Sportswear Guide for Summer

               It’s almost here! School is winding down, the temperature outside is heating up and there is an energetic feeling in the air as summertime approaches. I wish I could spend every minute of every day outside, but I’m currently sitting here writing this blog so you will be ready for the awesome weather we are about to experience this summer. From shades, to shorts, to sandals, there is multitude of must have items for the best summer of your life, and I will make sure to hit the best gear for the summer of 2k15!

Nike Running Shorts

              First let’s start with the basics, shorts. Nike has their infamous running shorts line, where they come up with new color combinations and patterns each and every summer. If you don’t own a pair of Nike running shorts you need to get yourself to your local sporting goods store because they are a MUST for any summer wardrobe. Another great line of athletic shorts is Under Armour. They have running shorts similar to Nike’s, just a little difference in cut and then they also have a line called Women’s Play UP shorts which absolutely love. They come in numerous bring colors and are super comfortable as I have a few pairs myself. For tops I would recommend checking out Nike’s Dri-Fit line and Adidas Clima-Cool collection to help combat this summer’s heat.
              To spruce up any outfit this summer you need to add a few accessories as well. Top brands to look at for sunglasses would be Ray-ban and Oakley. Ray-bans offer a more classic take on sunglasses with aviator, wayfarer, and clubmaster styles that fit in more with the hipster styles. Oakley’s are a sporty style of sunglasses and you see a lot a baseball and golfers wearing them on summer days. Another accessory must have is sandals, or in the sports world I like to call them slides. Almost all sports brand offer these type of sandals, but I would have to say Nike, Under Armour, and Jordan have the more unique style of slides whereas Adidas stays more with their class 3-stipe style.

Victoria's Secret PINK Backpack

             Also when you are hitting up the beach, amusement park, or pool this summer another must have would be a bag to carry all your stuff in. You can always choose to go with the classic drawstring bag that all sports brands offer, but if you want something bigger and a little more fashionable I would suggest checking out Victoria’s Secret Pink Collection. Each summer they come out with new backpacks that resemble a knapsack and they are available in bring colors and patterns. I can tell you I will be investing in one of those for this summer’s adventures.

            Summer is the time to make great memories with family and friends, and why not do it in style with the latest sportswear gear. If you are looking for even more must haves for this summer just go to any sports brand website and that will be one of their top headlines as summer nears. I hope you have a great summer and these tips will lead to some awesome times!

Images Courtesy of www.victoriassecretshow.com and www.rulesforrunning.com



 

FINALLY!!!

              It’s been a long 5 weeks, but the wait has definitely been worth it as yesterday my first custom pair of Nike Running Shoes came in and the best part is that I got them for free! The first week of April, my high school soccer team was doing fundraiser in which we sold frozen pizzas, and the person who sold the most got to order a free pair of custom Nike shoes or cleats and I was the winner! Over the past months as you have been following my blog, you have probably caught on to my first obsession with Nike shoes and then my second obsession with their customizing program, Nike ID, so I was super excited that I got to incorporate both when creating these shoes.

My new Nike ID shoes!

              When I first heard that I got a free pair of Nike shoes, I really wanted to get custom Roshes that incorporated the Flyknit technology because those are my two favorite things about Nike shoes, but I had a price limit of $150 and unfortunately at the time the Roshes cost $160. But, I looked through the options available in my price range and found the Nike Free TR 5 Women’s Training Shoe. What really caught my eye about these shoes is all the different design options available. Usually when I look for new shoes I am really conservative and like to get shoes that are simple and have colors that I wear often so I can match them. But, when customizing these shoes I went crazy with the options, because they were FREE, so I thought why not go outside the box and get something I wouldn’t usually get. I am so glad I did that because I would have to say these are one of my most favorite pair of shoes I have ever gotten.
             I will definitely be showing off my new shoes at school tomorrow and will probably wear them all summer. I really like the colors I chose as well because they give the shoes a summery vibe and will bring a bit of spark to any outfit!

