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There's gear and there's gear (and it's all still gear)

April

Veteran

So, as I commented on today's blog post, I now have a "stay at home" life, but am determined not to fall into the rut of living in gear.

It's funny, though. In my old town, when you saw moms living in gear, they were usually in shapeless sweatpants and hoodies. It was very much an "I give up" look: totally practical and totally unflattering, usually accompanied by zero makeup and "oh, don't look at me" hair.

In my new town, the gear look is different. I'll describe it by telling you about something I saw in the post office one day around the holidays. It was about two in the afternoon and two little boys were there in their pajamas with total bedhead. Their mom, on the other hand, was in gear, but she was in high-end, form-fitting yoga pants, high-end athletic shoes, perfect makeup, with hair flat-ironed to a T. (If you're picturing Melania Trump, well done.)

I don't know -- I say even if you look gorgeous (which this mom did), and even if you're in $200 yoga pants, gear is gear.

Am I wrong about that?

Dressing

78 replies

Latest reply was from minimalist

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

That is more the kind of gear we see in this neck of the woods. People in Colorado invest in their gear.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Agreed. Gear is gear no matter how you slice and dice it - and as Jenn suggests, it can be very pricey.

You either like wearing gear or you don't. Personally, I don't, and cannot get out of my yoga clothes fast enough. I hate wearing gear (and you can count the times I use the word "hate" in a year).

The Athleisure Trend is ubiquitous on the streets of the US. It's extremely popular and acceptable. It has absolutely become a casual style that makes people happy and comfortable. When I have lunch with a friend during the week, and half the restaurant is wearing gear - that's reality. Whatever makes them happy. I'm wearing smart or business casual because that makes me happy. I think we can ALL live in peace without the negative judgement - which goes both ways.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Angie on this. I don't enjoy wearing gear when I am out in the "real world" doing real world things. I like to wear my regular clothes for that and my gear for athletic pursuits.

The trouble is that in my case there is quite a lot of crossover. So...I will go for a long walk (not a hike, exactly, but an hour long walk through park pathways and town streets) and meet someone for lunch. Or I will run to the bank after going to the gym. So I do like to have some clothing that does a kind of double duty. I think this might partly explain the popularity of Athleisure. I tend not to wear it myself -- I will wear my regular clothes for the walk, and change before leaving the gym -- but I understand the impulse.

Sisi

Veteran

Yes, gear is gear. Personally I do not like sportgear worn outside the gym hall, not to mention gym shoes ( I have a super poison eye for gym shoes) but I understand that nowadays it has become very common. I confess that a few times I myself went for a quick errand dressed in my gym clothes - because I had just left the gym hall and the grocer was on my way! (and I felt "weird").

Marilyn

Veteran

Yes....gear is gear. I only wear mine to the gym. An exception would be my two Lululemon Define Jackets which I might occasionally put on with a tee and jeans. One is a lovely charcoal gray herringbone and the other is black. I don't find them to be super sporty looking when paired with non-gear.

Anonymous

Gear is gear, but it really has become an accepted wardrobe staple in my area. I see women wearing high-end gear at the grocery store all the time. I cannot say I've seen them in restaurants though.

I think it is a personal choice. I also feel that people follow by example. If they see people wearing gear all around them, any barrier they had to wearing gear under similar circumstances, is lowered. My BF hates it with a passion.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Yep, still gear. I'm not a gear person myself. I also dislike wearing gymshoes besides at the gym. Right now I'm living in both. For necessities sake of baby. Loose and comfortable is the name of the game. After little one is born it will probably be a mix.

Anonymous

Not to be rude or dense, but what's the big deal? Maybe she was out after the gym or yoga, and was running errands. Some days are busy and it may be easiest not to fuss around and change. I will never understand why it offends or upsets as many people as it does.

LaPed

Veteran

I'm with you, lisap. This doesn't really bother me. I live in an area where skiing and hiking are very popular, where bike commuting is very common, and most people who live here like to spend their free time outside. I go for a short hike almost every day (I live closer to the Appalachian Trail than to the nearest "downtown" or park), and a longer hike on a weekly basis. And yes, I often do errands before or after said hike, because it's more convenient -- less commuting -- than going back home and changing. I guess I could bring "street clothes" and change at the trailhead? That seems ridiculous and troublesome though.

I'd say most of the people I see on a regular basis are wearing gear, jeans + tee, or some mashup of the two. And really, if you're outside and active most of the day, jeans may look stylish, but they're not particularly comfortable or practical. Also, many people here use their outdoor activities as their main form of socializing -- so yeah, totally acceptable to go grab a beer afterwards while still in ski or hiking gear.

There are some fitness clubs here, but I think the outdoor culture is more prevalent than the gym culture. The gym culture is a particular subset and you really only see it if you're right near one of the fitness clubs. As you get further outside of the population centers, the predominant gear culture shifts toward hunting/fishing, and that's a different look entirely.

