So, right now I'm wearing a VC tube skirt. It's knit, body con, and sort of like gear except it's a midi skirt. But great for travel (which I'm in the midst of). With it, though, I'm wearing a woven top. I considered an outfit that would include a tee instead of a woven and ripped it off as soon as I tried it on. Too "soft."

Trying to think of other items I dislike wearing. Mostly, I don't buy too many of those, or not on purpose. I dislike wearing it if it is binding, constricting, overly "precious" or feels false to who I am. I think with gear as clothes, it feels somewhat false to who I am.

Lisa I think perhaps this forum might be skewed towards preference for non-gear dressing, even if liking to wear gear might actually be the majority feel. Kind of like how we seem to have a higher-than-is-the-norm number of ITs and introverts.

There are definitely a lot of cute athliesure pieces out there now which cross over into casual wear well. I wish I liked some of the athletic stuff more! Honestly I barely like to wear it even for exercise. While I'm active and somewhat athletic I have never felt comfortably in sporty clothes nor would I actually consider myself "sporty"; friends could vouch In the summer especially I actually do need "active clothes" because we do athletic things (separate from my own exercise) -- golfing, hiking, dirt biking, camping, etc. -- but I don't feel great wearing casual athletic clothes. Last summer I tried to do a sporty-luxe thing for weekend and it was OK but this summer it feels off again -.-

(High five to floppy loungewear!)

I don't have a problem with others wearing gear (everyone does here) but generally it's not for me. Sports clothing is usually tight and poly based and it just makes me hot and uncomfortable. And the silhouette that tights create (even with a long top) also makes me feel uncomfortable. But last summer I experimented with wearing skorts on weekends as an alternative to shorts and I was happy with this from a silhouette point of view. The fabric (poly) is still not my fave. Wearing gear on weekends is a good idea for me because, if I put it on first thing in the morning to take the pup for a walk, I am much more likely to do a workout when I get home. So I am trying to adapt!

When I put on my gear, I also put on a mindset. It's workout time! My gear is sport specific and I have quite a collection - swimming, biking, running, yoga, gym based training (weights), some heavy duty winter stuff for cross country skiing and snowboarding. I do NOT use any of my gear for lounging.

Ok,ok, I get it I don't lie around the house in yoga tights every day either, but I will wear them if they aren't sweaty and damp to stop in at the store etc. It's pretty much my weekend fall and spring uniform : clean gym tights and a sweater and sneakers. I admit I am puzzled by Isabel's comment about how it's less than thoughtful to go to the grocery store in gym gear . I cannot imagine going after spin class though , and I don't think I've ever seen anyone in public in that condition - yuck!
I am a frustrated athlete at heart (even though I don't look like it anymore) , and I'd rather feel athletic and strong than pretty and crisp any day of the week . I guess I need a lot more strenuous exercise than the average woman just to maintain some semblance of fitness at my age.

Angie, I know a lot of Europeans and Asian women aren't into the classic athletic workout like North American women are, but I defy anyone to have toned and defined arms and shoulders from walking and hiking Anyways, I know, enough already. Interesting discussion!

Rock climbing!

I'm with you, Angie. Gear reminds me too much of school gym class. I simply don't own any exercise clothes. Regular jeans, tees and clam diggers have enough stretch for walking and light exercise. I don't like the look on others very much either, especially older women (and men). This may change in the future, but for now my regular casual clothes are more comfortable and flattering.

I quite like my silhouette in yoga gear; that said, I wear it only for yoga and take it off straightaway once I'm home. I have run a quick errand or two in my yoga gear when pressed for time, but that is rare. To me, it's gear for a specific purpose, which it fulfills perfectly, then I want it off.

I wear yoga style pants around the house as lounge wear and to do yoga. I don't wear them as clothes - defined as out of the house, although I have recently adopted two Nike shorts as clothing - but neither looks like yoga pants. I tend not to wear sneakers or tees either. But I am totally adjusted to being surrounded by sneakers wearing, leggings as pants, gear as clothes, and don't have a problem with it. I am just not inherently sporty myself, despite my tortoise like exercise habit (30 years of moderate devotion and counting). Actually I wouldn't mind dressing like a tortoise, come to think of it .

Una - I know. My version of it is golf, tennis, and weight lifting. I live in the Prairies, you know - nary a rock face in sight

Anyways, I am never wearing another piece of workout clothing in public again, I promise

Me, too! Mostly, I feel like I was made for another era -- that I look somehow "off" when I'm in gear. I just don't have a "sporty" look by nature. This is why I worked so hard last summer to create super casual looks that felt like "me." Since I've been sick, I have been wearing my athleisure pants alot, however, they're woven, I usually wear them with sandals, not sneaks, drapey modal (not gear) tees and a drapey cardi or denim jacket. And earrings. Always earrings!

As a beginner I wore tees & cotton pants to yoga but now I need clothes that stay put & don't get in the way of a good head-stand It's mainly the synthetic feel of the fabric & body-con aspects that don't work for my style. It's not about body image for me either Angie.

I enjoy wearing yoga pants and athletic tops, and have been known to get coffee or go to the nursery dressed in them. It's very common where I live, and I don't feel out of place dressed like that. I like being sporty.

