The fashion mistakes you make at the gym

The gym is not a runway and sports clothing is often less than appealing. You may not aspire to look stylish when you are sweating over the free weights, but you do not want to look offensive either. When you wear something that is certainly not proper gym gear, it makes others uncomfortable just to look at you. Some men have no idea what to wear to the gym, and make terrible clothing choices, much to the horror of other gym goers. Don?t be that guy; avoid these style sins when you hit the gym.

Boxercise

Some gyms run boxercise classes, which borrow techniques used by boxers for a strenuous workout. Unfortunately, some men seem to interpret the name of the class as a dress code, and turn up for a workout in their underwear. Nobody at the gym wants to see you getting sweaty in your boxers, or worse, your briefs. Keep the underwear for below your exercise gear. You may think nobody will notice if you wear your loose boxer underwear instead of gym shorts, but they definitely will notice. While it is good to be comfortable in your working out clothes, there is such a thing as too comfortable.

Regular pants

Tracksuit pants and shorts are not among the most fashionable of bottoms. Under normal circumstances, outside of the gym, you would be best advised to avoid the baggy gear and wear nicely fitted pants. However, all the style rules are reversed at the gym. Wearing your jeans to the gym does not give you the freedom needed for a good workout, and it looks so out of place. Similarly, you need proper shoes for exercising. Going in your regular leather loafers will not cut it, and will look strange when paired with an otherwise appropriate gym outfit. You also need to avoid everyday footwear that may be unsafe for use around gym equipment. Flip flops or sandals are a no-no, and will often result in you being denied entry to the gym.

Too much cologne

Dousing yourself in cologne will not disguise the smell of your sweat. In fact, the combination of sweat and perfume is so much worse than sweat alone. Your cologne will smell stronger when you are sweating, creating a noxious combination. To avoid the offensive smell, wear an effective deodorant and no more than a squirt of cologne. Nobody expects you to smell sweet when you are exercising, but it is not too much to expect you to try to reduce bad odors.

White trainers

Good sports shoes are essential, and even the most expensive brands rarely make stylish sporting footwear. You may be tempted to get a minimalist pair of runners, in plain white. This will look great for a few weeks, before your trainers begin to look grotty. White sports shoes accumulate dirt and dust, especially if you are also using them for outdoor exercise. They will never again look as nice as they did when freshly purchased. For trainers that look better for longer, go for dark colors, even if the design is not as slick.