Complete Guide to Workout Clothes For Women Over 50
Best Workout Clothes for Women Over 50
Post Updated December 5, 2023
Staying fit over fifty can be challenging, but the good news is that it’s never too late to start a new workout routine. Once you’ve chosen the type of exercise you plan to do, there is nothing more fun and motivating than finding new workout gear to wear.
However, finding the best workout clothes for women over 50 can seem daunting at the outset. there is so much to consider these days–like moisture-wicking fabrics, fabrics made out of recycled water bottles, as well as wading through all the thoughtful design features. I will show you this needn’t be true and have you kitted up in the cutest and most practical fitness wear around.
When you finish, you will be able to find the right clothes with the perfect fit and be able to build the perfect workout wardrobe. You will be on your way to your physical fitness dreams. As we know, hard work is only part of the equation, we want to look cute e too.
Plus there are several new size-inclusive brands and brands designed specifically for mature women. So, grab your bike shorts, and let’s get to work.
In the winter months, you may want to look toward breathable fabrics such as merino wool, and to brands such as Outdoor Voices. No matter the season, choosing soft fabric, along with sweat-wicking fabric is a must, and for good reason.
Finding the best workout clothes for women over 50 may seem an impossible task, but it is far easier than you might think. We have a general idea of what we need to wear for most activities and the tags on most workout wear provide valuable information on use and care. In addition, today’s stores offer looks for all body types, which is an important thing if one is a bit reticent to being seen in workout clothing.
In recent years fitness brands have worked hard to create high-tech options with fit and fabric, so you find the right exercise wear.
Since I’ve tried so much workout gear in my day, I figure it would be a good idea to break down the best fitness wear for women over 50 by activity, and then answer a few questions.
Shop This Look:
Long Sleeve Yoga Top by Alo Yoga and Wide Leg Pants by Athleta. I am wearing this outfit right now. So comfortable and yet polished enough to work from home. It feels like PJs but looks great, can’t say enough!
What should an older woman wear to the gym?
There is no reason an older woman should dress differently than other women at the gym. Leggings or joggers, shorts, and skorts are great options because they allow ease of movement while not getting in the way of working out. T-shirts, tank tops, longline sports tops, sports bras, tunics, and short-sleeved and long-sleeve t-shirts are all appropriate for older women to wear to the gym.
You can athletic wear with four-way stretch, sports bras with extra support, and a variety of closures that make athletic wear more accessible to real women.
Older women sometimes prefer a little more coverage, so wearing a tunic over leggings or looser long-sleeved shirts can be a good choice. Undergarments made especially for working out help avoid panty lines. Yoga jackets, bomber-style jackets, and hoodies are great choices, as well as wrap sweaters and vests when the gym is cool. Headbands, beanies, and baseball caps may be worn in the gym if you are having a bad hair day, but other types of hats should be avoided.
Comfortable trainers or sneakers are a good choice for the gym; but be sure to check, sometimes gyms have specific rules about what kind of footwear can be worn in the gym. Plus you want your clothing and sneakers to be comfortable for the most effective workout. When choosing workout tops, you may want to avoid crop tops or wear a shirt over them.
I have found that many rides up uncomfortably- and no one wants that.
An older woman can express her unique style in the gym by choosing fun patterns, bright colors, or matched sets to make a fashionable statement although I am a black yoga pants person myself.
Women should avoid fragile materials such as silk, and clothing that is either too tight or too loose.
Clothing with excess fabric such as kimonos, ruffles, and loose sleeves should be avoided as the fabric could get stuck in a machine or get in the way of your workout. Wearing sandals, heels and boots are often not allowed in gyms.
I like varying my workout routines so I make sure to do several activities I love to keep me interested and motivated. I love going on brisk walks in nature, I practice yoga every morning and would love to take up dance in the next year. If you read my post on how I lost 50 pounds and kept it off you may know that I started my weight loss journey by committing to walking 20 minutes every day.
Shop This Look
I did a major haul from Amazon to see if their workout wear was as good as high-end and found lots of gems! Proof that you can find great workout gear at all price points. I am loving this cross-back top, perfect to wear over my sports bra, looks great for running errands too. Cross Back Top (check how cute it looks from the back in the photo below) and let’s discuss the pants-these were a dupe for Lulu Lemon and OMG, they are so cute and comfortable! A fraction of the price! CRZ Yoga Women’s Stretch Lounge Pants
Best Fitness outfits for Walking and Jogging
Running shorts, joggers, and leggings with t-shirts and sweatshirts are great choices for walking and jogging; but most important is choosing the right footwear and making sure your shoes fit and are the right ones for the job. You may decide not to invest too much money in shorts, leggings, and shirts, but you should not cut corners on your shoes.
Runners often have two to three pairs of running shoes to allow a day or two for the shoes to dry out between uses. Wearing comfortable socks that wick away moisture and keep the feet cushioned is key.
Shop This Look:
We walk several miles a day most days. Here I styled a pair of Athleta Skyline Shorts-I got these last year and bought a second pair for this summer I like them so much. I styled it with an organic cotton shirt, another love from Everlane, again, I bought this top last year. This year I went back and bought two white and one black, I loved it so much. It washed beautifully and the cotton is first-rate. Organic Cutaway Tank
Bonus tip: The best shorts for heat: These by Athleta. I discovered them last summer, (think 90+ degrees and 90+ humidity). These shorts were cool lightweight and oh, so cute. One of the best things is that these high waist shorts paired with a long line shirt avoid the dreaded muffin top.
