Down with night running!

Today my partner Henri and I ended up at Mountain Equipment Coop - the great outdoor store of Canada for those not in the know. I gravitated to the womens clothing section and found myself lost in touching textiles and awing and ooing over beautiful designs.

Where I ended up and started peeling off my own layers ready try on clothes was in the down jacket section. I bought my first full-on down jacket sometime in the nineties for my mountaineering course in the Rockies. Ten plus years later it's dirtier than hell but I live in this once quasi-living specimen from The North Face. You can find me in fact on a cool summer evening sporting my big fat jacket. Yes, I too, like George from Seinfeld have been laughed at and referred to as the Michelin lady. Doesn't phase me - I love me jacket and all it's bulges and prefer being snuggly vs cool at the start of anything active in the outdoors. My jacket has also been part of almost every amazing outdoor adventure I've been part of - which is probably why I love it so.

Now here's my point - down jackets have come a long way in the style department. I tried on a bunch of MEC designs including:














Far Left and Middle- MEC Tremblant Jacket/Vest in Boysenberry
Colour is why I first gravitated to this and the next down jacket. Cozy, cozy, cozy! Like my down jacket, they are very comfortable. Different than my nineties jacket, the cuts on these are tailored at the sides to fit my body better. I almost can't believe that they've done this with something as bulky as down.

Far Right - MEC Uplink Pullover in Merlot
Besides a great looking and hugging fit for this jacket, I LOVE the merlot colour!!! Henri, he did not. This jacket I WILL buy for middle of the night running when I'm really down to a stumble forward. As I plan on doing at least the 12 hour dirty girls that starts at 8pm, you will definitely see me in this beauty out there in Mansfield. Hmmm...if a heat wave prevails in August, this pullover will probably be handier during a night ultra run like Haliburton in September when the temps really do hover near zero.

You've run a long way...baby!

Fashion has come a long way and this includes the outfits women wear for sport. This turn of the century photograph illustrates my point (although the photograph of these Australian women is perhaps a bit contrived and comical).

I wouldn't doubt though that the collision of activewear and fashion is coming a bit full circle if we studied "sporting fashions" of the past.

One element of style that has surfaced in activewear is the presentation of a complete outfit. Running Skirts fall 2010 collection showcases this beautifully (view their coordinated collection here). Moeben out of California also presents coordinated running outfits from head to toe (view here). Another on the list is Skirt Sports (view here).

Running fashion has come a long way. It's not for all, but - hot dang - it's sweet for those that like to indulge in sugar and spice and all things nice!

Sheerly this top isn't made for running?

Oh yes it is! I came across a sheer running top in the très hip city of San Fransisco way back in 2008 and LOVED IT!

If you look beyond your typical store for running gear, you'll see more of the sheer style. And if you really want to push the gamut of sexiness in your workout gear, check out this store - Anatomie.

What I'm also noticing is that there are two very distinct styles of activewear (well, three or more if you count the crappy ones).

Style 1 - chique, city-esque clothing with loads of black and streamlined cuts

Style 2 - cute, playful lines with tons of pattern prints and flowing cuts

New ASICS AYAMi Running collection

I definitely scream for custom athletic gear!

How fabulous is Ice Cream?
Pictured above are three styles from the Quebec-based company (yes - called Ice Cream!). There are many more. What's absolutely fantastic is that you choose the style and then you choose the fabric. The fabric is all sweat-wicking so you're only limited by...nothing really! This is almost like being a kid in a candy store! I love ICE CREAM!

"Actively" rockin' the miliatary look

"Breathable" Military jacket:
Reclaimed from a "mom cleaning up son's room" mission

Love:
Mix of boyish jacket with skirt/leggings combo (I call it feminizing a masculine accessory)

Love:
Fitted top layers with flare of skirt.

Love:
Jacket's many pockets for running/carrying things (snacks, kleenix)

Smitten by the season's hottest colour!

I've been admiring this runner's top for some time now. Called, "the purple haze" it apparently feels quite light-weight against the body. A neat little feature are the thumb holes on the sleeves. Although I've never been one to search this feature out, I know I've had a number of women ask me if I would consider adding this to my own line of shirts.

Quite frankly, it's the colours and mix of shimmering top pattern with the bold colour on the bottom half of the shirt that make it a must-have on my clothing list (which, by the way, is growing by the day!). This top, made by Skirt Sports can be found at many online retailers, like this one.

Ultimate infusion of glam into running?

Stella McCartney for Adidas

I had my first glimpse of the line Stella McCartney made for Adidas at the Philadelphia Marathon this past fall. It was this top in a stunning shade of purple that I saw and new I had to have.

The running top has all the characteristics of what stylists predict to be trendy in the activewear industry for 2011: colour, feminine details and a sleek cut.

The price point may seem out of reach for some, although it depends on your approach to dressing for the great outdoors. Style does matter as it represents how we feel about ourselves and in turn, what message we are communicating with others.

