077. RECEIPTS: A Brisbane Pilates Teacher on Curating an Activewear Capsule and Performance-Driven Brands
A Special Activewear Edition.
RECEIPTS is a mid-week column for subscribers of Every Body Gets Dressed. In it, I ask individuals outside the fashion industry about their shopping budgets, spending decisions, and how they balance investment buys with more affordable ones. We discuss the brands that delighted them and those that disappointed them to bring you impartial takes on the most hyped-up brands in fashion, beauty, and beyond. You can find past editions of this column here. Most of the people I feature are subscribers! If you’d like your answers featured in the column, comment below or reply to this email, and I’ll get in touch.
Today, I spoke to Elisha for an Activewear special edition of Receipts. She had terrific insights about quality activewear and practical shopping tips for sports bras, workout shoes, etc. I’m grateful for her inspiration; I’m currently updating my activewear drawer and ready to explore alternatives beyond Lululemon!
What is your job, and where do you live? I’m an online Personal Trainer, Pilates instructor, and nutrition coach from Brisbane, Australia. [Her website if you’re looking!].
What are your priorities when you shop for activewear? In order of importance: longevity, quality, comfort, brand ethos, style and price. I’m happy to pay more for activewear that ticks these boxes.
True or False? ‘You get what you pay for with activewear’. False - getting highly performing activewear at different price points is possible. I look for brands that ooze health and wellness, from their social content to their loyalty programs. It tells me they’re focused not just on profit and growth but on understanding what makes great activewear. A few that come to mind include Alo Yoga, First Base, and LSKD.
When do you buy new workout clothes? I have a 10-piece active capsule wardrobe that works year-round. I usually acquire one prized possession from each category of products I need and then wear that piece to death. Embracing the ‘capsule’ approach means one less barrier to exercising because I don’t waste time and energy thinking about what to wear.
An activewear brand/product you bought that is worth the hype? I love Live The Process, particularly the bodysuits. They make designs that are practical and stylish, and their quality and fit are exceptional. I also wear them outside of exercise.
It pains me to say this because their manufacturing ethics are murky, but the SKIMS Fits Everybody T-Shirt warrants the constant waitlist. It’s comfortable, breathable and feels like a second skin, even when exercising.
An activewear brand/product you bought that isn’t worth the hype. I’m usually disappointed by ready-to-wear brands that branch out into activewear. This includes brands I love and wear daily, like Camilla & Marc, Balenciaga, and Henne. The resulting product often feels like the brand expanded for expansion’s sake, and the quality was an afterthought. Brands whose sole focus is activewear tend to guarantee a superior product.
Also, the Stanley Tumbler cost me nearly AU$100, and it leaks. The external coating is flaking off, and it is a hassle to open and re-fill.
A brand you bought that you think charges more than they are worth? Whilst the Sporty & Rich aesthetic is right up my alley, I don’t think they are worth the prices they charge for. As someone who exercises regularly, I prefer to invest in brands that focus on fit, performance, and quality over style and aesthetics.
A brand you bought that you’d pay twice the money for? The Australian brand DK Active is affordable and inclusive. Their designs highlight the female form beautifully. They have also achieved the highest possible rating through Good On You, a site that measures how genuinely sustainable and ethical brands are - a reference to bookmark.
What bag do you pair with your workout outfits? Fjallraven’s Kanken 16L backpack.
What are your favourite workout shoes? HOKA for running, Asics or Brooks for other indoor or outdoor workouts. What matters most when choosing the right shoe, especially for high-impact exercise, is determining whether you have a narrow or wide foot to prevent pain and injuries. If it’s available where they live, I always recommend my clients book an appointment with a specialist IRL.
I go barefoot for pilates and other home workouts to improve foot strength. I’ve also found that it helps my clients with mobility.
What brand(s) make(s) the best underwear for working out? Great workout underwear is so overlooked! It plays a massive role in exercise enjoyment and preventing the dreaded camel toe. I like Boody’s Shaper high-waist G-string, SKIMS’ Fits Everybody high-waist thong, and, if you’re in Australia, Bonds’ Bases seamless gee string.
About athleisure, what are your go-to brands for everyday clothes with a sports touch that you wear, not for working out? Aje Athletica is the one exception to the rule I mentioned earlier about staying away from ready-to-wear’s diffusion lines. Aje operates Athletica as a separate entity with activewear and athleisure at its core. I also love P.E Nation; their creative director, cool-girl Pip Ewards, effortlessly blends activewear and everyday wear, and the pieces are super wearable.
I’d love to leverage your expertise by asking you the top questions I get asked by subscribers about activewear. First, which brand(s) make(s) the best sports bra for large chests? I am a small B cup, but I put this question to 7,000+ women in a survey. These brands and styles came out as the most supportive: Panache, Lorna Jane, particularly the Amy maximum support bra, and Triumph, particularly the Triaction range.
I also recommend following Eleanor Cardwell on Instagram. She is an English Netball Player who reviews sports bras for women with larger chests and has some brilliant insights.
I’m hearing that many women hate working out in synthetics. Do you have recommendations for them? Nagnata makes activewear sets made of innovative organic cotton and wool knitted fabrics.
Finally, what alternatives would you recommend for people who don’t like leggings? I always advocate for women working out in shorts as it makes it easier to regulate body temperature. Shorts also allow for a greater range of motion when doing certain exercises, and they rarely roll or slip down. I like Lululemon Align shorts and LSKD Fusion shorts.
What are the best activewear pieces you’ve bought in recent years? My most worn activewear sets and the brand I continue to re-purchase are the ribbed seamless sets by AIMN. I size up in this range for a more comfortable fit. This can cause the waist to gape a little, which can easily be fixed with a fresh wash, but I personally like the extra breathing space over a waistband that digs into the skin and feels restrictive. I would also say 108 Sportif’s Sculpt seamless compression leggings. They’re often sold out for a good reason. The fit is second to none, with the perfect amount of stretch.
What’s the best cheap activewear item you’ve bought and loved? Uniqlo AIRISM collection is hard to fault. It is affordable, has a rich history, and so much technology behind its development.
What is the most expensive activewear piece you’ve bought? Was it worth it? My Live The Process Bodysuit. It is what gets me out of bed early in Winter. Worth every cent.
What activewear product or brand do you wish you could gatekeep? If I could start my activewear and ready-to-wear wardrobes from scratch, I’d head straight to Wardrobe NYC and add everything to cart.
Would love to see a 10 piece capsule with the brands she’s mentioned
This was great! I particularly love that Elisha mentioned Good On You. Active wear is an area where finding sustainable or ethical brands can be tough since so much of it is synthetic fibers. A necessary evil in active wear. Also, I had never heard of Live the Process and the body suits look terrific! Good rec.