I remember when I was a kid, when we'd go for hikes as a family I always wanted to stop and try new restaurants on the drive back home, and my mother would always be like, "No, we're too gross and sweaty!" So maybe there's been a generational shift...

cindysmith

Veteran

Gear is gear. Doesn't matter how cute it is, how much it cost... it's still gear

LaPed

Veteran

Also, I don't really see sweatpants/joggers in public at all where I live. I think those aren't considered "gear" by folks here, but loungewear -- worn strictly at home. (Also: funny how sweatpants aren't socially acceptable, but a hoodie made out of the same material is generally okay.)

Anonymous

My preferred grocery, drug store, post office, etc. are in the same shopping area as the place I work out. So I am wearing workout clothing on virtually all of my routine shopping runs, because it would be sort of silly to waste time and gas on separate trips.
If I am planning to run errands, I do make an effort to throw on a long shirt or sweater that covers my bum, because I think it is safe to assume that nobody really wants to see a nearly 60 year-old rear-end clad in nothing but spandex. But I don't make any effort to disguise the fact that I am wearing "gear", nor do I forego an errand because I don't have a t-shirt with me that particular day.
To me, it feels no different than when I used to run an errand on the way home from work. I was usually the only person in the grocery wearing a business suit and pumps, but I doubt anyone "judged" me because I didn't first change into an appropriate "grocery-shopping outfit".

Style Fan

Veteran

I go to Yoga in my Yoga clothes and then if I run errands (groceries, dog grooming, vet) or go to lunch I will be wearing my Yoga clothes. Nice Yoga clothes but still Yoga clothes. Sometimes I wear Lululemon studio pants over top of the bottoms but only if it is not too hot. Half of my hometown is in Yoga clothes. It is not my favourite look but some Yoga studios don't have change rooms and I don't see the big deal. The same goes for hiking. I just wear the hiking gear.
Now I do not go out in my swimming suit. I draw the line on that one. However, in Hawaii there were lots of women in bikinis at restaurants.

Susie

Veteran

I tend to agree with you. To me it just seems odd to combine clothes meant for working out/sweating with perfect hair and make up! And choosing gear as a daily outfit is different than running errands on the way home from working out. But the sporty or athleisure look has never been one that I care for so not wearing gear is a personal style choice for me.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm not "offended" by the sight of people wearing gear for daily life. Well, I might find it peculiar if someone wore it at a wedding or a funeral, but it definitely doesn't "bother" me to see someone grocery shopping in their yoga pants.

I just don't like to wear it myself for regular life. I do understand the appeal of Sporty Luxe because it allows for the kind of crossover that seems crucial to my own life. But when everyone is wearing gear it becomes a very boring uniform...I think it takes some of the fun out of people watching, perhaps.

anchie

Veteran

I am little confused about this gear dressing. Is this US thing? I don't think I saw people in gear on the streets im my area unless they were actively running or biking. And even for yoga, you don't go in yoga gear, you use dressing room to change.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Anchie, I think it is much more common in North America, yes. Although you might see it outside of larger cities in Europe, in places where people go to hike a lot.

anchie

Veteran

Suz, yes of course, Jack Wolfskin jackets are very popular here, among the men especially. My husband wears them. Is this the type of gear that you are refering to?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Anchie, Suz is dead right. It's a common North American way of dressing (people wear sports/workout clothes as their casual wear). The look is called Athleisure, and it's 100% acceptable in casual settings here.

Athleisure is not common on the streets of Europe or Asia - although Sporty Luxe IS. I see lots of people wearing sneakers in Europe, Hong Kong and Tokyo - but it's not with workout clothes. It's with casual, smart casual or dressy clothes.

April

Veteran

Hmm, Lisap, I guess it's not as easy to explain as I thought. So let's see. Apparently there are multiple ways to live in gear. Let's assume they're all matters of choice and environmental norm and not matters of right or wrong. Let's also assume any one of them might get you a cranky forum post from a middle-aged picky sort such as myself.

As I have been saying on this forum for years, the whole gear-in-public thing is just so boring. I feel like we should make an effort to be visually interesting for each other, and no matter how expensive those yoga pants were, they're relentlessly dull. Just a pricy variation on jeans and a tee shirt worn with athletic sneakers. HO HUM.

Sure, it's practical, it's just not interesting. (I absolutely cut you total slack if you have tiny ones.) But I'm in the camp of Tim Gunn: "If you want to feel like you didn't get out of bed, then don't."

Not talking about running an errand on the way home from yoga. Goodness, I'm not insane. I'm talking about a town where it's actually difficult to to spot regular clothes on the street during the day. Surely everyone cannot be on her way home from yoga all day every day.

I feel that if you had the time to get that much hair to behave that beautifully and you had the time to apply that much makeup to such stunning effect, for goodness sake, get dressed.

