Question:
What is/was important to you when slecting plus size exercise wear?

   — Amber L. (posted on February 21, 2003)

February 21, 2003
Plus size wear should be cool, like the smaller sizes. Not just the dark colors, pastels, bright oranges, peaches, melon colors. Something youthful, no matter what your size you want to feel young, and beautiful. I personally like Danskin. They have alot of fun colors.
   — anonymous A.

February 21, 2003
All my shirts are V necks. i think they make me look slimmer on top and its much more confortable for my fat neck. I think that work out clothes should be fitting and not loose. I would perfer to wear darker colors to the gym so Im not the big bright one in the gym that everyone sees. Plain, youthful, and comfortable.
   — Lindy L.

February 21, 2003
I liked tight fitting Danskin type pants as it kept all the fat from jiggling and I would always wear a plus size T-shirt over it. One piece danskins are nice too, also with a large T-shirt over it. It would also depend on which type of exercise you are doing-for me, the above outfits worked for treadmill, and weight machines.
   — Cindy R.

February 21, 2003
a material that obsorbs sweat, but then doesnt stick to your body! I prefer to work out in tank tops as I get really hot.
   — preop_wendyd

February 21, 2003
I'd just like to say something about plus size pants in general - maybe I'm just deformed and no one else but me and my mother has/had this problem. Here goes. The butt is always too small and the belly part is too big - they make them the same size! I always wound up taking and rolling the front part of the waistline of all my exercise and sweat pants (or any pants with elastic) because there was too much extra material there and the crotch would hang down - and the butt part was always too short so I'd have to pull them up in back. Please address this when designing!! Just because a person is MO, it doesn't mean that they are round.
   — Toni C.

February 21, 2003
I like something with a drawstring waist so that you can adjust for your comfort. Elastic waists tend to either be too tight or too loose for me. Also, I like the pants to be more form-fitting in the thigh area especially since my thighs rubbed together. Actually that may not be a bad idea to reinforce the area between the thighs so you don't have to worry about worn areas there. A couple of times I came home from working out and realized that my shorts had developed holes in the inner thigh and I was flashing everyone while I worked out! Also, lots of us are short and fat LOL and I love the slightly flared workout pants but they drag the ground. It seems that the bigger the size the taller they assume you are. It would be nice to have some workout clothes for the petite AND large woman. I like to have plenty of give in the arms as mine were pretty large and I hate to have to pack my arms in those little skinny armholes. Color is good, but please no prints/stripes on the bottom. Keep the print/stripes small and subtle. I hate the stuff that looks like Carmen Miranda threw up all over it. :) Good luck to your mom. It sounds like a neat project!
   — ctyst

February 21, 2003
my biggest complaint about wk out wear is how hard it is to get off after a workout. Sports bras are the worst!!! It's more of a workout AFTER the workout!
   — jpwork00

February 25, 2003
Thank you so much for asking for input for designing workout clothes. I have very little choice in clothes for physical activities. I am a size 5x and would like to see this line of clothing up to 8x or so and be available in a chain store like Wall-Mart. By plus size, I do hope you mean above a 3x, 3x are readily available but larger sizes don't seem to exist. I don't shop online and live in Canada. We have Wall-Mart here too ;) Please don't forget the Canadians who desperately need this type of product too. I would like to see shorts,mid thigh or capri length pants in solid colours of navy burgandy purple royal blue with double inner thighs and made of a stretchy and very breathable fabric; a high quality elastic waist band; $25 or less. For tops-- sports bra and tank top in one, length to the waist plus a couple of inches,good size arm holes, good support at the breasts, mesh fabric in the sweatiest areas for evaporation. $25 or less Tee shirts-- PRE SHRUNK FABRIC v-neck tees to CROTCH LENGTH on a 5'8" person to cover the apron/hanging skin that so many of us have and hate, lightweight poly/cotton blend,short sleeves, tropical solid colours and darks. $20 or less. Sport bras--A,B,C cups--why bother? D and up--cotton/lycra/spandex blends with double fabric at the breasts and darted cups for better fit, lift and contouring to prevent flopping and sagging; good breast coverage; wide straps that are close together but not racer back; wide bottom band that won't roll up; no fasteners or front fasteners; variety of solid colours. Please be sure to let us know when your products are ready and good luck in your business. mary ann t. in windsor ontario canada
   — mary ann T.