Running style
In the Seventies and Eighties runners faced a fashion blackhole with high-leg flappy shorts and one-size-fits-all vests.
Even worse were dull colour schemes, shiny nylon fabrics and a male-only bias. The Nineties began to see a widening of styles and more imaginative shades. But it has been the 21st century that has heralded an amazing revolution in fitness clothing.
Now there are numerous brands offering fabulous colours and trend-setting outfits.Running kit comes in a wide range of sizes, including flattering female-fit and the use of hi-tech fabrics, such as Dri-Fit, means that niggles of the past, such as sweat-soaked tops, rashes and rubs, are pretty much eliminated.
Pamela Andrews, assistant manager of Run 4 It Glasgow City, agrees that there has been a huge change in the fitness clothing market in recent years. She says: “Manufacturers and designers of running clothing are becoming more and more adventurous and consumers seem to really appreciate this. “Women especially like the brighter colours and they all prefer feminine-fit as it’s a lot more flattering than baggy clothing.”
The most popular combination of running clothes is black tights or looser-fit pants jazzed up with a bright or pastel-coloured, figure-hugging top. Women like to keep up with the trends too and at the moment the best sellers are pinks, in all shades, bold purples and bright blues.
The latest collections of fitness clothing for brands such as Gore, Ron Hill, New Balance, Asics and Nike, include hues of post-box red, bright blue, baby pink and raspberry purple. Swiss company Oldo has also introduced a pretty flowery design in this summer’s range of active clothing for added fashion appeal.
Men are now catered for in a way that would have been beyond imagination two decades ago. Trendy colour schemes, styles to fit all sizes and ultra-comfy fabrics make the men’s section of running shops look just as appealing as the ladies’.
And younger runners haven’t been forgotten either with ever increasing ranges of scaled-down, fully-functional but stylish running clothes.
Running accessories and gadgets are also worthy of their own place on the fashion catwalk. Water bottles, watches and even socks are not only useful but look good too. “Attention to detail and accessorising is all part of the running fashion trend too,” says Pamela. “People are keen to have cool looking kit, and because of this manufacturers are producing far more items such as heart rate monitors in appealing colours and styles. Many are women-specific too. “It’s all a far cry from the running kit of a couple of decades ago.”