Page 3A • Thursday, January 22, 2004
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LAUREN SMITH
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et’s get physical:
ashionably fit
The Thursday night bar scene in College
tation is not the only place for fashion faux
as. The Student Recreation Center, a highly
opular place between post-Christmas break
nd spring break, is home to many a man clad
|n white T-shirts with yellow arm pit stains or
tie woman in the classic “T & T,” also known
s tunic and tights. Even though there are the
edicated few- on campus whose workouts are
onsistent, year-round plans, who, rather than loathe the
nevitable swimsuit season, look forward to it, a great deal of the
eople in the weight room are more interested in checking out
very person in view.
Let’s face it, guys are looking out of the corner of their eyes
t the amount of weight the guy next to him is lifting,
leanwhile, the girls on the treadmills are staring at the girls on
le machines in front of them in jealousy lusting after a body
ley once had —last clearly seen on high school graduation day.
Make-up or teased hair in the weight room are something I
ould never endorse, but dressing can be psychological as it
ems to affect my mood and the outcome of what I am doing.
Ilaving a truly effective workout is difficult enough to accom-
llish. so clothes that tug in the wrong place or make you feel
|isecure are just an extra stress that is not needed. Many women
ive shoes, so finding a fun pair of running or cross-training
oes can motivate you to hit the pavement to get some use out
f them.
I Nike just came out with the Shox Turbo, which not only
lomes in bright colors, but you actually feel like you are walk
ing on air all the time. Though beauty is often equated with pain,
these shoes defy the stereotypes. Comfort and attractiveness is a
liller combination.
The simple rule of style in the gym is know when to be tight
Ind when to hang loose. Highly aerobic activity, such as running,
■alls for America’s favorite, 100 percent cotton in a loose-fitting
Irm, while the snug should be reserved for activities such as
lilates, yoga and other forms of resistance training. This rule
See Couture on page 4A
naui?
The Battalion
Sweat in style
Athletic apparel companies make velour for bujffashionistas
By Lauren Smith
THE BATTALION
When Professor Klump lost all of his weight in “The Nutty
Professor,” he wanted spandex, all spandex. For most, especial
ly women, spandex remains an object to be feared as it hides
nothing. Exercisers often forget that there is a stylish middle
ground between spandex outfits and an oversized T-shirt and tat
tered shorts.
Leah Venable, a lecturer in the health and kinesiology depart
ment and a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym, suggests a Nike com
bination of shorts and a sport-bra-fit tank top for girls.
"Spandex should have never been invented, and too many
people wear it that should not,” Venable said. “But it does serve
a purpose for bikers, just not in the weight room.”
While spandex is on-the-outs for most, velour tracksuits,
made famous by the ultimate diva, Jennifer Lopez, are hot right
now for women as not only exercise attire, but an outfit for class
as well. Although the style originated with designer labels such
as BCBG and Juicy Couture, Nike has jumped on the bandwag
on, making the style more affordable, and has designed them
more for athletic, rather than fashion, purposes.
Jennifer Frank, a sophomore accounting major from Houston,
sports her velour tracksuit around West Campus as well as at the
Student Recreation Center.
"The outfit is incredibly comfortable,” Frank said. “It is slim
ming, too, because it is all one color and you look cute no mat
ter what setting you are in.”
Even though there seem to be more options available for
women’s workout attire, there is opportunity to add to a man’s
style in the weight room.
Venable said she believes more is more, and guys should
choose shorts that come to mid-thigh, steering clear of short
shorts of any kind.
“The big no-no for guys are shirts with no sleeves and tank
tops,” Venable said. “No, it’s not cool, it just makes you look like
you are trying to be cool.”
“A typical T-shirt, like Nike or Abercrombie and Fitch, with
pants work well for guys and usually looks very good,” she said.
The exercise clothes at Academy are usually more expensive,
and stores such as Target and Ross Dress For Less often carry the
same brands at a significantly lower cost.
"What a lot of people do not realize is you can find workout
clothes that are attractive, inexpensive and serve the purpose of
intent," Venable said.
In the age of Internet shopping, there are also many helpful
Web sites to direct people on the road to developing a stylish
Evan O’CoNNtu* THE BATTALION
Sophomore biology major, Heather Holmes, struts her stuff while lifting
weights in Gold's Gym in College Station.
workout wardrobe. Sites such as championcatalog.com,
FitCouture.com and danskin.com offer fun items at a reasonable
price. •
There is definitely a distinct style between what women and
men can wear.
Rory Graham, a senior petroleum engineering major, said she
See Workout on page 4A
MSC CIA presents.
AMERICAN VOICES is a nationally recognized one person play.
It stretches the issue of diversity to examine
SOCIO-ECONOMICS
EATING DISORDERS
RELIGION
ETHNICITY
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Thursday, January 22
MSC Room 201,7:00 PM
Admission is FREE
Persons with disabilities, please
call (979) 845-1515 to inform
us of your special needs.
Questions? call 845-1515
ask for MSC CIA