Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Health and Fitness

    Finally, Sportswear That Actually Makes Us Want To Go To The Gym...

    If your sad-looking retro-but-not-in-a-good-way T-shirt and faded joggers are the things holding you back from hitting the gym, look no further. We want a killer bikini bod and it's going to take some work. A new gym kit is needed.

    By Holly Welch
    Published 6 January 2014 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Sportswear - Lucas Hugh
    Sportswear - Lucas Hugh
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    If your sad-looking retro-but-not-in-a-good-way T-shirt and faded joggers are the things holding you back from hitting the gym, look no further. We want a killer bikini bod and it's going to take some work. A new gym kit is needed.

    Here's our guide to the best places that have some actually really very nice stuff:

    1. Lucas Hugh These guys produce high end cool separates that you don't mind being seen in on the way to and from the gym. And they're tested on professional sportsmen and women. Find them in Harrods, Matches and Fenwicks or directly at

    lucashugh.com.

    2. Zoe Karssen Think super-cool jersey pieces with super-cool patterns. Wear them all the time not just when exercising. The leopard print hoody is our favourite. Shop Zoe Karssen at Net-a-Porter.

    You may like
    • Best gym leggings: Ally Head and Sophie Cookson wearing black workout leggings We’re Notoriously Fussy Editors—Our Pick of the 21 Best Gym Leggings You Can Buy
    • Lillie Bleasdale trying the best gym shorts 10 Best Gym Shorts to Buy for Hot, Sweaty Workouts—Tried and Tested by Our Editors
    • the MCUK team wearing a selection of the best Pilates clothes As Pilates Instructors and Health Editors, Trust Us—These Are the Only Pilates Clothes Worth Your Money

    Sportswear - Zoe Karssen

    Sportswear - Zoe Karssen

    3. Gant Oversized tees are our exercise staple. Make sure your's is loose and cotton. Our top tip: always make sure you have a cool slogan on the front to distract from your red, sweating face.

    Sportswear - Gant

    Sportswear - Gant

    4. Patagonia Patagonia’s Pliant yoga leggings are the best in the business. Tight around the ankle, super-stretchy, super-quick to dry and the wide waist band make them very flattering. This company have brilliant ethical and eco credentials, too, so it's not just your body that is benefiting.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Sportswear - Patagonia

    Sportswear - Patagonia

    5. Vivo Barefoot Super lightweight trainers that make you feel light as a feather. Vivo Barefoot are pioneers in the barefoot movement, which promotes following your natural rythms and posture for increased health benefits. They come in sleek shapes and fun colours, too – what more could you want?

    Sportswear - Vivo Barefoot

    Sportswear - Vivo Barefoot

    6. Nike They have their reputation as one of the best for a reason, because they are. Simple. Their Flash running jacket means we have no excuse when it rains….

    Sportswear - Nike

    Sportswear - Nike

    7. UGG They do so much more than just furry boots, you know. We love these track pants - they come in a cool colour and a great shape that holds - no baggy knees here, thank you very much.

    Sportswear - UGG

    Sportswear - UGG

    8. Brooklyn We Go Hard Leave the free ‘welcome’ backpack the gym gave you at your induction at home. Instead, get a cool tote that you can actually fit everything in and isn’t an obvious 'sports' bag. This denim number is worth every penny.

    Sportswear - Brooklyn We Go Hard

    Sportswear - Brooklyn We Go Hard

    9. Spanx The ultimate shapewear company has very kindly created perfect tanks to enhance our sillouettes as we work out - before all the hard work has paid off! We have a feeling their black ribbed tank is going to be our workout staple.

    Don't fancy the gym? Here are 10 fitness DVDs that we're loving right now...

    Holly Welch
    Social Links Navigation
    Read more
    Best gym leggings: Ally Head and Sophie Cookson wearing black workout leggings
    Fitness We’re Notoriously Fussy Editors—Our Pick of the 21 Best Gym Leggings You Can Buy
    Lillie Bleasdale trying the best gym shorts
    Fitness 10 Best Gym Shorts to Buy for Hot, Sweaty Workouts—Tried and Tested by Our Editors
     
     
    the MCUK team wearing a selection of the best Pilates clothes
    Fitness As Pilates Instructors and Health Editors, Trust Us—These Are the Only Pilates Clothes Worth Your Money
    Senior Health Editor Ally Head wearing some of the best petite gym leggings from Adanola
    Fitness These Are, Hands Down, the Best Petite Gym Leggings That Money Can Buy According to Our 5ft1 Editors
     
     
    Latest in Health and Fitness
    Health freelance writer Katie Sims trying a 20-minute wind down bedtime ritual
    Wellbeing I Swapped My Evening Scroll for a 20-Minute Wind-Down Ritual—Two Weeks Later, I Sleep Completely Differently
    Freelance writer Ash S during her bone broth experiment, where she drank it every day
    Nutrition I Drank Bone Broth Before Breakfast for a Month—and My Gut Health Wasn't the Only Thing That Changed
     
     
    A woman body brushing, taking a supplement, and heading to a workout class in gym city
    Female health I Asked Leading Women’s Health Experts About the Best Health Investment They’ve Ever Made. Their Answers Surprised Me
    Senior Health Editor trying Rapha, Pas Normal, Universal Colours, and Jelenew cycling gear, in Richmond Park and Brighton
    Fitness I'm a Fashion-Conscious Health Editor Who Just Started Cycling—6 Brands That Finally Nailed Style and Performance
     
     
    Latest in Features
    Charlotte Mensah Afro Hair
    Hair Charlotte Mensah Has Spent 40 Years Changing the Conversation Around Afro Hair—Now, Her Legacy Is Going on Display
    Aesthetics Safety
    Beauty "What Did She Expect?"—The Sexism and Classism Behind The UK’s Aesthetics Safety Crisis
     
     
    Wedding planning
    Relationships I Love My Fiancé, but I Resent the Emotional Labour of Planning Our Wedding
    Expensive beauty products, luxury beauty
    Beauty The Expensive Products That Are Actually Worth It, According to Beauty Editors Who’ve Tried Thousands
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.