at all ridiculous, and it doesn’t look like a skirt.
Thanks for all the bra ideas, will def investigate when baby has arrived and I can go out running again. Does anyone know where to get great maternity active wear leggings??
Hi Mama, I got a top and some leggings from here https://www.fittamamma.com, or depending on how active you’re being I found the h&m and ASOS maternity leggings were fine for low impact stuff but I wouldn’t want to get too sweaty in them! x
I wore the lululemon leggings I rave about above until 9 months pregnant- they are super stretchy and comfy. They’re expensive but worth it and then you are not spending money on another maternity item you can only wear for a few months x
I sort of get the whole athleisure thing because it’s comfy but… but… but… I don’t think sports gear makes many but the very sporty look their best and it isn’t “pretty”. I don’t mean to rain on anyone’s parade but does it make anyone look their best???
I don’t really know how to answer this. No, I guess you don’t look like you’re going to meet the queen in this, but you DO look cool if you get it right – sorry but you just do – and also potentially neat and tidy
A bit late but Lululemon Tata Tamer (I KNOW) is amazing, like the Panache & Freya but lasts 3x as long so is well worth it. I run and have tried many many bras, I prefer encapsulation style, compression gives me armpit fat and mono boob. Lululemon shorts are also very flattering, there’s a style for everyone but you are right about the four way stretch – they have lots of different fabrics and I got some rather rigid ones by mistake.
Thank you Kath!
DON’T LAUGH, but Victoria’s Secret actually do really good sport bras for massive boobs. I’m a 30F and generally wear the Panache for running/dance/aerobics, but for spin and Yoga the VS bra that zips up the front is a godsend. It had a v front, which I know isn’t for everyone, but I can;t bear the feeling of being strangled by my own bra, so it’s perfect for me. The back comes up small, so I buy the 32DDD.
Oh and I have one pair of Lulu Lemon capri leggings and I LOVE THEM. They even manage to make my thunder thighs look good and don’t sag at inopportune moments.
I get plain grey sweatshirts from the men’s department at good old Uniqlo – cheap, good quality and when it’s too knackered to leave the house in you can just go and buy a new one: they always seem to have them in stock!