Victoria's Secret PINK a Sporwear Contender

             

                When most people think of Victoria Secret’s, skinny models clad in bras and underwear come to mind. For years it has held the ‘monopoly’ on women’s lingerie. But, about 13 years ago they created their offshoot known as PINK where they offer more clothing options. It has been a big hit amongst teenage girls, which is obvious when you walk into any high school as you will see the PINK logo flashed everywhere. Over the years this brand has transformed itself from just selling underwear and bras, to include swimsuits, and most importantly to me, sportswear!
             So last week I got the PINK summer magazine and was surprised to see all the new and sporty options they have. One thing I really like about the sporty PINK clothes is that they take a classic clothing item like sweatpants, hoodies, or sports bras, and add a girly twist to them to make the clothing item a little more fashionable and up to date with the latest trends. In the magazine, some of the sporty items I saw were joggers (a mix between yoga pants and sweatpants), a sports bra-push up bra combo, windbreakers, athletic t-shirts and tank tops, and shorts. Another big part of the magazine was their swimsuit line. One thing I really liked was that the tops had different cut outs that were unique when compared to a normal bikini top. Also another great aspect of their swimsuits is that they have numerous different colors and patterns available.
            My favorite thing to get at Victoria’s Secret PINK is definitely their yoga pants. Yoga pants are like my go to article of clothing because you can wear them in a sporty way when paired with a sweatshirt or t-shirt, or you can dress them up and wear them with a nicer top. This year it seems like every girl in my school has their marl grey yoga pants and I would have to agree that they are probably my favorite pair.
            So, if you are looking for some sporty gear to pick up for this summer but you want it to be a little outside the box from the regular Nike or Adidas I would recommend checking out Victoria’s Secret PINK line. I can attest that all the clothing is very comfortable and I especially love the girly, flirtatious twist they add to their clothing that makes it seem a notch above regular sportswear.

Images Courtesy of www.polyvore.com

 

US Women's National Team 2015 Jerseys

                So in the past week Nike has unveiled the home uniforms that the US Women’s National Team will wear for the World Cup this upcoming summer in Canada. Currently, for the friendlies and qualifying games they have been playing around the world, the team has been wearing an ombre top that starts as white and goes to a royal/navy blue color as you go down the shirt, then paired with white shorts. Obviously those are the colors we expect them to wear when they represent us at the World Cup, and you would think that for their home jerseys it would be an innovative design from Nike that incorporates our national colors. So, when I first saw the new jerseys Nike created I did a double take.

                In case you haven’t seen the new home jerseys for the Women’s National Team, I’ll give you a quick rundown. They are all white with black piping, with a similar design to last year’s home jerseys, and then the socks are ombre, with white at the top and neon green at the color. Yes, you read that right, the only colors I mentioned where white, black, and neon green. These are the colors that you will see out on the field representing the United States of America.

USWNT Home Jerseys 2015

                Personally, I am sitting at a crossroads about how I feel about these new jerseys. I mean, it seems like lately neon has been the new trend in sports fashion and I understand why Nike would want to stay up to date with the latest trends, but is the grand stage of the World Cup the best place to be tinkering with our national colors? If it were a few friendlies or a tournament besides the World Cup and the Olympics that they decided to create these jerseys for, then great, it’s cool to throw something a little funky into the mix and try new things. But, I feel like when you are representing your country on a big stage like the World Cup, that will be televised worldwide, you should probably stick to the colors that so many people can recognize. When people think of the United States, they think of it as the home of the red, white, and blue.

                Once the jerseys were unveiled, I first saw them on the accounts of the players who I follow on social media, like Instagram and Twitter, and I didn’t see too many people in the comments who absolutely hated them, it was more about how we were going to win, and it had a patriotic feel. So in the end, I guess the jerseys don’t make that much of a difference, people are more focused on them winning the World Cup, which really is the number one priority.

 

Images Courtesy of www.ussoccer.com



T-Shirts for a Cause

          The battle against cancer is one that all American’s are fighting whether they have it or not. Across the country, and even throughout the world, people are donating money to charity, holding fundraising events, and having dance marathons as ways to help find a cure. In my own hometown area, there have been two big fights that have been initiated by two separate schools, one being mine, and the other in a city about 30 minutes away. Each of the schools have held different evens and fundraisers as means to supporting their cause, but there is one symbolic thing that brings everybody together, and it is the t-shirts.
          At my school, freshman year, our school supported a classmate who was battling cancer and the slogan was “Just Drew It” with bright purple shirts. The other school in the past year has been supporting another boy battling cancer with the caption “Fight with Flash” on red shirts. These two fights have been huge in our area and supported by everybody in our own respective communities. I find it amazing how in times of need people come together to support such a great cause. I think that the t-shirts at each individual school are a uniting factor. My freshman year, we had a Just Drew It t-shirt out for one of our basketball games and I found it was amazing how even our rival school who we were paying that night wore the t-shirts and supported the cause. That night all you could see in the gym was a sea of purple in support of a kid battling cancer and nobody cared what school he went to, all we cared about was helping fight his battle.
         So what would happen if these two schools paired up and fought their battles together? Well last week in soccer we were playing the other schools and they thought it would be cool to design a t-shirt that incorporated both causes. Both teams then wore the shirts during warmups for the game and snapped a picture to show our combined support.
         What amazes me is that all it is, is t-shirts. The face of both of these battles are the respective t-shirts that you see classmates, teachers, parents, and community members wearing. It’s amazing how people put aside their hatred for their rival school and throw on a t-shirt to show their support for a student. These t-shirts truly are powerful.

