Getting the look

[DeliaItaly]

Ladies - Soozz, Legion, p184, Happy Swimmer and all the others whose names I can't remember off hand, could we have a chat about what to wear - here in Italy women always look so cool even when the run. Any good sites for attractive running gear? Thanks, delia.

[onyourmarks]

There's TLC Sport (just Google it). Not specifically running gear, more gym wear really, but you may find some nice pieces there. I hope you find what you want

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Will chck it out, thanks.

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Try SportsDirect too they have a wide range of less expensive gear also the better well known brands. Ronhill is a good make of nice running gear I've found have put it on my birthday list and keeping my fingers crossed

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Thanks for this Oldgirl, will look it up.

[notbad Graduate]

I mainly shop at Sports Direct & also DW Sports, running gear can be very expensive but so far I've managed to pick up some bargains. I favour Adidas & Nike at the moment & would definitely recommend clothes with wicking/clima cool/dri-fit as they wick the sweat away which helps a bit.

[happierswimming Graduate]

DeliaItaly- I love the idea of you going into fashion competition with Italian runners- well done! I would be hiding away and running in the dark

I also use Sports Direct and would recommend wicking clothes. I tend to buy karrimore brand but you might have to try different brands to find one whose cut and sizing policy suit you. Why is it that 16 means different things to different manufacturers? I'm a bit disappointed that the c25k new Tees from complete runner are sized so that I'll have to wear largest size- never had to get largest size before - are all their runners flat-chested????

[DeliaItaly Graduate in reply to happierswimming]

When I'm in the UK in November I'll get fitted for a sports bra in marks and sparks and I too am totally dissappointed by the small T-shirts. I'm certainly not flat chested and my Marks and Sparks underwired has been holding me up like the underpinnings of the Forth Bridge

[Oldgirl Graduate in reply to DeliaItaly]

Primark do a very good sports bra for £8 white or black that are wonderful. I've bought really expensive bras in the past but not any longer since I found these. They come in cup sizes up to F or G I think.

[DeliaItaly Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Wow! Great will look up Primark too...

[totalbeginner Graduate]

i dont think i look at all cool - allthough i recently bought matching top and 3/4 legnth running capris which look better than my old gear! i would have said that i dont get too red - but after i ran my first 5 k on saturday and catching sight of my face about 15 min after the finish and seeing it all blotchy Im not sure I could ever look cool! i got my clothes from sports direct in branch and ende up being glad i didnt buy mail order - i got the size 14 bottoms and the size 12 top. as pp also mentioned they are both karrimor as it seemed good value. with some running socks as well it came to less than £30

i must say i love the look of the sweaty betty brand clothing - but its a bit out of my price range at the moment. they sell everyday clothing as well as sportswear, and you can search by sports, the running tops look really stylish, long vest tops with pretty rouching detail..... migth hvave to go on the christmas list!

sweatybetty.com

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Thanks girls - I'll look all these things up. Italian women are mainly high maintenance - I feel so scruffy compared to them. They don't even sweat. I live near the Rimini area where some beaches are occupied by size zero twigs. Anyway, I try not to care tooooo much

[Stevetheb Graduate]

I've noticed TK Maxx have a limited range of running kit from assorted manufacturers.. at somewhat less than some of the Online suppliers...

[DeliaItaly Graduate in reply to Stevetheb]

Cheers Steve - unfortunately there's a spammer that's just got into this blog - serves me right I guess as he/she is trying to flog me assorted produce

[FluffyPigeon Graduate]

Don't worry about the spam. It is nothing you have done. The admin people are aware of this problem. It seems to hit all of us at some point. I have let the admin people about this one. On the clothing front I don't look cool at the moment, but with all the tips I have picked up here that should change. I have just graduated so I will be getting the new t shirt soon so that can be my first step!

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Can you sen me the link to the T-shirts please? In the uS I've seen some for undergradutaes too

[swanscot Graduate in reply to DeliaItaly]

Here's the link to the Complete Runner website with the technical C25K shirts: preview.tinyurl.com/8ex7q6c

(Click on a shirt to see the logo)

[DeliaItaly Graduate in reply to swanscot]

Thanks swanscot - I'll buy one as soon as I graduate!

[Legion Graduate]

There's no danger of me 'looking cool' when I run (unless beetroot is the new chic!) but so far my kit is: running shoes by Brooks, running socks mostly by Lidl (though their cycling socks are my favourite 'running' socks), 3/4 capris by Sainsburys, run bra by Shock Absorber (couldn't run without it!) and tops from Sports Direct & Trespass. I also found Hawkshead do nice wicking t-shirts (Hawkshead are also the Regatta, Dare 2 B and (I think) Karrimor brands). I bought a tee from Hawkshead for my son and it is lovely, soft t-shirt material but is apparently wicking too. May have to go back to find some for me...

Will order the c25k tee when I graduate, probably in red to offset my facial colour when running.

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Red face is the new cool. I was a gingery-auburn freckle-face very prone to purple skin when hot and bothered. Now silver fox with purple skin when running. Yay!

Shame there's no t-shirts for c25k undergraduates. I noticed some on a US site...

[Lu25k in reply to DeliaItaly]

Ah ha ha! I love this: "Red face is the new cool." Yes, I am fully on board with this. As far as color complements go, silver and purple look great together.

[Soozz Graduate]

I certainly don't look or feel cool. I got some black running capris from TK Maxx, wear any old t-shirt at the moment in the hope that soon I'll have a C25K graduate one, Brooks running shoes (my best investment) and an assortment of nice cushioned socks (kids' ones from Slazenger that were in the Sports Direct sale). In other words, a mess!

I can only imagine how elegant the Italians look out running, it must be very intimidating.

I also am a red-head, I have daily battles with frizziness, but on running days it looks like the little girl on the Brave poster, or Crystal Tips for those of you who remember her! not a good look.

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Just invested in some nice H&M gear. Sooz, the top says it has a built in bra - no such thing if you ask me - well fine if you are a flat chested 13-year old but not if you're knocking 60 and had previously breast fed three hungry babies! Anyway, looks cool to me. Sunglasses and I'll compete with the best of them - Keep the aspidistra flying and all that