What exercise clothing will solve my problem?

February 4, 2018 11:40 PM

Female plus-size exerciser here, trying to figure out what to wear that leaves me free to move + covers my body enough to keep me psychologically comfortable + keeps me warm + is breathable so I don't overheat. Halp.

I've gotten very into ice skating but I've been flailing for six months, trying to figure out what to wear. Here's the deal:

-- I'm very pear-shaped. 2x on top with big boobs, 3x on the bottom with a seriously large bum and thighs.
-- It's cold in the rink, though I get warm or even hot once I'm warmed up.

What I'm currently wearing:
-- Generic black yoga-style pants. These are great -- warm enough and also breathable. Problem: I do not feel comfortable letting my ass go around in these pants without being covered. So I...
-- Tie a sweatshirt around my waist. This calms me, psychologically.
-- On top: a long-sleeve thick t-shirt. This is fine after I'm warmed up, but I am cold when I start.
-- I'm already squared away with other warmth-related items like hat and gloves.

I've refrained from wearing an additional sweatshirt on top because I thought maybe it looks crazy to have one sweatshirt on and another tied around my waist. Is that true?

But is there a better solution? Is there something that I can wear on top that will hang down long enough to cover my ass? I have never see a sweatshirt of this type. They're either waist length, or if they are longer they are too narrow for my hips/bum.

What else is out there for me? What are the plus-size retailers I should be looking at? I'm definitely experiencing that stuff at regular retailers just is proportioned all wrong -- like an XXL women's sweatshirt at Target is that hideous combination of too tight and too loose at the same time. Just wrong all over. Yet even at Junonia, the longer tops are just t-shirts, so no different than what I'm using, and the hoodie-type tops are not long enough to cover my bum.

HELP ME, plus-sized exercisers of Metafilter!

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (24 answers total)

You might want to think of a pull-on knit skirt. I know this may seem strange but, if you look at a lot of skaters working on their skills, they will often wear something similar. I am in the same boat, I don't like my butt hanging out but the comfort of leggings is my siren song. And don't be afraid to wear something that doesn't totally scream workout wear, skaters totally look normal wearing regular clothing. Might I suggest Modcloth? They are just my go-to retailer for plus size and the rarely disappoint and never make me feel like a second-class client. Up top, I might suggest fleece, either a jacket or a vest. The vest might be just the warmth boost you need when you start out. I have had good luck with Woolrich and sometimes Columbia for plus sized. Columbia tends to run small. Cabela's online catalog offers some damned good stuff in women's warm clothing but the sizes run a little small and top out at a 2x, sometimes a 3x. Maybe up top but probably not on the bottom for you. However, if you are willing to try Cabela's the quality and features have been high. I got into ice skating and skiing as a plus sized adult, so, I know your struggle.
posted by Foam Pants at 12:09 AM on February 5, 2018 [2 favorites]

I'd suggest looking into skirted yoga pants - they're basically just yoga pants with a shortish skirt over them. Often they're ruched or otherwise intended to cover the tightness of the yoga pants. I don't have a specific brand to recommend, but there are multiple options if you Google, and it looks like there are even some Etsy sellers doing ones made to measure.

On top, have you considered arm warmers? They might be a happy medium, temperature wise, and are much easier to fit.
posted by brainmouse at 12:10 AM on February 5, 2018 [3 favorites]

I think you are the target market for Woman Within. Check out this tunic hoodie!
posted by Snarl Furillo at 12:13 AM on February 5, 2018 [5 favorites]

Flippy skirt, vest and warm headband. That's traditional skating garb for a reason.
posted by fshgrl at 12:15 AM on February 5, 2018 [2 favorites]

Check out some of Rainbeau Curves skirted leggings (they have their own site, but are also available on amazon). And as the poster above said, add a vest and a warm earband and boom- cute and comfy!
posted by PorcineWithMe at 1:26 AM on February 5, 2018

A pull on a-line skirt made of a lightweight fabric is going to be comfy and look pretty. Hanes used to make these awesome knit skirts that came in a bunch of solid colors in a fabric much like yoga pants, but I guess they're not making them anymore. I have like, four. Kohl's often has lightweight pull on skirts - this one comes in colorful patterns, has pockets, and is on clearance. It's also a cut called a "skater" skirt, which is called that for a reason.

For your arms at first, consider arm warmers? They're athletic apparel, after all. Then when you warm up you can push them down or take them off. If you can't find any that you like or that fit you, they're a really great project for fiber crafters in your life - simple to measure and straightforward to construct.
posted by Mizu at 1:27 AM on February 5, 2018

What about a skater dress or a tee shirt dress over the leggings if that's a shape that suits you?
posted by poxandplague at 2:27 AM on February 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

OK this might be way off base but along the lines of "skirt!" you might also try the "running tutu!" When I ran races, I had one of these jazzy numbers just because I found it so hilarious that I was running races at all. There are also a ton of tutu tutorials online so sizing would be less of an issue. This might be totally the opposite of your style but if I saw you skating in one of these, I would totally lose it with happiness.
posted by athirstforsalt at 3:18 AM on February 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

Seconding skirted yoga pants - I (similarly sized and in need of similar psychological comfort) wear those for ballet class. For warm, maybe check the men’s dept? I have an XXL Champion men’s hoodie that is long/wide enough to cover my hips and butt. Also, check Lane Bryant, Avenue, and Simply Be for “tunic tops” - they’re not specifically workout clothes but they have the length you’re looking for.
posted by okayokayigive at 3:45 AM on February 5, 2018

Seconding Rainbeau Curves. They run slightly small I think, but I am a giant apple, so you may be okay.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 3:55 AM on February 5, 2018

Oh, and if you want skirted leggings, check out fullbeauty.com.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 3:57 AM on February 5, 2018

Wear a short tunic dress over the leggings, something with sleeves, or a short-sleeved one with a sweatshirt over it. Then put on a vest as your top layer - easy to remove once you warm up. This is what I wear running.
posted by mai at 5:32 AM on February 5, 2018

Wait are you skating indoors or outdoors or both?
I usually skate outdoors so I just wear my everyday clothes - usually leggings and some kind of big warm sweater and no jacket.

