What to wear at the gym

Tops

The easiest and most acceptable fashion choice for top wear is a T-shirt. We’re not talking about your stained and tattered Cape Cod tourist T-shirt here, though. You’re going to have to be a little pickier than that. To ensure that you choose a functional and fashionable tee, you should look for a few particular characteristics.

T-shirts should be made of light, breathable material, such as cotton. Avoid polyester. Consider a microfiber material to help keep you cool and dry. Your shirt should also fit properly; T-shirts that are too large or too tight should be avoided.

Don’t: Thinking about wearing a mesh T-shirt? Not unless you have a time machine to travel back to 1985, McFly. Though tempting, you should also stay away from the basic white T-shirt, for three reasons: White does not radiate heat as well as darker colors, making it harder to stay cool; it picks up dirt and stains easily; and we all know what happens to white T-shirts when they get wet. If you sweat through it, everyone will know about your third nipple.

You should also avoid A-shirts, those thin white tank tops often associated with domestic abuse. If you are adamant about having your “guns” show, just wear a sleeveless shirt instead of a tank top. And please, for everybody’s sake, even if you can bench press 350 pounds, don’t wear one of those ridiculous tank tops with spaghetti strap-like pieces of fabric that hold it together and leave your pecs exposed.

Bottoms

A wise woman once said: “Wearing spandex is a privilege, not a right.” For women, that’s probably true. For men, it’s neither a privilege nor a right; it’s a very, very bad mistake. If you have some medical or athletic reason to wear form-fitting spandex shorts, wear longer shorts to cover them up. Your best bet here are simple cotton or mesh gym shorts that don’t extend more than an inch or two below the knees. These shorts should be worn at or slightly below your waist, not hanging off your butt—you aren’t in a rap video.

Don’t: Sweatpants are fine, but probably not the most fashionable choice. There really isn’t any reason to be wearing long pants at the gym, unless you are self-conscious about your legs. In this case, there are more stylish exercise pants sold by Adidas and Nike.

Shoes and socks

With so many versatile and stylish athletic shoes on the market, it shouldn’t be hard to find a pair that is functional and that also appeals to your personal taste. Never wear any kind of shoe other than a sneaker because you won’t get the arch support you need during a rigorous workout. Stick to white, cushiony socks, or a variation on white. Colored and patterned socks do not mix with the gym.

Don’t: Don’t wear socks that come up much past your ankle.

Head

Hats are generally a bad idea. They can get in the way of your weightlifting. They also trap heat coming off your head, making it harder for you to stay cool. Also, most people do not wash their hats as often as they wash their other clothes, so they can develop a less-than-savory odor rather quickly.

Don’t: Headbands are generally ridiculous—unless you’re playing basketball or tennis, and even then, proceed with caution.