Best Outfits for Yoga, and Pilates:
Yoga Pilates and Tai Chi are very popular among older women, (myself included) and are a great way to maintain flexibility, balance, coordination, and strength. Best of all, these activities offer a variety of fashion choices-essentially clothing with a relaxed fit for easy movement. I usually wear leggings even in the summer months when working out in the gym or for a yoga class.
Leggings, joggers, and wide-leg pants make great workout clothes for yoga, but I would recommend avoiding anything with excess fabric, such as wide-leg pants for a pilates class or the gym.
Many women wear sports bras, cropped tops, tank tops, and t-shirts in the gym, which are all great choices depending on your personal style. I like to wear a light top over my sports bras like this cute cross-back top from Amazon. Both the pants and top are from Amazon.
Styling workout outfits
I usually keep my workout outfits simple, dark leggings on the bottom and an occasional bright or patterned top, much the same way as I typically dress. Patterned fitness wear is super cute and often looks great on curvy figures.
How to style your fitness wear after working out
I used to always change out of my fitness wear post working out, but sometimes time is just a little too tight. Our new gym doesn’t have a large changing room, nor a place to store a change of clothing so I’ve come up with some ways to cover up my gym clothing so that I can run errands, grab a smoothie or get a casual lunch without having to completely change.
While we see fitness wear worn out in public from resorts and airports to grocery stores and malls. I am a bit old school, I like to add a little cover after working. I wrote a whole blog post about it.How to Wear Workout Clothes in Public but here are a few quick ideas to get you started:
Oversized T-shirt over leggings. I love grabbing an oversized button-down shirt to put on over workout clothes to run errands. It looks super chic and a little more polished than an oversized tank.
Cute jackets, such as bomber jacket, jean jacket, windbreaker, or oversized hoodie over workout wear, this type of look is so cute. You might switch out sneakers for a pair of booties just to change things up a bit.
Wrap top, dress, or skirt over workout wear. Wrap tops have been a staple in the ballet world and look amazing over fitness wear. I also love a wrap skirt that can be easily folded into your tote bag is great, especially if you are heading out to lunch. Add a button-up shirt over your gym top and you have a really cute post-workout outfit. Wrap dresses also work well for post-workout outfits.
Kimono over leggings or shorts. I have often grabbed a colorful kimono and a pair of cute shoes to camouflage my workout wear when I have to run errands after a workout.
Caring for your workout wear
In my experience, most “name brand” workout wear usually launders well. I have had a few bad experiences when I’ve tried brands I wasn’t familiar with or mistakenly bought fashion leggings rather than actual workout leggings. It’s also been a little hit and miss when I’ve purchased name brands from places like TJMaxx and Marshalls. I suspect that some of the things at those stores are there because there is a problem with them. It’s hit or miss.
Launder your workout clothes by washing like colors together, and wash in warm water (unless the garment’s tags direct otherwise.) I am careful not to dry my fitness wear in a hot dryer, it can cause the fabric to pill.
We use unscented soap to wash our clothes to avoid irritation, but there are some great detergents made for fitness clothing to keep them smelling fresh such as Laundress.
Where to Find the Best Workout Clothes for Women Over 50
Women over 50 can purchase flattering workout clothing from any shop that sells clothing in their size. There are lots of great places to buy cute workout clothes, and most brands carry a full range of sizes. In the end, it comes down to deciding what you need for the activity and what actually looks good. I spent several hours in Athleta one afternoon, trying on all sorts of styles and patterns. In the end, I chose solid black on the bottom and went for more interest on the top, but that’s just my personal taste. Brands such as Fabletics have beautiful patterns and change up their merchandise all the time.
Athleta tends to go for practical shapes while Carbon 38 goes full glam in the workout wear department. Alo Yoga has mainly yoga styles (which can also be worn in the gym) and Lulu Lemon is so popular they’ve set the gold standard for workout wear. I have also enjoyed the styles at Sweaty Betty and have several items I love and am still enjoying two years in. Click the links to explore my favorite places to shop for workout gear.
How to Save Money on Workout Wear:
- Look for name brands at discount shops such as Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls or TJMAXX (Sometimes the clothes can be a little hit or miss in the quality department)
2. Be sure to check for discount codes and the sale tab on your favorite fitness wear websites sites.
3. See below: Amazon has many great ‘dupes’ for more expensive brands, and it’s a great way of getting cute cheap workout clothes for a fraction of the cost.
BONUS: Best Amazon Workout Wear Dupes for Women Over 50
A great way to save money on workout wear is to look for “dupes” on Amazon. For today’s post, I ordered several highly-rated cute fitness outfits to give you a taste of the kinds of workout outfits you can get on Amazon. I was quite pleased with the quality and fit overall and all the items I chose were almost dead ringers for their more expensive counterparts. Throughout this post, I’ve shared links to the workout wear I bought from Amazon for this post. I have been super happy with it so far.
More On How to Style Workout Wear
Workout Wear Tips For Women over 50
How to Style Leggings for Women Over 50
Leggings For Women Over 50? We say Of Course, Here’s How!
You look so cute in all these looks- and super comfy and free. I personally love walking shorts best for my walks- but joggers too as we never know what we’re gonna get in terms of temperature here in Montreal! Have a great weekend xx
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