Tart Up My Running Style (Men's Edition)

February 11, 2016 3:53 PM

I want to look cute at marathons. Men's running shorts and clothes are super blah. Dress me hotter!

Think Folsom Street Fair, but for running. Me: 5'11, 170, cis fellow, who was luckily born without any sense of modesty.

I have tried women's running clothes, and the fit is... not ideal. I like Oiselle, InkNBurn, but the women's side. I would like at least a goo pocket, but a phone pocket is ideal.

Even search terms would help!

Bonus round: winter running tights, etc.

(All suggestions welcome. Go wild, please!)

posted by gregglind to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

NIke has some compression tights maybe? Not sure if that's what you mean. The crotch seems to be styled like underwear, so I'd put those under some shorts.
posted by GuyZero at 4:13 PM on February 11, 2016

I always double take when I see someone in those fluorescent knee-high running socks.
Sassy & cute, but more spring than winter.
posted by OlivesAndTurkishCoffee at 4:50 PM on February 11, 2016

Best answer: Oh hey! I have only recently decided to carry over my extreme clothing pickiness to my runwear, and it's actually been fussily fun. The thing that makes the biggest difference is co-ordinating colour and details. If you have these shoes, say, you could make sure your wicking top matches the shoe main colour, and your headphone cords match the shoe neon detailing. It's pretty much like making a cool looking "real clothes" outfit, really. But it does look suprisingly "put together" if you follow through the whole way from shoes->cap.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 4:53 PM on February 11, 2016

Oh, and just get plain black running shorts. If you want to add some 90's style pizazz, you can wear coloured undershorts that come out from under the short shorts, too.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 4:55 PM on February 11, 2016

Best answer: you might also be able to get an artist to airbrush/do designs and paint stuff on your wicking clothes for you, if you're inclined to absorb costs.
posted by koroshiya at 4:59 PM on February 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Think Folsom Street Fair

Oh, if you wanted to get cute about that particular look you could wear 3 or 4 HR monitors. By the time I've fully "suited up" for running including phone strap and HR strap and everything else it's starting to feel a little fetishistic, anyhow.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 5:11 PM on February 11, 2016

Best answer: Go sleeveless synthetic top, maybe a size too small?
posted by Captain Chesapeake at 5:13 PM on February 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

Does this help? (Flickr search for tag "baytobreakers")
posted by homelystar at 7:46 PM on February 11, 2016

I thought maybe "fastinista" for a search term, but the press and blogosphere seem to apply it mostly to female runners. Regarding brands, perhaps you would like Pearl Izumi?
posted by homelystar at 7:58 PM on February 11, 2016

Best answer: Check out Richard Simmons's Facebook page! He models many snazzy running outfits.
posted by asperity at 8:48 PM on February 11, 2016

Best answer: I have always thought Ashmei jackets were pretty cool.
posted by tinkletown at 1:08 AM on February 12, 2016

Best answer: Maybe think up a full costume, instead of trying for snazzy individual components? As a longtime Bay to Breakers participant / spectator, that's what separates the truly dedicated from the tutu-wearing masses. Ben Nye makeup + fixing powder + fixing spray will stay on so well you'll have to practically sandpaper it off at the end.
posted by knuspermanatee at 11:46 AM on February 12, 2016

Best answer: BOA is exactly what you want!

I mean, look at this stuff. There's really no end to the nonsense. If I'm reading between the lines, your question was, "Where can I find a toucan-camouflage singlet?"
posted by brozek at 2:40 PM on February 13, 2016 [2 favorites]