“And we care about this why?” is the question of some random woman on the New York Times Facebook page alongside a photo of Angelina Jolie wearing Atelier Versace on the Oscars red carpet Sunday evening.
I like to think I have the answer: the reason we care is because fashion is art. Design is art. What does this have to do with yoga, you ask? Not much, technically, though there is some connection, and I am going to draw it. Quite possibly, the tie is loose, but nonetheless, the relationship does exist in my yogic world.
When you think yoga, you rarely think fashion. Honestly, the complete opposite of fashion pops up in my brain. Seeing women walking around in yoga pants at the grocery store, or wherever, when it seems mostly obvious that they haven’t come right from the studio, that they’ve just been kickin’ it in their Lululemons all day long, it evokes a reaction in me. We’re all guilty of it, it’s fine, but you know you have a choice in the morning, and, sometimes, you just choose those pants when you shouldn’t. We all know the woman who wears her yoga pants so much that when she puts on a pair of jeans instead, her young children are so elated that they continuously comment how much they like her “new” clothes. But back to my original point, typically, two thoughts go through my mind when I see this woman in stretchy pants. First, I bet we’d get along well—you must appreciate what I appreciate about life. Second, I feel a little turned off. Not in a big way, but all the same. Of course it doesn’t matter. Yoga clothes are not important in the grand scheme of the practice, mentioning it now is not about judgment, it’s something else altogether, but the moral of the story is: take off the yoga pants, woman.
Months after I declared myself a Core Power Yoga Grant Street studio loyalist (there are about eight Core Power studios in Denver, so there is plenty of choice—I have five within ten minutes of my house and could take class at a different Core Power at any time), someone had written on the web site that they felt like all anyone cared about there was their clothes, that the studio was a giant fashion show with little heart or spirituality. I, personally, don’t agree, obviously. Simply put, who cares what you’re wearing in yoga? As long as it wicks the sweat away that’s all that matters. The people I take yoga with on a daily basis are quite serious about it, which means they need to be comfortable and have moveable clothes, which, in turn, also means they’re probably spending some money on the good stuff. And the good stuff is bound to look somewhat trendy, isn’t it? Again, who cares? Was it really worth a public forum post? Egh, sure, fine. The woman probably never returned. It’s not the place for her. No harm, no foul.
What I found tonight in class, with it being the Academy Awards (a major fashion evening) and Denver Fashion Weekend and New York Fashion Week and spring runway season, clothes were on the forefront of my mind. Much because one of the reasons that I have a six-day a week yoga habit is because I want to look hot when I put clothing on, when I wear a glamorous dress to some event, when I slip into my favorite jeans and a rock and roll t-shirt, or when I bare my shoulders in a bustier mini jumpsuit. Yep, you heard me right: I do yoga so that my garments fit well. And, even though I next to never think about fashion in the sixty-minutes that I spend on the mat, I did tonight. The woman to my immediate right was wearing the most stunning yoga outfit. When I say outfit, I don’t mean matchy matchy. She was wearing an ensemble of two pieces that fit eloquently together. She wore a dark green and brown, striped bandeau and flare-legged pants. Her short, wild, curly dark hair was swept back into a loose braid with wisps falling out everywhere. So, clearly, the whole picture was pretty. More importantly, her practice was quite lovely (I felt a particular kinship in that she and I moved together to similar long inhales and exhales). The point is, her fashion sense in the yoga studio tonight…yeah, she brought it. And she brought it just right. GiGi would be proud.
My assessment: girl, I like yo’ style. Who said yoga and fashion don’t go together? Oh, yes, I remember now, that was me. I may have to drop that particular judgment and show my practicing wardrobe the same respect that I give my civvies.
Hmmm — I have several thoughts. One is you do say this is how things are in YOUR world and I appreciate that. As I read your blog, I take time to remember that this how you see things. I spend my WHOLE day in yoga pants. You write “take off the yoga pants, woman” but I am running errands in-between teaching, I am not taking them off. This is my life uniform just as the pencil skirt is what someone else wears as they run errands to the grocery store, post office, etc. Why are we so busy holding people (who we don’t even know) to what they wear? I, like everyone else, is at fault for this.
As for yoga clothes and fashion. To each their own. It bothers me that some people may feel like they need to have fancy clothes to do yoga when yoga is about moving beyond the external. I agree being comfortable is the key and sometimes the expensive wears add comfort — but if a person feels most comfortable in their mother’s old track shorts I hope they don’t feel UNcomfortable when they go to class NOT in “yoga gear.” All I want is someone to feel so comfortable in their own skin they can let go of the external gaze and just focus within — and realize we all are in our perfect layer.