As far as your butt goes, remember you are the only one worried about it. And if anyone else skating is worried about your butt, that person is rude and you can feel free to tell them that if they are talking or staring.

But a long drapey cashmere sweater or chunky Nordic or British sweater are my go-tos for skating.
posted by littlewater at 6:19 AM on February 5, 2018

I second the recommendation of simple skirt. I'm thinking something A-line and short enough not to get in your way, like this one from Target or this one from Modcloth (currently on sale for $19).
posted by ourobouros at 6:45 AM on February 5, 2018

This may be a weird suggestion but you may consider trying maternity shirts. Now that I’m pregnant I’m discovering that a lot of maternity shirts are awesome and really long and are covering my butt up which is something I was looking for over my stretchy pants. After I give birth I’ll probably just continue to shop maternity hah- they are comfortable and I can’t find long shirts or sweaters anywhere else.
posted by FireFountain at 7:59 AM on February 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

Pocket skirt in an array of colors. IT'S GOT POCKETS!!!

Long vest. See also sleeveless cardigan. Keeping your core warm should mean your arms stay pretty comfortable in just sleeves, and then your core doesn't stay too warm.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:55 AM on February 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

I love ice skating for exercise! I primarily skate in hockey skates. I have a fear of falling and ripping pants that are tight like leggings. I wear a pair of "hiking" pants from EMS that I got on sale for $20 and a t shirt under a north face fleece jacket. It is not figure skating pretty, but it's much more comfortable and unless you are doing jumps and spins, you don't need to wear against the skin type pants. I actually wore men's jeans when I started. I am also 33 and didn't start skating until I was around 27 so i felt no pressure to dress like i was actually going to compete or something. ymmv
posted by WeekendJen at 9:01 AM on February 5, 2018

Have you considered just wearing normal casual clothes? I usually just wear jeans +sweater and usually winter coat (outside so it's weather dependent), never workout clothes. You don't really need much stretchiness in your clothing if you aren't doing something like figure skating jumps. Anything you can comfortably walk in with long strides, you can skate in. A zippered sweater/jacket on top lets you open it up or take it off when you get warmer. Leggings and a tunic/casual dress or something similar would also work and give you all the flexibility and coverage you need. You'd want to change after if you're sweating a lot, but the same is true for workout-specific clothes.
posted by randomnity at 9:25 AM on February 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

Also I would really suggest not tying a sweater around your waist anymore if you can help it. I'm worried that it could easily fall off and get caught in your skates (or someone behind you), which could be a nasty fall.

A long tunic/skirt /dress will cover you just as well and will let you move more easily too, without worrying about it falling off.
posted by randomnity at 9:31 AM on February 5, 2018 [2 favorites]

The Athleta CYA hoodie is specifically designed to cover your ass. I've been super-happy with their plus-size clothing, which is cut with actual plus-size people in mind. Their stuff is spendy, but durable.
posted by culfinglin at 10:19 AM on February 5, 2018

Hooray for ice skating! I'm always excited to hear of more adult skaters :)

+1 for skirted yoga leggings, or just any short flippy knit skirt over your leggings. You can also find tunic-length hoodies, but they will restrict movement more if you ever want to get into freestyle.

For warmth: if I'm at an average-temp indoor rink, I'll wear a sleeveless workout top with a hoodie. I warm up quickly and don't overheat too much in this combo (I otherwise tend to run cold). One of my nearby rinks is SUPER COLD, so there I'll wear a Uniqlo heattech shirt underneath my hoodie--which causes me to overheat after 30 minutes, but the alternative is freezing for the first 10 minutes.

A lot of the younger freestyle skaters will do a short flippy skirt + vest, to keep the core warm while maintaining maximum freedom of movement. I don't own a down vest but it seems like a useful layering piece if you plan to take it off and won't leave it behind at the rink by accident.
posted by serelliya at 4:02 PM on February 5, 2018

Seconding Athleta's CYA tops, but I was thinking of their drapey wraps, which are soft and comfy much as leggings are. This one has magnetic closures so you could start with it closed and open them when you're warmed up. The largest size is 2X, so not sure if it would work for you size wise, but since it's not very structured I think there's potential.
posted by snorkmaiden at 5:05 PM on February 5, 2018

I’m also a plus sized pear. I have found Lands End Thermaskin long underwear tops to be key to staying comfortable in a cold environment where I am active and get sweaty. They are warming, but also sweat wicking.

Generally, I find Columbia has the best plus sized active outdoor clothing for me. Then Lands End, LL Bean, and a Canadian company called Sportive Plus.

I find it delightful to do things that make my heart pound in comfy & colourful clothes.
posted by Heart_on_Sleeve at 8:00 PM on February 5, 2018

Universal Standard has recently introduced workout gear. They seem to truly understand the shape of women's bodies in larger sizes. (I cried actual tears of joy when I put on my first pair of jeans from them.) They are also a freaking delightful, woman-owned startup. I don't know if they solve your specific skating issues, but they would be a great option for a variety of workout gear.
posted by donnagirl at 6:41 AM on February 8, 2018