Half-Zips are Perfect in the Spring Time

                We are at that point in the year when we are kind of at a limbo with the weather. One day you walk outside and it’s a perfect 70⁰ and sunny, and then the next it’s a chilly 48⁰ with gusty winds and even a few rain showers. So, when you are getting ready in the morning, it can be difficult to decide exactly what to wear because you know that the weather could throw you a curve ball at any point in the day and what you planned for doesn’t end up happening.
               Half-zips are definitely my new favorite piece of clothing for this time of year. They are nice and easy to pull over any top and come in numerous colors so they can go with your outfit for the day. Also, another nice thing about half-zips is that they come in varying forms of thickness, so you could get a heavier half-zip to wear in colder situations, or you could opt for the lightweight half-zip to wear on a breezy afternoon. Also you can decide if you want the half zip to be a little looser on you like a sweatshirt per say, or you could get a tight fit half zip that is common in yoga clothing. Personally, I think half-zips can work in any type of situation. Sometimes I like to wear them during warmups before my soccer game, or you could easily pair them with jeans and wear it to schools for a casual look.
              Almost all sportswear brands offer their own take on half-zips. My personal favorite brand to wear is Under Armour because I like the more lightweight feel of their material and the different color options they have available. Also for the half zips that you want to wear for sporting events, it’s common for people to get a team logo added on one side of the chest. (You can check out my post Embroidery Applications to determine which style for the logo that works best for you.) I highly recommend for you to go get a half zip because they are something that can honestly be worn year round and can be worn in many different situations. They are a universal piece of clothing.

Personal Soccer Cleat Collection

                                                               Adidas       Nike

           In my past blog posts, like, “Nike, Adidas, or Puma: Which Cleats Reigned Supreme at the 2014 FIFA World Cup?” where I have debated newly released soccer cleats, you have probably caught on that I am an Adidas girl when it comes to soccer. The cleats pictured above are ones that I have worn in the past 5 years and as you can tell, I have experimented with traditional Nike soccer cleats once (the lime green ones on the bottom right are indoor shoes). I love the way that Nike soccer cleats look buy my dilemma with them has been that that are more narrow when compared to Adidas, and I find them uncomfortable to play in.  I think another reason for my alliance to Adidas soccer began when I first started playing. My dad was the first coach I had (he used to play in high school) and he has always been a big fan of the classic all black Adidas cleats with the three white strips down the sides and my first pair of cleats looked exactly like that. As you can tell I haven’t followed exactly in his footsteps with my taste in cleats, as I have more graphic and colorful cleats, but just like him, Adidas will always be my number one choice when it comes to soccer.

Embroidery Applications

              It’s the start of a new AAU basketball season and my club just got our new jerseys in for the season. They are the Marquette style with tackle-twill lettering. Last year we have simple jerseys that had our team name and number screen-printed on. I feel in the end, the decision on which application to use, either tackle twill or screen printing, comes down ultimately to the consumer and finding exactly what fits their needs best.

Screen-printed provides more
design options

             Most of my uniforms in the past few years, both soccer and basketball, have used the screen printing application. Obviously the first thing that stands out about screen-printing is that it is usually cheaper that its counterparts. Also another thing I like about screen-printing is that it is done by computers, so there are infinitely more options on color, font, and size, than there would be with tackle twill which is sewn on.  But, I did encounter a dilemma with the screen-printing on my basketball jersey last year. For our team name, we had the first word in a bright red color and then the second word was in white. After washing my jersey a few times, I found that the red coloring began to bleed onto the white letters and they turned a light pink color. It may have been an error is design by have bright red letters next to white letters, but I think that that shouldn’t be an issue, I think the issue is with the screen-printing application and now it makes sense as to why it is cheaper than alternative options.