This entry makes me think and also verbalize what I think on a class/practice basis, whether it be a yoga class or group fitness class. As much as I enjoy seeing new clothes and wearing high-end pants or athletic gear when I practice it’s always refreshing to see an instructor walk in with Target attire or an old tank and gym shorts from highschool they still sport. I love it-my boyfriend doesn’t and questions me why I don’t throw those ratty shirts out and spring for a new high-wick, tank that is oh-so-trendy. It’s the memories and the security that I love. Knowing that I have something on that I’m attached to makes me feel warm and fuzzy, even empowered at times. Seeing an instructor feel secure in clothes that aren’t $50+ also makes me feel the same way. Sure, I may be making some biased inferences, but it works for me and I in turn feel more comfortable and confident working out with an instructor that has a down home, gritty feel.
Now there’s probably others that get jazzed about seeing instructors and surrounding gym mates be in the latest fashions. That’s cool, but not my style…unless one day I can afford to do that. It’s tricky, yes. What brings me back to a yoga or group fitness class? How that instructor makes me feel once I walk in the door and how hard they kick my ass.
I do have to wonder though-why do I crave J.crew and other high-end stores for work attire, but don’t have this same thought process when going to the gym? Who knows-maybe I like to be dirty at the gym and proper in the professional public. This may apply to the bedroom as well.
I definitely try not to judge people on what they wear, but it happens from time to time (eh hem, Angelina Jolie). We’re human. Jealousy and judgement periodically happen in my world. I’m fortunate enough to have friends that either agree and rant with me about it to laugh about it or call me on it. It makes for a good convo either way.
Ultimately, whichever makes you comfortable and sweat harder is key. But, if you wear Prana everyday to the gym, I hate you.
Well, these are two incredibly thoughtful responses. Who knew clothes would strike such a nerve or wonderful reaction, depending how you look at it. Either way, both of your responses are so true, so accurate, so real.
Kimi, I agree with you. You are an instructor and running errands between classes is a necessity. No judgment whatsoever on that, and, of course, the women I see might be instructors as well. Though, it is much like the business man who wears suspenders to the beach, and the reason I bring up this example is because a friend just showed me a photo of her brother at her beach wedding wearing suspenders when everyone else had on flip flops and Hawaiian shorts. Yes, it was a wedding and so the dressy attire could be justified, though I might argue…take off the business attire, man (and I loooooove suspenders).
I appreciate your perspective and I appreciate you recognizing that I am writing from my perspective only. I may wear a pencil skirt to the grocery because I just came from work. I won’t likely wear a pencil skirt to Sunday brunch, unless I’m meeting some hot man? Yeah, still no, I’d say. Do you typically wear your yoga pants dinner with your husband on date night? (Crazy, Sexy Love may have taught all of us a lesson–I think I already knew that one though–about how you feel about yourself is represented not only in your smile and heart and posture and persona, but also in your clothes). I think the comparison is similar.
Victoria, first, I bet you are a dirty animal in bedroom. I had to say that first because that made me laugh out loud. Second, how the hell do you practice in cotton for so long? I used to, for about a year, and I couldn’t stand how heavy my clothes were by the end of a class. Bleh. And then taking them off afterward…was like a task in and of itself. Either way, rock your HS shirt, that is totally who you are and I love who you are. I feel pretty much the same about civvies. I don’t spend much money on my yoga clothes, even though I spend quite a bit of time sweatin’ it up in a studio. I spend some money on work clothes, not that much. But, a party dress…BCBG or whatever, I’ll throw down in a heart beat. I’ll starve for a week so that I can afford that dress. No exaggeration whatsoever.
One day you will be able to afford more expensive gear. When you are a certified, successful, most brilliant psychologist or some equally helpful medical professional. And you know what, you probably won’t put your money into it anyway. Because you’re you and there are other things in your life that are so much more important to you. As it should be.
Both of you…you make my heart sing and shine…
Funny, Vic, I just forgot to change my shirt before yoga and ended up having to wear the cotton t-shirt I was kickin’ around in today. Karma much?
The cotton adds an extra challenge element-i like the pain! Actually, not really. I do prefer my under armor gear but when its down to laundry day the cotton must come out:) xo
You’re a masochist, quite obviously. Oh yeah.