Not me... although I don't really wear yoga/exercise clothes outside of my house. I like to wear Zella leggings when I work from home. I also like wearing the Zella joggers (last year NAS) casually sometimes. Ironically I don't do much intentional exercise besides the occasional walk. Yoga clothes are like lounge wear for me.

I'm in the minority with lisap. I wear gear type clothing when I'm spending the day at home and rather enjoy it. I have no problem running a few errands in gear but all my bits and pieces are completely covered. It's also the norm in my town. It seems that during the day women are either wearing full on Lululemon or dressed up for some charity event or women's club luncheon activity. I like knowing that I am ready to jump into a workout the second the motivation strikes. It rarely strikes.

I'm with LisaP and Una on this. I love my gear and wear it every day, at least for part of the day. I'm much more likely to head out for a run, hike or weight lifting session if I just put it on straight away. That said, I tend to pair my running tights or yoga pants with a soft, cotton blend t-shirt rather than a polyester/spandex gear type top. I just feel better in that. I tend to think a lot of the gear now is rather cute, and I enjoy feeling healthy and active in it. I don't tend to go out in my old, baggy sweats, but I wouldn't hesitate to run errands in running tights, a cute flowy tank, and sneakers!

I was just thinking this morning how happy I was that I could wear a new pair of Athleta capris rather than denim for the day. I wear certain gear at the gym, which in my mind is gym specific. But for much of the rest of my very casual life, I love wearing clothing from gear stores: it fits well, I like the colors, the fabrics wear like iron (unlike denim), washes and dries easily, is comfortable, etc. etc. And the styling is getting better and better.
I often combine gear and non gear items and wear jewelry as needed. I'm happy to have all the options.

With you 100% ... except in January/February when frankly it's so cold I'm in hibernation mode and am happy to stay in the most pyjama-like warm clothes as possible

Hear. hear kerlyn ! You said in one or two sentences what took me seven paragraphs to say .

LOL. I am the sweaty person at the grocery store. I find myself wearing more gear than ever this summer. I have no problem wearing gear in public, but I do think of it as part of a capsule for specific activities. I wear it in public if I'm on my way/returning from an activity. I probably wouldn't choose it as the day's outfit, but honestly my gear probably looks nicer than my current uniform of jeans and tee, so maybe I should wear more gear!

I never wear workout clothes/shoes when I'm not engaged in those activities. Since I'm sweaty when I'm done exercising I would never just leave them on. I also never think of putting them on if I'm not exercising since I have other comfortable clothes that I'd rather wear.

Nope, I don't mind wearing my gear at all, as long as I am just working at home or running a few quick errands, unless I am really sweaty and gross. Strangely, it makes me feel kind of good -- athletic and sporty -- which is something I never ever ever felt in my life until recently.

I used to wear loose nylon pants for tap dance and yoga. I didn't like wearing them because they were nylon and loose.

I think my feeling about this have been conditioned by being on YLF all these years! I very rarely go out in gear, though I may well wear it for a while at home before showering. But I don't have that physical feel against it that you do.

Also, I often think people wearing nice looking gear out, look better than I do. But again, because of Angie's thought's on the matter, I can't bring myself to do it. Also my gear (apart from my running shoes) is rather cheap and not that great.

This is such an interesting subject. More thoughts...I wear knit joggers and black 'running' shoes that I'd NEVER exercise in. They look totally non-athletic to me, even tho they're clearly modeled along athletic lines. I also love my Zella quilted running jacket with thumb holes, but again, I can't imagine running in the thing. And then there's my long, dark green patterned running leggings. They also seem too heavy to me to do any real sport in.

My gear that I think probably looks bad on the street are neon blue capris with a wild pattern. I think they'd look especially bad with a sports bra and something like my Zella jacket and Uggs...

The only 'gear' type clothing I wear are my Lulu jackets in Winter. When I was a regular at the gym, I would always change at the gym, even if It wasn't a work day. I don't really feel comfortable in gym gear outside of the gym. It has nothing to do with body issues...I'm not actually certain why I always change as plenty of women don't. Interesting.....

Anyway, now that my main exercise is hula, I'm not sure that my sarong and hip hei would be suitable gear for running around.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listin.....ref=market

I tend to fall into your "camp" Angie. I love my work-out clothes - to work out in. They are bright, cheery, colorful, and comfortable for my exercise program. However, they are not clothes that I would ever wear any place else - and I take them off as soon as I get home. On the other hand, sporty luxe is sooooo "me" - part of my style and probably always will be. But, there is absolutely no crossover between my workout clothing and my sporty-luxe clothing. Two different categories!

I'm with you, Angie! When I used to go to the gym I always changed there and didn't go outside in my exercise clothes. To me it would feel as if I was wearing pyjamas in public. Right now I only go swimming, so there's no question.

I couldn't agree more Angie.

I've tried and have splashed out on nice gear to wear in the house.

I'd rather pull on skinny jeans and an easy t shirt, or one of my two long silky nighties with a cardigan if it's the evening

Interesting reading everyone's views. Great discussion topic Angie. Thank you

"Hateded It" I can't even not to much in my Wadrobe. I just cannot bring myself to wear it. It's like no just no. Probably because I had to wear sweats foe 10 yes in the service snd ate breakfast er' morning in them. Ugh. It is almost like wearing jeans at work. THEY Have To Be Unique or extra special.