It’s taken them a bloody long time, but the sportswear market has finally graded its sizes up. Brands like Nike and adidas have only recently woken up, smelled the coffee and realized that their one-size fits all approach is outdated. Their new, improved and inclusive collections are wonderful in theory, but how do they fit? Just because a size 20 girl can get the leggings over her bum, will she feel supported enough to go for a run in them? To get to the bottom of this, we enlisted body positivity spokesperson Felicity Hayward to give us the 411 on the fit, fabrications and breathability of plus size activewear…
1. For Pilates
Puma Exclusive To ASOS, Plus Active Crop Top, £32; M&S COLLECTION, Drawstring Velour Joggers, £22.50; Nike, Flex Supreme Womens Trainers, £72, Simply Be
‘First off, these joggers feel like I’m wearing a walking cuddle so not only would I love to wear them for a stretch class, but I want to wear these 24/7 at home. You could also wear them out with a leather jacket, and no one would realise you’re in workout gear. Now, this top takes confidence, but if you’re happy to show off your stomach, then this top is the dream. The band not only adds a fashion vibe but it keeps the crop top in place. And, if you have big tits like me, it stops the top from rolling up.’
2. For The HIIT Class
M&S COLLECTION, Colour Block Jacket with Concealed Hood, £59; M&S COLLECTION, Extra High Impact Zip Front Sports Bra A-G, £16; M&S COLLECTION, Quick Dry Printed Leggings, £25; Nike, Air Max Command Womens Trainers, £100, Simply Be
‘This jacket makes me feel like a big kid again. I swear I had one like this from Fila in the ‘90s! I feel super secure in this bra especially as it has a thick band underneath. And, the front zip makes it easier than most sports bras to get on and off. Leggings can be quite tricky for me to buy as I have a big bum and a smaller waist, but these M&S ones are high rise so I can hoik them up and then use the adjustable ties at to pull them in at the waist. Dream. Top tip: buy for your bum size, not your waist if you want a comfortable fit. For me, as I have a big bum, they fit perfectly.’
3. The One For The Winter Run
*Puma Exclusive To ASOS, Plus Windbreaker Jacket, £60; Boohoo, Plus Ava Cutie With A Booty Bra, £18; Nike, Powered Legendary, £69.95; *Nike, Flex Supreme Womens Trainers, £72, Simply Be
‘I was hoping these trousers would be the one, it’s a no from me. I’m not a fan of this straight leg cut, I think it would be annoying while exercising. And, I hate to say it, but they give me a bit of a camel toe. Not ideal. Plus, the band at the waist doesn’t have much stretch, so I feel like it’s rolling down. However, this top is great. It’s slightly longer than a sports bra, so I feel less on show, but the support is still there.’
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4. For The Gym Sesh
*Nike, Breathe Elastika, £31.95; *M&S COLLECTION, Quick Dry Printed Leggings, £25; Nike, Air Max Command Womens Trainers, £100, Simply Be
‘Do I look like a glazed cherry? I feel like one. The top is perfect if you want to hit the gym hard as the back straps give support but the top itself is super loose and feels light. And, if you are potentially worried about wearing tight leggings and a crop top then this does hide that area in a flattering way.’
5. For Spin Class
M&S COLLECTION, Metallic Padded Gilet with Stormwear, £55; Puma Exclusive To ASOS, Plus Active Tank, £28; Puma Exclusive To ASOS, Capri Active Leggings, £35; Nike, Air Max Command Womens Trainers, £100, Simply Be
‘I like wearing matching sets, so I was pretty excited about this Puma look. Though the top is great, I’m a little disappointed by the bottoms as they are quite low-cut without much stretch and I feel like they might fall down. However, the colours, this sick metallic gilet and the top get a 10 out of 10 from me.’
6. For Yoga
adidas, Essentials Linear Hoodie, £42.95; adidas, Techfit Base Bra, £22.95; adidas, Essentials 3-Stripes Tapered Pants, £34.95; adidas by Stella McCartney, adizero XT Shoes, £139.95
‘Yellow can scare some people, but I love wearing it and I think it has the type of optimism that will make you push harder in your workout. The top has structure and feels very supportive. And, the joggers are amazing. They are comfy and thick enough you won’t feel chilly on a cold winter morning. Though the shoes are my favourite bit. If you have wide-fit they are great because they have adjustable laces, but everyone will love the fit and feel of them.’
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.