Why Sports Clothing Doesn't Need to be Purely Sensible and Serious

Selecting the right sports clothing is an important business - you need something practical that will adequately support you in your chosen activity and your performance, but that doesn't mean your outfits have to be dull or boring.

Sports clothing can be fun, fabulous and functional and there's an increasing number of ranges available that tick all of these boxes, both online and on the high street, for example JD Sports. So, what should you be looking for? The type of clothing or items you choose will of course depend on your chosen activity, but breathable fabrics and adequate chest support should be at the top of the checklist for ladies. This means a well-fitted sports bra for any cardio or impact exercise, synthetic fabric tops, shorts or running leggings that draw moisture away from the skin and running or training socks.

The type of training shoe you need will also be determined by the activity you choose - for example, you will need decidedly different shoes for tennis, skateboarding or running and it's important to buy the right kind of shoe for the job. Failure to get support in the right places could end up in injury and even long-term problems, so it's best not to skimp on shoes! If running or jogging is your activity of choice, buying the right kind of shoe becomes even more of a priority; this type of training shoe should be matched to your running style or 'gait'. You can have your gait measured in specialist running shops with no obligation to buy then order online if this suits your budget better.

Finally, if you want to include some of your own style sense in your exercise outfit, why not take some inspiration from the celebs? Former glamour model and avid jogger Katie Price lets her love of pink impact intensely on her workout gear selection and wore a nearly all pink outfit when she took part in the Brighton Half Marathon earlier this year (see here). Model turned professional bodybuilder Jodie Marsh seem to have a similar attitude to her training gear and has published a number of pics of herself recently in pink shorts, cropped pink t-shirts and pink sports bras - once again highlighting that sportswear can be pretty as well as practical!