A famous Christmas song, Deck The Halls, tells us to "don our gay apparel." But, I ask you, where's it written that it just applies only to formal wear?
This is, after all, a time of year for all things festive and fun. I believe that's true for fitness and fashion as well. Go bright or go home, am I right?
A lot of people have commented on my extensive collection of holiday workout gear. But, here's a #FitnessFashionFession...I really don't have as much as it may appear...
Take a quick look, here's what I have in my arsenal (as of last year):
Now, take a closer look. You may notice that there's actually only six Christmas-themed items (four pairs of leggings and two tops). Every year I do the Runner's World Winter Run Streak, and I seldom, if ever, wear the same outfit twice. How is it possible?
With some Holiday Fitness Gear Hacks, that's how! I'll share five of them with you:
Mix in some basic seasonal non-running items.
These can be plain, basic leggings that you can layer over real running tights. If it's just a short run you're embarking on, you might be able to just wear them on their own. The patterned leggings, above, are from discount stores. They're flannel-lined, and quite cozy, but definitely are not made for hardcore workouts or especially long runs. The green elf tank, pictured above, is actually part of a pajama set (hello, 100% cotton!), so I layer it over a tech fabric top (or two) and all is good.
Go with green and/or red!
Wearing green and/or red is a given this time of year. The pieces don't even need to reference the holidays because the colors stand alone on their own brightness. Did you notice the plain red and green leggings in the first pic? They're also cheapies from a discount store. Since I only wear them a few times each year, they don't get much wear and tear, so they've held up well for several years (and I can even wear the green ones, again, for St. Patrick's Day #DoubleWin).
Layer in a few puffer vests (duh, LOL).
This probably comes as no surprise, but the puffer vest see a lot of action this time of year. The red, lime green, and silver ones (as well as my basic black one) aren't Christmas-themed...but their colors are. Layering them over different tops or jackets instantly creates more options for color combinations.
Accessories are your BFFF's (Best Fitness Fashion Friends).
We're talking hats, headbands, buffs and gloves here. Not pictured is my "ugly Christmas-sweater-patterned" hat with reindeer, but it gets worn a lot in December. I also have a grey beanie (in one of the pics above) that I got from the Christmas in July ultra in 2015, and the the green buff, with the Santa pattern (lower left, in first pic) is from the CIJ ultra in 2016. I don't have a green headband (yet), but my red headband (and red/black buffalo plaid one, with matching gloves) gets used a lot during the holiday season.
 |
And don't forget the socks!
I saved the best tip for last. Knee socks are valuable pieces to have, no matter the season. Sure, I have some red and green compression socks, but I also have some colorful regular knee socks. Some of these socks have been cut into calf sleeves, and some have been used as arm sleeves for especially cold runs. I mean, why not? They add a nice touch of flair and funk to any outfit, and they can instantly turn a simple outfit into a holiday-themed one. You can find many colors and patterns at your local dollar store, so it's easy to indulge with little-to-no guilt or expense.
Since last year, there have been two new shirts added to my arsenal. Both are similar in design, but both were gifted to me from different sources. Needless to say, they're both great additions to my growing supply of holiday fun!
So there you have it! While the pieces look plentiful, the dollar investment has been quite minimal. I probably have less than $150 invested in everything (since some of the items are from races or were gifts). As you can see, all it takes is a little bit of creativity to amass plenty of different outfits.
How about you? Do you get into the holiday spirit with your running gear?
By the way...are you following me on social media?
This is so festive. It's giving me the warm fuzzies just reading about this1
ReplyDeleteI, on the other hand, own exactly ONE Christmas clothing item (not even an ugly sweater, but I am on the hunt for that). I'm a minimalist at heart, so don't think I could ever jump on this bandwagon too far...but I absolutely live vicariously through people like you and get a lot of fun out of knowing other people get into the spirit (and spread the spirit) in this way.
For the record, my one piece of Christmas apparel is an AWESOME T-shirt of The Grinch. I love it and can't wait to wear it over Christmas break :) But I think I might branch out and get a pair of Christmas socks and maybe even some snowflake earrings this year, too? With rising COVID numbers I think I need all the help I can get to get in the holiday spirit this year and some Christmas accessories might be a great place to start.
Even without Covid, the holiday season is tough for many people. A little extra spirit and good cheer, via a fun clothing item (or earrings) can make a huge difference.
DeleteBeautiful items appropriated for Christmas time.
ReplyDeleteHere we are planning a night run through the city wearing the Santa Claus hat.
Oh, that'll be fun! I need to organize a small night run...maybe it can coincide with my monthly full moon run (?)
DeleteYou know I am all about the holiday outfits for any and every holiday. You do a great job of mixing up your wardrobe pieces! nicely done
ReplyDeleteYes! If we could do more races together, we'd have a lot of fun "dressing the part."
DeleteOooh I want to do this! Just what I needed in order to find the magic of running again, in cold weather :)) I'll start shopping for some red running shirts and fun holiday socks. I already have some other fun stuff. Thanks for the idea, Kim! This post cheered me up!
ReplyDeleteRight now (or in about nine days) will be prime time for scoring on red (or green) items! Have fun!!
DeleteYou know me...I love to match my clothes and dress up. Best idea is wait until after Christmas and buy it all.
ReplyDeleteI have quite a stash.
Yes, right after Christmas is great. Sometimes, I've even found stuff earlier for discounted prices ;-)
DeleteSuch a fun post! And great tips. You do a great job making the most of your gear and you've inspired me to invest in a couple of items...my holiday wardrobe could use a boost :)
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to simply mix and match a few key items. I like a good challenge, LOL
DeleteI don't often dress up, but I did run in red & green today -- although the red was hidden under the jacket, LOL! I have a few fun holiday socks & hats. That's about it for me!
ReplyDeleteYou're very creative, Kim.
Thanks ;-) The thing is, one doesn't need an elaborate number of pieces to get a lot of mileage out of one's wardrobe. If you have some fun hats and socks, you already have a great foundation ;-)
DeleteYou do have cute Christmas running gear and I would never have guessed that all of your outfits are made up of so few pieces. I love how good you are at mixing and matching! I love wearing my Christmas capris and brought them with me to the farm, but it might be too warm tomorrow morning to wear them. Perhaps I should just sweat it out for the picture! LOL
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deb! It is fun mixing and matching. I love the challenge of coming up with different combinations...makes for an interesting twist to the holiday season ;-)
DeleteI love how creative you are! I have one holiday running top from Brooks and I wear it on days I don't run.
ReplyDelete