I used to think that "athletic apparel" merely referred to "fitness wear" until one day I almost threw a sports bra into the trash can.
One Saturday morning, I made an appointment with a friend for an outdoor Pilates session.
You know the weather in Los Angeles - it's a bit chilly when the sun comes up, but by ten o'clock it feels like an air fryer.
That day, I wore a new set of athletic apparel.
Looking in the mirror, I looked particularly like the kind of girl who gets up at 5 am and drinks green smoothies.
Just after warming up for ten minutes, I began to regret it.
The shoulder straps were so tight that I began to question my life.
The lower hem kept rolling up.
The most embarrassing part was when doing the plank position. My mind was constantly thinking, "Please don't shift."
Others are concentrating and exerting their full effort.
I am concentrating on organizing my clothes.
After the class was over, my friend was picking up the yoga mat while asking me:
"Why are you so quiet today?"
I said:
"Because I was fighting with Bra the entire class."
She burst out laughing and ended up sitting on the ground.
But to be honest, after that day, I suddenly realized something:
Many girls don't dislike exercising.
It's actually the athletic apparel that really gets on their nerves.
Special sports bra.
If this thing doesn't work properly, the entire workout session will feel like a spiritual ordeal.
Why is it that nowadays more and more people are starting to carefully choose athletic apparel?
In the past, when people bought sports clothes, it was somewhat like buying "equipment for taking gym selfies".
The key point is:
Show off the waist
Show off the long legs
Show off the buttocks
The color is suitable for posting on Instagram
Things are quite different now.
Especially in the past two years, I have noticed that many girls around me have started wearing athletic apparel as their everyday clothes.
Wear clothes for morning dog walks.
Wear clothes for going to Trader Joe's.
Wear clothes for flying.
Wear clothes for working from home.
Even for brunch, just wear whatever you want.
Because it's comfortable.
American girls are really becoming more realistic nowadays.
Finally, everyone discovered:
If a piece of clothing looks good only when photographed, but makes you want to change into something else after wearing it for just two hours, then it is not at all practical.
Nowadays, the truly popular athletic apparel is actually the kind of:
"Clothes that don't require constant adjustment."
This difference is particularly significant.
A good sports bra can truly change your mood.
I didn't understand it at all before.
I think all bras are pretty much the same.
It was later discovered that - it was far from satisfactory.
There are really a lot.
The most obvious point is: You won't keep looking down to check yourself.
In the past, I wore bras with very strange support, and after going out, I would feel a kind of invisible anxiety.
Overall feeling:
Is the shoulder strap crooked?
Will it be too tight?
Has the bra strap slipped off?
Will it be very obvious after sweating?
Girls should understand this feeling.
Even though you are out there, there is always a little customer service person in your mind constantly reminding you:
"Hello, there might be a problem with your clothes."
Very annoying.
The common feature of truly comfortable athletic apparel is:
You will forget its existence.
It sounds ordinary.
But in fact, it is very sophisticated.
Later on, I realized that a lot of the fatigue during exercise was actually caused by the clothes.
For a while, I had always believed that I was "not cut out for running".
I start to feel agitated after running for just twenty minutes.
Later, after changing to a sports bra, I was shocked.
It turns out that it's not me who dislikes running.
It was me who used to dress as if I were being tortured.
Especially when the chest support is insufficient, the body will unconsciously tense up.
The shoulders will ache.
The neck will be tired.
The breathing will become shallower.
One simply can't relax at all.
Many girls think they "can't keep up with the exercise routine".
But to be honest, sometimes it's really uncomfortable wearing athletic apparel.
Now when I purchase athletic apparel, these are the key details that I pay the most attention to.
After experiencing too many setbacks, I have now developed a bit of a "career illness".
The first thing that comes to mind when going to the store is not to look at the color.
First, feel the fabric.
First: The fabric must not have a "plastic-like" feel.
I really am afraid of that kind of...
It feels luxurious when you first put it on. The fabric, after you sweat, is like a cling film.