Classic block lettering of
the tackle-twill application

           The tackle-twill on our new uniforms looks amazing. Going back to one of my earlier posts, Sweatshirts are Life, I make sure that all my college sweatshirts are printed using the tackle-twill application because I think it looks more official and traditional like an old, classic university feels when you walk on campus. The tackle-twill application is more expensive, but in the end I definitely think it is worth it. If you are looking for a style that looks very professional, I would highly suggest tackle-twill. Also a plus with tackle-twill is that you will probably rarely run into issues with the colors bleeding or the lettering coming undone. The only downside I see to tackle-twill is that options can be limited. With tackle-twill the lettering is usually the big block letters and the colors tend to be the basics, you don’t see many neon options.

             Personally, I am big fan of tackle-twill but I feel that there are times when screen-printing has its benefits. If it’s just a warmup shirt I would definitely go with the screen-printing because there more design options, but when I’m looking at uniforms I would 99% of the time go with tackle-twill. In the end it all comes down to what you want and your budget. Either way I don’t think you will be disappointed, but my only note is that if you do go with screen-printing double check with the retailer to make sure that what happened with my jersey doesn’t happen to you.

Images courtesy of:

www.shopstyle.com

www.polyvore.com



 

Iconic Clothing in Sports

               Just think of some of the biggest sports events and teams in the world. There are a few that stand out to you whether it may be because they are your favorite team or sport to watch, but for me there are a few that stand out to me because of how clothing is incorporated into them. So, what do the Masters, Wimbledon, and Brazil and Argentina soccer all have in common that I find fascinating? They all have make an iconic statement through their clothes.
               I think the thing with the iconic clothing of those events and teams, is that they all have to do with tradition and a sense of class. When I think of the pure white of Wimbledon, I think pure class. Even though over the years the envelope of the Wimbledon dress code has been pushed by tennis greats like the Williams sisters, it is a dress code that is always respected. I think that respect doesn’t only just show respect for the individual event by it shows respect for the sport of tennis. Wimbledon is a tournament that prides itself on its class and high profile patrons, and there is no other way to celebrate that than by keeping with the tradition that got it to its grandeur today.

Green Jacket of Masters

              The infamous Green Jacket of the Masters is what defines that tournament. When you hear young golfers talk about their future goals in the sport, they never fail to mention how they would love to wear a Green Jacket. They don’t even have to say the Masters Tournament at Augusta National to inform their audience what they are talking about; people, golf fans or not, know what they mean. Also you know that the Green Jacket is of great importance just by the fact that it is capitalized as a proper noun. It isn’t just any old green jacket that you could go pick up at the local Men’s Warehouse, it is THE Green Jacket and it is invaluable.
             In soccer when you talk about the powerhouse countries who always have a chance to win the World Cup some names that are always thrown into the conversation include the likes of Brazil, Germany, Spain, and Argentina. They all have rich histories in the sport that are combined with grand traditions.  Brazil is one country that stands out from the crown in their iconic yellow tops paired with blue shorts. It’s a jersey combination that will never come to an end. Brazil’s jersey combination of bright, vibrant colors is one that follows along the lines of their fast-paced playing style that leaves the crowd in awe whether you are a fan or not. Another soccer powerhouse that celebrates their great history is Argentina with their light blue and white striped tops. Year in and year out, you see countries like the US and Mexico come out with all the stops designing new uniforms, but Argentina’s classic stripped tops will never change on the international stage.

Argentina Jersey

Brazil Jersey

           The iconic clothing seen in the sports world is one that was based of tradition. I feel like these events and teams grew to what they are today by sticking with what they started with a building up around them. Brazil and Argentina are memorable because they have stuck with same classic uniforms year after year, they don’t look to follow what the trend of the time is, they stick with what got them to the international stage. The events such as the Masters and Wimbledon have built themselves to what they are today by standing out from the rest. The Green Jacket. The all white dress code. Even though it may seem different and out of date in today’s society, it is what makes these events seem more prominent than the rest.

Images Courtesy of:

www.masters.com

www.usatoday.com

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

 



Dilemma with White Basketball Shoes

            White. It’s sleek, simple, and flashy. But it is also a color that it hard to keep up. As seen in this first picture my new white basketball shoes were every adjective I previously described.

