How investing in new clothes and shoes helps your health and boosts your performance

Who doesn’t love new workout gear? And if you need to justify the expense, there are plenty of good reasons beyond fashion to update your workout clothes. Here are a few trend highlights and helpful tips to keep you motivated and looking your best.

Old Gym Shoes Can Cause Injuries

The recommended time for changing running shoes is every 500 miles. Otherwise fatigue, foot pain and other injuries including runner’s knee, shin splints and IT band issues can set in. Several studies show that wearing outworn shoes increases injuries.

Old Gym Clothes Can Cause Rashes … and More

Think about it: All of the sweat and goodness-knows-what other funk from your own body and from the gym just stewing inside of your post-workout gym bag—yuck! Not only does moisture + bacteria = odor, but the mold, fungus and bacteria that build up can cause an itchy rash, a yeast infection, body acne, athlete’s foot, even staph infections. Many brands incorporate silver into their fabric to help with odor but also look for workout clothes (including socks) made with sweat-wicking and quick-drying materials.

New Workout Gear Motivates You to Work Out

When doctors wear a white lab coat, they may experience “enclothed cognition,” or the influence that clothes have on the wearer’s psychology and processes. The same can be said for new workout clothes, which can be confidence-building, uplifting and lead to feeling as if you have the competitive edge.  Luxe brand favorites include Lululemon sweat-wicking Speed Up Tight with pockets and a strappy Energy Bra, Alo Goddess Legging, the glam white-on-white Marble ensembles at Varley and the bold block style ala the Springs Leggings from the Gen Z-loving brand Outdoor Voices.

The Right Workout Gear May Even Save Your Life

Trying a new workout such as trail running or another outdoor activity? Make sure you have correct gear. “Some pieces in the fall collection are made with windproof, water resistant and moisture-wicking fabrics, which are essential characteristics in choosing to update your running gear,” says Danielle Hinan, marketing director for Lolë. The brand is also focused on making high quality and functional fabrics such as vegan “downs.”

Not only can the right gear keep you protected from the elements, but at The Pursuit Series put on by The Outbound Collective, during a class on Survival Tips in nature (including getting injured on a hike), outdoor educator and wilderness EMT Brad Bostrom said the fact that some people were wearing a bright jacket (ala Marmot’s new Scarlet Red Women’s Featherless Jacket) literally saved their lives because rescuers, including those in helicopters, could spot them from afar. Reflective gear, found at The North Face and elsewhere, can also be a life-saving asset for nighttime bike rides, walks and runs.

Gen Z Yellow and Other Fall/Winter 2018-2019 Trends

There are still mesh, ruffles, ombre, metallic, camouflage (and related browns and greens) as well as plenty of Millennial Pink (a sort of salmon-apricot color) we’ve seen in previous seasons. But fall is also delivering a fresh bouquet of micro-floral prints and saturated colors you can find at Free People Movement. Brights take the spotlight (think tomato red) at Alo; power pastels at Lolë, Touché LA and Yummy & Trendy; and yes, bold Gen-Z yellow (ranging from bright canary-colored to school-bus yellow ala Rihanna’s 2015 Guo Pei Met Gala gown). “The color yellow symbolizes freshness, happiness, positivity, clarity, energy, optimism, enlightenment, remembrance, intellect, honor, loyalty and joy,” says Hinan.

Let’s hear it for all that positivity happily powering us through our workouts and taking us through feasts and parties without too much of a setback to our waistlines. All that in a workout top? Yes, I’ll have what she’s having.