Sweatin' In Style

Oh em gee- it’s Thursday, y’all. I’ve always liked Thursdays because the anticipation for the weekend is so strong and also because one of my all-time fave reality shows comes on- Project Runway! Even though I think we were all a teensy bit disappointed with the premiere last week, the eternal optimist in me is still holding out hope that it will be a good season, (fingers crossed.)

Per usual, the weekly PR extravaganza will be held at Casa de Leslie this evening. It’s funny, these get-togethers have slowly become a seasonal TV tradition and I so look forward to these "girls nights". Other than that, I’ll probably be hitting the gym beforehand to offset all of the tube watching later.

Which brings me to today’s topic- Sweatin’ In Style

This is more of an etiquette issue than a “wear this and look super hot and trendy” thing because, as we gym rats know, the fitness center can be a hub of fashion disasters, wardrobe malfunctions and downright horrible attire. Before we get started, I should note that the idea from this post did not come from yours truly; nope, it actually came from a boy (gasp!) See girls, even guys notice this stuff. So below, a few best practices for dressing for the gym, courtesy of A Blonde Ambition and the aforementioned guy:

• Cover the Assets

Ok chicas, nothing looks worse than a pair of skin tight shorts that only cover half of your derrière. The gym is not a place to look like a girl from a 'Lil Wayne video. Please make sure everything from, um, behind is completely covered.

A Blonde Ambition recommends Soffe Cotton Cheer Shorts from Hibbett Sports ($12 per pair, above.) I’ve been wearing this same brand since the college pom squad days and love 'em. They fit well, are super comfy and really inexpensive, so you can afford to buy a pair in every color!

Another top contender is the Brooks Infiniti Short II from Zappos.com ($38 per pair, above) I wore these for an intramural soccer season and they quickly became a workout wear staple.

• Invest in Some New Kicks

According to runnersworld.com, the average running shoe lasts about 1.5-2 years, depending on the amount of use. Ladies, if the soles of your shoes are beginning to peel off, it’s probably time to invest in a new pair. Also, (and this is totally just my opinion), you might want to avoid those Shape-Ups shoes or any type of "platform" tennis shoe. I don’t care how many additional calories they burn, it's not worth the humiliation of looking like a complete dork. I’m just sayin.

A Blonde Ambition recommends New Balance 8512 from Piperlime.com ($85.) I use the pair above for the gym only (treadmills, elliptical, etc.) and the ones below for outdoor running. If you work out on a pretty regular basis, I would definitely recommend buyng a couple; one for indoors, one for outdoors.

Asics Gel-Enthrall from Zappos.com ($100)

• Avoid Channeling Flash Dance

Steer clear of leg warmers, scrunch socks, tights (especially underneath shorts- ack!) and anything else that looks like it could have been plucked from the Footloose set. Y'all think I'm joking, but I have seen some pretty 80s-tastic outfits at the gym. I mean, I’m as much a fan of the decade as the next girl, but let’s leave them where they belong, m'kay?

For activities like yoga or pilates, A Blonde Ambition recommends the Ruched Crop Daily Leggings from Victoria’s Secret (2 pair for $24!) I’ve got probably 10 of these in my closet right now and they are a must when I hit the yoga mat. Plus, they still look totally adorbs with a zip-up tunic or hoodie and ballet flats (like the model is wearing above) if you have to make a stop at the market post-workout.

• Top It Off

Baggy T-shirts, shirts that advertise beer, tobacco and/or Kid Rock, or tops that reveal too much of certain female assets should be reserved for fireplace kindling. Instead, opt for torso-flattering tanks, modestly fitted tees, and versatile hooded sweatshirts (for the cooler months.)

Slub V-Neck Tee and Essential Tank from Victoria's Secret

Collegiate Collection Tee and Hoodie from Victoria's Secret

A Blonde Ambition recommends paying a visit to our friends at Victoria’s Secret for all top-based needs. I love their plain V-necks and tanks for working out and really, really love their Collegiate Collection. I purchased both of the examples above, plus a few more last year, (of course in Razorback print ) and have even worn them to games before.

• Don’t forget your bag!

A good gym bag is the equivalent of a trendy purse with street clothes; it just completes the look. Like Miss Witherspoon below, I too have carried my monogrammed LL Bean tote for several years. It has more than enough room to hold my yoga mat, various MP3 devices, extra clothes and water bottles.

And finally, you’ll need some good tunes to keep you moving. Here’s a sample of some of the regular guests on my work-out playlist:

1. On Board- Friendly Fires
2. The Air Near My Fingers- The White Stripes
3. Skeleton Boy- Friendly Fires
4. Kiss- Prince
5. Song 2- Blur
6. Gold, Guns, Girls- Metric
7. Teenage Dream- Katy Perry
8. Smooth Criminal- Michael Jackson
9. Armistice- Phoenix
10. Rocket- Goldfrapp

I’m curious to know, what are some of your tried-and-true favorite workout clothes?

P.S.- I also FINALLY got my About page updated and got the brand new Where I Shop page finished following the blog makeover 2 weeks ago, so go check 'em out!

Be blessed, lovelies-

Photo credits: Piperlime.com, Zappos.com, Victoria’s Secret, Getty Images