But, as the season wore on, the wear and tear became more evident as the pure white has transformed into an off-white tan color, as seen in the next two pictures of my shoes following the end of the season. This color change can be attributed to sweating throughout 20+ games.

 

But since we live in the 21^st century, the upside is that it is an easy fix to get my shoes back to their original bright white color, by just throwing them in the washer. White shoes look sweet, and they are my go to color for basketball shoes, they just require more up keep then say black ones as white tends to show every little mark.

Uniform Rules... Are the really worth it?

            Rules, rules, oh and more rules. They never fail to make everything more complicated than it needs to be and some are necessary, but some of the rules that have come out lately for our state high school soccer association seem almost pointless. Let’s go over a few of them that I would like to explain further, homes uniforms must be entirely white, undergarments, like compression shorts and long sleeve thermals must match uniform color, and the big one: tape must be the same color as your socks.
            My only complaint on the first rule with home uniforms having to be entirely white would about the shorts.  As a player the main thing I look and when I’m looking for a teammate to pass to is a glimpse of a white top. At that moment in time, I only have a few seconds to scan the field to find that flash of white of my teammate to pass to, I don’t sit there and analyze forever about, ‘oh can I see my teammates entire body with her white top, shorts and socks?’ because it’s probably highly unlikely that she’s even that wide open. Also other reason I question that the shorts have to be the same color is the cost perspective. Why not save $20 per person- which adds up quickly when you have to account for an entire team- and just buy one pair of shorts that can go with both your home white tops and away dark tops. I think that would be especially beneficial for small town schools because they don’t have as big of a budget to buy what I see as unnecessary uniform pieces.
          The next rule that I find challenging to follow is that the undergarments must match your uniform, except if you are wearing your away uniform, white or black works as well. My bigger issue with this is more about the compression shorts rather than the thermal long sleeved tops because you only wear them maybe 1 or 2 games out of the entire season, so not many issues come up with them. So, for my high school team, we chose to have white as our undergarment color and right now I only have one pair of white compression shorts, the rest I have are either black or grey. I personally just don’t think that the color of your compression shorts really make a difference in the game; yes they may stick out a little under your shorts but it not like they are your shorts. I see compression shorts to be like long underwear, so it seems like the rule is saying you have to match you underwear.

Some rules help refs make more accurate calls.

            Finally comes the rule that all the girls on my team can’t stand: you must match your tape to the color of your game socks. When most girls tape their socks, they wrap below and above their shin guards just to hold them in place. They keep it simple and sweet, nothing too extensive. The reason for the rule is to make it easier to see who kicked the ball out last, and if you have a girl with her socks taped with a color that matches the other team it may get confusing, so I understand the reason for the rule. But where the issue comes, is having to find the color of tape that matches your socks perfectly. Our away socks are a dark hunter green color, but most of the green tape that we can find is either lime green or a lighter Kelly green, so it stands out too much. So I think that it would be easier if the rule said you had to wear dark tape, like black which is more common, on your away socks and then obviously white for your home socks. Some refs end up being very strict about this rule and in the end I feel like it is a hassle for everybody.

           Rules are made for a purpose, some more necessary than other. But, in the end rules are rules and they have to be followed no matter how pointless they may seem to you as a player, because they could have some hidden meaning that is more useful when having to ref a game.   

 

Images Courtesy of www.usatoday.com

 

Team Unity through Matching Gear

             Have you ever walked into a tournament, and seen that one team were everybody is perfectly matching? I’m not just talking about wearing the same uniforms, but they all have the same headbands, every player is wearing the knee pad leggings, and they all are wearing matching socks and shoes. Yes, I am talking about that type of unity. Well when you do spot that team, which I have played against many times, what begins to run through your mind? I know for me it’s something like “Oh my god, we are about to get blown outta the gym!” And, yes even though that could easily be true, as the saying goes, looks aren’t everything.
             Flashback three years ago when my AAU basketball team was invited to play in a premier league outside of Chicago. We knew that every game we would be playing elite competition, but that didn’t stop us from judging how good we thought the other team was before we played. I remember that one of the teams we played, showed up 10 minutes before the game started, with mismatch jerseys, and their shoes untied. Sounds like they are a disaster waiting to happen, and that’s exactly what we thought, but boy were we wrong as we ended up getting beat.


Oregon never fails to have everything matching all the way
down to the same socks.