Anonymous

I see what you are getting at, and I will continue to have a different opinion I am also cranky, picky and middle-aged, but I don't feel obligated or nor interested in dressing a certain way just to make myself look more interesting to other people . Seriously. When I was in peak shape and weight a few years ago, Lululemon was my weekend uniform, and yes, with hair and makeup done to work with it. It worked for my lifestyle of sports tournaments , practices and games and was a hell of a lot more comfy to climb up the seating risers in a gym and get in and out of a car all day. I thought I looked pretty nice - my gear was clean, new, flattering and modern. To some people, myself obviously included, wearing sports gear is actually seen as a a good thing - a sign of an active lifestyle. I recognize I am almost alone here on the forum with my opinion , but until the day comes when I look like total crap in yoga pants, i'm still going to be wearing them As a matter of fact, in front of me today at the grocery store was a woman in her 70's, wearing a purple North Face jacket, psychedelic print running tights, and running shoes. She was trim and fit looking, and i assumed she was just coming from or going to the gym. Right on!

Lisa

Veteran

I'm in the gear is gear camp. I don't leave the house in gear unless I am going to the gym and when I'm done I promptly go back home to change. But I'm not a fan of the tight body con fit of most gear clothing, so I try to get out of it as fast as possible when I'm not exercising. I've recently started swapping out my yoga pants for joggers because they fit a little looser. But I see gear all the time, and people don't look sweaty wearing it, so I figure gear worn all day is just another style options now-a-days.

anchie

Veteran

I must be wierd one. I just spent last week on vacation in a nice hotel with the gym, and was not sure if it is ok to go from my hotel room to the hotel gym in my excersise clothes or should I change there

shedev

Veteran

I don't wear head to toe gear as outfits, but I have gear items that never go to the gym and are worn as part of outfits. I don't feel the need to try to be visually interesting to strangers, but my unusual fashion sense may achieve that.

Anonymous

I don't think anyone should feel obligated to dress to be interesting to others. It's perfectly fine if you want to do that, but I don't understand why someone should feel obligated to. It makes me wonder -- why can't someone who's wearing gear look interesting? (Not a gear person, but nothing against it if you're on the run with kids in tow.)

Anonymous

Xtabay - exactly.

Sal

Veteran

LisaP - I am in your camp. I like gear, feel good in it, and love the ease of it. I love the bright colours, the fact it washes and wears so quickly and easily, and that it encourages me to be active.

For me, I actually feel it is flattering and comfortable, it holds me in where I want to be held in.

I don't really put it on unless I plan to exercise, but I do have crossover days such as:
- working at athletic event where I am not competing, but tearing all over the place after athletes
- going to watch a son play tennis, but will duck out for a walk or run, then come back to complete watching
- walk with friends then a coffee

As with any other trend it can become boring when overdone - I can see how others can fatigue of it as I can fatigue of other trends that have become overdone (skinnies and ballet flats a few years back).

But a bit like the black puffer jacket it is a practical trend that works for many.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

April, to you wearing gear as casual wear looks uninteresting (strong sartorial preferences). To Anchie, it's borderline inappropriate to wear gear unless engaging in a sporting activity. (Euro cultural norms). To Lisap and Sally, wearing gear is hip, active and acceptable (Northern American norms). I understand ALL points of view.

April, I much prefer wearing non-active clothes for casual wear for a few reasons:

I cannot stand the way my yoga clothes look and feel on my body. I feel at my absolute worst style wise when I wear any type of sports gear, so I limit when I wear it. It DOES work perfectly for yoga, so it is what it is.

My dislike for wearing athletic clothes "out of context" has its root in my Euro upbringing. It's just not something that is done in that part of the world. It's ingrained. Anchie touched on this (cultural norms).

I live in the US - have for 13 years - and am SOOOO used to people wearing gear in all sorts of casual settings. It's a very acceptable cultural norm.

The way I see it now: It's dated to think of gear as inappropriate in non-athletic casual settings in North America. It's also dated for people who wear gear to think of those who wear smart casual or biz casual clothes as dressed up in the same setting.

Just as I accept people wearing gear as casual wear because it makes them happy - they should accept that I will dress up and enjoy my non-gear clothes to the fullest. Neither "camp" should feel the need to defend their position because it's all current and part of our modern melting point of fashion and style.

Meredith

Veteran

I'm team Lisa on this one as well. Isn't wearing gear as athleisure just an ultimate expression of the Isabel Marant quote from Ummlila's thread: “I’m like every woman, so I try to work on how to look slimmer or how to look taller but not be overdressed. I think most of the time when you dress in the morning, you go toward something that’s very pretty, but at the end you say, ‘Ah, no, I’m having a hard day, I need to have something easy that I’m not afraid to break.’ It’s a balance of fashion and a way of life.”

I think gear can be fashionable and interesting (http://www.sweatybetty.com) or empowering and engaged in activism (http://www.oiselle.com). I feel confident and ready to take on my day in gear, not ready to stay in bed. Naturally, I will do my hair and make up because I'm wearing gear to get things done, not lounge. There are plenty of places I would not wear gear, so I guess I understand the general musing about level of appropriateness, but I think gear is completely acceptable for many casual non-work environments. Gonna go put on some yoga pants to run to the grocery store and irk some fellow shoppers (big wink here, xoxo).

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