WSS Style: City Chic Active Wear Review
With most major active wear brands actively ignoring anyone over a size 12 (who can forget my experience at Lorna Jane?). Let’s be honest here, even their size 16 or XL is more liike a 12. It is no wonder “plus size” women are frustrated and opt for an oversized tee with trackies or have to resort to wearing whatever they can get their hands on.
Contrary to popular belief (especially if you look on Instagram), curvy or plus size women DO work out. With curvy celebrities and models posting about their workouts, more and more women are becoming more inspired to get fit, have confidence in themselves and less worried about what people are thinking or saying about them while working out. Personally, I walk and do yoga for my own fitness and to help with stress and anxiety.
Celebrities like Fiona Faulkner and Ashley Graham work out regularly in the gym with a personal trainer and look fantastic. Just because we are curvy, doesn’t mean we aren’t fit and healthy. I know people who are incredibly skinny and aren’t fit but society would see them as having the ideal body shape.
Although, there are others who would tell them to “eat a burger”. Really, people? Body shaming is not cool. Whether you think a person is fat or too skinny, keep your opinions to yourself.
Last year my ex-partner emailed to tell me that I was “grossly obese when he and I were together”. Personally, I think those that criticise others are projecting their own insecurities or issues onto others.
As you can see from the picture below, I’m not obese at all. Maybe overweight, but at 5’10 (175cm) and a size 14/16, I am quite happy with how I look and feel, thank you. For someone who has Hypothyroidism and chronic asthma, I think I am doing fairly well. Hello, look at those legs! haha! I didn’t get those from not exercising.
“I’ve seen people where it rules their lives, who want to be thinner or have bigger boobs, and how it wears them down. And I don’t want that in my life. I have insecurities, of course, but I don’t hang out with anyone who points them out to me.”
— Adele on the power of surrounding yourself with positive people who embrace you to Rolling Stone magazine.
Of course, when I work out I want to look good and as I was saying earlier, before my body shamming tangent, it is incredibly hard to find stylish, trendy and flattering active wear if you are over a size 12.
Thankfully, City Chic recently launched a fantastic active wear range.
Here are three outfits from the range that we love:
Be Bold
I love a quotes and statements and this top not only tells you to be bold but it also does a great job of hiding those jiggly bits on your tummy while doing yoga, while also covering your butt. Motivation and flattering is a win in our eyes!
Clockwise: Be Bold tank, Coloured Sports Crop Top, 3/4 sports legging and Puma R698 Sneakers.
Warm it up
A decent jacket is a must have before and after exercising or while out of your daily walk. We love the style of the City Chic performance jacket. It has been a god send on cold morning walks.
Clockwise: Black Performance Jacket, Colours Sports Crop, 3/4 sports leggings and Reebok Furylite Sneakers.
Hip Hop Hoodie Magic
I was kindly gifted this outfit by City Chic and I love it. Since it has been so cold, I wear the performance jacket (above) over the top of the hooded sleeveless top and have the hood hanging over the back of the jacket, which actually looks really good. The outfit itself has been fantastic at yoga providing just enough covering to my butt and tummy, while looking actively stylish. The leggings are incredibly flattering and sit right on the waist. No butt crack, muffin top or see through-ness to be had. The sports bra top provides enough support for ‘the girls’ while upside down and in weird poses. It was also great while walking the dogs (my dogs like to go fast and almost run while out and about). Overall, the outfit is comfortable, practical and stylish and that is exactly what we want from our active wear, isn’t it?
Note: Always try on fitness leggings before buying them. Squat in the mirror and check you can’t see your underwear. Seriously, no one wants to see what you had for breakfast while you are doing your wide-legged forward bend in front of them.
Clockwise: Cross Back Top, Coloured Sports Crop Top, 3/4 Sport Legging and Adidas Originals Tubular Runner Black Print Sneakers
What do you think of the range?