            Anyways, the idea that if you look professional and have that attitude about you, whether it is sports or the workforce, you will have an edge on your competitors which can have its pros and cons. Some pros I see is that yes you look more professional so you will give off that sense that you are more put together and have everything organized and prepared. But a downside to looking more professional than the rest, is that when your competitor sees you, they will realize that they need to step their game up, so you might end up playing a tougher game than expected. Also another downside I see to having team unity with everybody wearing matching clothes, is the cost. Some AAU clubs may put only the cost of just the jerseys and shorts into the fee that players have to pay to play and once you begin adding more miscellaneous items that are “required” like shoes and knee pads, it can begin to turn prospective players away because the cost gets too high. I think the best way to approach a situation like that is for the players to decide before the season begins to come together and decide as a group if they want to all buy the same shoes. Sometimes it can be hard to get every little detail all the way down to headbands to be all matching on a team, but I will say from personal experience, you look pretty sweet when you walk into the gym together.
           Team unity through clothing can bring the players together as they all feel like one and don’t feel like one player is any better or worse because they don’t have the “right” brand of shoes. But also on the flipside it can be expensive for different families of different backgrounds to pay the cost that is needed for that to happen. In the end having team unity with matching gear does look really nice, but it doesn’t determine how good the team is, they have to go out and prove it on the court.

Images courtesy of http://media.oregonlive.com/oregonian/photo/2014/03/14530246-standard.jpg

What are the point of Warmups?

             Warm ups. They may not be the most noticeable part of an athlete’s array of game day clothing, but they could easily be the most crucial. Most seem to think warm ups are just an extra uniform piece added in to make the team look unified as one as they prepare for a game, but what if I were to tell you that a warm up plays an important role in an athlete’s performance in the game?             Flashback a few years on a beautiful 60⁰ fall weekend for a soccer tournament. As my team began the stretching part of our warmups most of the girls on the team began shedding their layers all the way down to their uniforms. Once our coach got the first drills set up he told us all to go back to our bags and put on our warm up jackets and sweatpants till game time. Even though we thought he was crazy (I mean it was perfect weather) we listened to him and began the warm up with our two layers of clothes on. After that day he set the rule that as a team we all had to wear our warmup jackets and sweatpants unless the temperature was above 70⁰. That day I was somewhat annoyed because I didn’t understand why I had to sweat through warmups while I could have easily taken off my jacket and sweats and been more comfortable, but today I now understand my coach’s purpose.

FC Barcelona's Warm Up Suit looks
like most generic soccer warm up suits

           In soccer the warms consist of a jacket and sweats, basketball has a long sleeved top with sweats as well. Why would teams what to spend more money on extra articles of clothing? It’s because they provide a purpose. As you warm up for you respected sport, your goal is to get your muscles moving and heart rate ready for the speed of the game, but between the times of warm ups and game time there is a little bit of downtime as starting lineups are announced and the national anthem is played, and during that time athletes keep their warmups one. Warmups provide an extra layer of clothing that keeps the body heat in which keeps a players muscles ready and even in the long run of the game help prevent cramping from the repeating warming and cooling of the muscles. If you watch wrestling, the warmups are probably the most important piece of the uniform because their sweatshirts and sweatpants tucked into their socks work to keep their body heat in so that their muscles are prepared to work to the max during the match.
           So to answer the question of if you really should invest in warmups, I would highly recommend it as it can benefit your performance as an athlete which is what the focus of the pregame is all about: how can I best prepare my body to perform at the highest level this game?

Images courtesy of www.soccer.com



Undergarments 101

             Watch any sports game and all you see are the wide array of colors of the uniforms the athletes are wearing, but what nobody thinks about is what they are wearing underneath those uniforms. The undergarments that most athletes wear today aren’t just some random white cotton tank-tops, but technologically designed, sweat-wicking, padded compression tank-tops that benefit the athlete.

Nike Pro Combat padded compression
shorts, tank-top, & arm sleeve.