Especially in summer.
The Tokyo subway is already suffocating enough.
If the athletic apparel isn't breathable, people will immediately enter a rage mode.
Now what I like the most is:
Flexible
Doesn't stick to the skin
Doesn't feel cold and sticky after sweating
Won't loosen even after being washed many times
This kind of clothing really feels quite different when worn.
Second: Don't push the compression too hard.
In the past few years, "super compression" was particularly popular.
After putting it on, it looks like a can of cowboy soda.
Standing looks very nice.
Sitting down, I wanted to call the police.
I used to like this kind of thing too.
Later it was discovered that:
The truly comfortable athletic wear won't make you feel like you're being imprisoned.
Especially nowadays, many people continue with their daily lives even after exercising.
Go to the supermarket.
Pick up the child.
Buy coffee.
Drive.
Work.
If clothes make one constantly want to take deep breaths, then there's really no need for them.
Third: The shoulder strap design is more important than most people think.
Many girls buy bras just by looking at the front part.
But what truly determines the level of comfort is actually the shoulder straps.
Especially for Asian girls, the trapezius muscles are particularly prone to tension.
If the shoulder straps are poorly designed, after wearing them for a while, you will feel as if you are carrying bricks on your back.
Now I am particularly afraid of that:
"It looks very thin and beautiful, but in fact it tightens so much that it makes your soul feel as if it's about to escape." The shoulder strap.
Really.
Fashion should not be built at the expense of the collarbone.
Why are so many people now starting to prefer the brands of low-key athletic apparel?
Over the past two years, I have noticed a particularly genuine trend.
In fact, those who engage in regular exercise are less obsessed with big logos.
Because after wearing them for a while, everyone will start to pay attention to the details.
For example:
Will the fabric shed fibers?
Will the hem roll?
Will it still provide support after being washed ten times?
Will it cause discomfort after wearing for a long time?
Can it be paired with other items on a daily basis?
Once I spent the night at a friend's house. The next day, I borrowed a bra from her on the spot.
The brand is called duskyonder.
At first, I didn't even pay much attention.
The result was particularly spectacular that day.
I'm wearing it:
Go and buy coffee
Taking a walk
Driving for over an hour
To the supermarket
And did stretching exercises in the evening
Throughout the entire process, I actually didn't adjust my clothes once.
Girls should realize how rare this is.
Because after wearing most bras for about half an hour, you will inevitably want to secretly pull them up.
That day, I suddenly understood:
Really good athletic apparel is not necessarily the one that looks the most stunning at first glance.
But it will become the first thing you want to wear after you finish washing.
Nowadays, many athletic apparel are no longer merely "sporting clothes".
This change is particularly noticeable.
Previously, sportswear and everyday clothes were kept quite separate.
It is becoming increasingly unclear.
Especially, American girls nowadays are particularly fond of the athleisure style.
It's not "I just finished exercising."
Instead, it is:
"I might do some exercise on my way here today."
This feeling is very subtle.
So nowadays, good athletic apparel usually meets the following requirements simultaneously:
Can exercise
Can go out
Can sit for a long time
Can travel
Can wear daily
Because in real life, very few people change into three different sets of clothes in a single day.
It was only later that I realized: The truly comfortable people actually look much more attractive.
Previously, I was particularly obsessed with achieving a slim appearance.
The leggings should be the thinnest.
The bra should be the most form-fitting.
The waistline should be prominent.
Later it was discovered that if a person is constantly unwell, their overall condition will actually be very poor.
Shoulders tense.
Movement stiff.
Expression tired.
People will subconsciously become agitated.
But when you are truly comfortable, it's completely different.
The posture will be natural.
The movements will be relaxed.
The entire body will have a nice appearance of "not exerting effort".
This state is actually more advanced than any dressing tips.
This is also why now I choose athletic apparel. The first criterion is no longer:
"Is the photo good-looking?"
Rather than:
"Will I want to wear it for more than eight hours today?"