This beautiful piece can be purchased online here, or at other stores that carry the Adidas line.

Running Clothing Trends

Creating stylish clothes for active folks is not a new - or a small phenomenon. With large players on the scene like Lululemon, Nike and Adidas, the topic of style in activewear cannot be ignored. Here, for example, are what style experts are seeing for this industry in 2011:

• Sleek and modern cuts (think streamlined)
  
• Feminine details (ruching, whimsical, undefined prints)
• Updated puffers and sweatshirts in classic and fashion forward shapes
  
• Electric cobalt and purple stand out as colour choices
• Jagged geometrics and abstract prints (think crazy leggings)

For the "colour of the year" in 2011, it's honeysuckle. With adjectives like "energetic" and "vibrant" used to describe this reddish-pink hue, I think it is only deserving that it makes its way into an item of running apparel next year. Here is a sample of the honeysuckle colour.

Wired Running

Do you travel to your running destinations with your laptop? I do - in fact I've had my MAC laptop with me in the middle of a forest searching for a signal. I also toted my laptop around California for a month taking it with me to the beach, the desert and into the mountains.

If you're like me, you'll appreciate this trendy neoprene laptop sleeve. The brand is "abbi" out of New York and this along with other bags can can be purchased online.

How do I know? I bought another abbi laptop carry bag three years ago and I receive compliments from other women every time I'm out with it!

Swiss Miss style

When I think of gals that are already rockin' style on the run, I think of Swiss Miss Iris. Iris has run - not once but twice - the absolutely brutal Badwater desert ultra (135 miles). I had the pleasure of crewing for her one year and know that the conditions can make for a very ugly experience with staying awake and running for well over twenty four hours and battling the extreme heat (averaging 130 F by day).

Like many Badwater competitors, Iris was outfitted all in white, however, her signature colour is black, by day and on the run. In one respect this seems counter to my critique of womens running clothes where black dominates to a boring degree.

Perhaps what sets Iris' style on the run apart from others is her insistence on buying quality items. Her tops and bottoms are always fitted, not baggy and she sports trendy accessories, like the Moeben animal print armbands, dirty girl gaiters and white compression socks.

The Swiss are known to have discerning tastes, and when it comes to running, this Swiss Miss is no different.

My fave tattoo

I love tattoos but I couldn't ever imagine covering my body in permanent, full colour designs. Sugoi has developed the next best thing - the "Tatu" armband for runners. For much less than the cost of a real tattoo, these sexy little runner's accessory even received positive reviews from the New York Times. Not surprising for a company like Sugoi that makes functional clothing for runners, triathletes and bikers. The armbands are available online from Sugoi here.

dirty girl gaiters

I've been wearing the most fabulous gaiters since I officially took up trail running. These "dirty girl" gaiters are made by a California hipster that has the funkiest style I've ever seen on a run. Gals new to the trails often ask what they are and where I purchased them. On that note - even the fellas ask about them. My partner swears by them to keep the nasty and annoying little stones and twigs out of your runners (dirty girl gaiters also come in male-friendly patterns and colours).

I also started wearing my gaiters in the winter while road running. I love them for the added barrier they provide from nasty Canadian winds and cold. You can buy dirty girl gaiters online here.

Pretty cold running

If you ever thought it was hard to dress for a run in nice weather, you know that almost any attempt to dress smartly for a cold night's run is futile.

Have women in cold climates no choice but to dress in dark, non-coordinated, drab and dare I say - overly bulky - outfits just to get a run in on a cold winter's night?

Here's one fabulous piece of winter clothing that is putting new meaning to the term "pretty cold." It's the puffer winter vest from JC Penny. With colours like lime green, vivid blue and matador red, women can at least add a splash of colour to their winter running wardrobe. And for under $20, we can afford a few splashes. These vests are available to purchase online from JC Penny.

Dressed to run

I recall meeting a gal at the Ottawa Marathon Expo several years ago that had just purchased her first running dress and was looking for seamless panties to go with it.

I don't think running dresses ever really took off - not like running skirts at least. Although I don't actually own a dress of this sorts (yet) I know that my fear would be accidental exposure. It can't be much different though from a running skirt - especially considering my preference is a skirt with briefs, not full shorts underneath.

A friend recently introduced me to the Nuu Muu brand. The patterns alone are adorable and I love the dark contrasting piping on the sleeves and neckline. There also appears to be a slit in the skirt - cute! Even cuter is the teardrop detailing in the neckline. I'm definitely willing to try "dressing" for a run next summer.

Too sexy for running?

I produce running events and I'm always on the lookout for ways I can add "funk" to my races. T-shirts, for example - how boring are so many of the shirts we receive in our goody bags as swag? And - how far can we push the gamut of what we give away as swag (speaking from a race director's perspective)?

I won't divulge all the details of what I'm thinking of making for one of my events, but I came across this fabric the other day and my mind has been going wild ever since.

Is it too sexy for running?