5 High Fashion Fits to Make the Treadmill Your Runway

5 High Fashion Fits to Make the Treadmill Your Runway

It's easy to just throw on anything and hit the gym. After all, you'll just be sweating through it anyway. But while your ratty sweatpants and rigorously loved T-shirts may get the job done, you should consider investing in some proper fitness gear, not only for the style points but also for their functional benefits.

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Quality gym clothes can keep you cool (or warm), pump up your confidence, motivate you to train harder, and prevent you from looking like a hot, soaked mess by the end of a grueling workout. And with the athleisure trend apparently here to stay, chic activewear can pull double duty both in and out of the gym. Here, our favorite pieces to help you get fit and look fab -- something for every type of gym bunny.

1. For the Professional Amateur

If you're getting started on your fitness journey, or getting back into the groove, it's normal to feel intimidated when stepping into the gym. But if you at least look like you know what you're doing, the battle is halfway won. Exude competency with GapFit's Sports T-Shirt and Brush Tech Jersey Shorts. Made of breathable jersey and featuring Gap's gDry Wicking Technology, this tee and short combo is ridiculously comfortable and will help you stay sweat-free.

2. For the Vintage Lifter

The '70s and '80s gave birth to a now billion-dollar fitness industry, so why not pull a 2005 Xtina and go back to basics with a look that gently coos "Jazzercise"? Dare to bare extra skin with 2(x)ist's Breathable Mesh Tank and Core Bicolor Retro Jogger Shorts, which will show off the hard work you've been doing on those guns and gams.

3. For the Black Panther

Is there anything sexier than a man in compression tights...except maybe a man out of them? Compression garments, however, are not just fun to look at and wear -- they may also increase blood flow, thus aiding in recovery and easing muscle soreness after vigorous training. Channel your inner sleek-jungle-cat-cum-superhero with Nike Pro 3/4 Training Tights and a Nike Dri-Fit Academy Soccer Top.

4. For the Gaycation Twerkout

When you're away from home and trying to fit in some exercise, you want a look that can transition from the gym to the beach to the bar. Invest in some stylish performance apparel, like a lightweight Vuori Trail Short and Tuvalu Tank Top. The tank, made with ecologically harvested sea algae and pima cotton, incorporates natural odor-control SeaCell technology, while the shorts, also anti-odor, come with a built-in liner and ample pockets to keep you on the go for the rest of your day.

5. For the Body-ody-ody Builder

The most serious fitness fanatics should try Reebok's Speedwick Compression Exo Camo Tight and matching Activchill Graphic Long Sleeve Compression Shirt -- they draw heat away from the body and feature mesh in key sweat areas to keep you cool even when your muscles are on fire. And while Converse's Chuck Taylor All Stars have been a weightlifter's best friend for decades, Reebok offers a modern option in its Legacy Lifter shoe, perfectly engineered for all your squatting and deadlifting needs.