            The main type of undergarments I like to wear are compression shorts and compression tank-tops. One reason I wear undergarments is because I don’t like the scratchy feel of the jersey on my skin, so I wear the undergarments to act as a buffer between my skin and jersey. Now, some may ask, “Well won’t you get hot quicker and feel weighed down by wearing the extra layers of clothing?” and my response to that is no. When I buy undergarments, I make sure that they are thin, which allows them to be light weight and not hold in the heat my body is giving off.
            Personally I don’t wear the padded undergarment clothing, but there is always the option. I feel like you find athletes in more physical sports like football and basketball wearing the padded compression shorts and tank-tops to act as an extra layer of protection. Also another big trend in undergarment clothing lately has been the padded leggings and arm sleeves that you can see most basketball players wearing. The main purpose for the padded leggings and are sleeves are that they help prevent bruising and skin burns when athletes dive on the floor for a loose ball. Also they can help keep athlete’s muscles warm as they are compression, which helps prevents cramping.
           Wearing compression undergarments isn’t for everybody, but in my own experiences I have found them to be beneficial. With today’s sports technology you can find compression undergarments for all types of situations.  The first two places to check out would be Under Armour (as if their name doesn’t say that undergarment clothing is their specialty) and Nike’s Pro Combat line.

Image Courtesy of www.speedendurance.com

 

Breaking in Cleats for the Season

            The beginning of spring is always an exciting time of year. Gone are the dreary, cold days of winter and hello to the warm, crisp days of spring. Also with the better weather that comes along with the change of seasons, is the start of new sports seasons. This past week was the beginning of my junior high school soccer season, where my team began to work to defend our state championship.
            With a new sports season, there comes new gear, and two weeks ago I bought a new pair of the Adidas Predator Absolion FG soccer cleats. Being a very superstitious person, I continued to wear my old pair of cleats for the first week of practice because it was tryouts week and I knew I would play well in cleats I was already comfortable in. But, with the second week of the season starting, and games starting less than a week, I need to begin to break in my new cleats.
            When wearing new cleats for the first time do not, and I repeat DO NOT, wear them in a game. You need to spend time, possibly days in advance before a game, to break them in so they will be comfortable. Another important aspect of breaking in your cleats is that you will know what kind of touch you will get on the ball because your feet are a big part of soccer, so you want to know exactly how it will feel when you kick the ball with different parts of your feet.
           To start breaking you cleats in, I recommend that you wear them around your house or go outside in your yard and jog around in them for a while, you don’t even need a ball to do this first step, you just want to make sure that the cleats aren’t too tight and get them worn down a little bit so they will fit your foot better. Next, wear them to a few practices before the game so you can get a feel for the ball in the new cleats. During these few days of practice, you may develop some blisters or calluses. To combat the pain you can cover the affected area on your foot with a Band-Aid and then wear double socks over your feet because it will decrease the amount of rubbing between your feet and the cleats, which will lessen the pain of the blisters. There is also a blister kit called Second Skin that can help decrease irritation. Finally, once you feel like you are comfortable in your new cleats, it’s time to go test them out in the game. During the first few games of wearing new cleats, I always make sure to bring my old pair of cleats along with me just in case if the new ones start to hurt, I have something to fall back on that I know I am comfortable in.
            It’s always exciting getting a new pair of cleats and being able to show them off and impress your teammates, but you want to make sure that in the process you break them in so that they don’t affect your playing on the field.

Image courtesy of www.sportsphyscologytoday.com



The Simple Beanie



Sporty Beanie

Neutral Gray Beanie

       



            In the past year the classic beanie has made its way back into the fashion world, especially during the rise of the hipster trend. You can literally get beanies in any design or style imaginable. Obviously, with me being a huge sports fanatic, I love to get beanies that are in my favorite team’s colors. But it’s always nice to have a few beanies in neutral colors like cream, tan, and grey to go with everyday outfits. Another nice aspect about beanies, especially for girls is on bad hair days or just lazy days. We all know those days as girls when we just don’t feel like messing with the heap on hair on your head, so it’s always nice to be able to throw on a beanie and still be able to pull a cute outfit together. I would definitely recommend everybody to have their go to beanie as they are a must in anybody’s wardrobe.

Images source: www.amazon.com

March Madness not just about Competition, but also Business for Sports Brands

             For every college sports fan across the nation, this can be considered to be the best time of the year. Sixty-eight teams go to battle to win the NCAA Basketball Championship, and no team is a given, even unbeaten Kentucky. But along with one of the greatest sports atmospheres found anywhere in the world, the topic of sportswear and fashion trends are a main part of the talk.
            Turn on any game over the next few weeks, and I can guarantee that by the end you will know what brand each team was wearing and even possibly the specific shoes a certain player may be wearing. Top sports brand companies don’t need to create a contract with the NCAA to promote their products because the schools they sponsor are doing it for them each time they step foot on the basketball court.

For the 2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament, Adidas revealed
these specially designed uniforms for sponsored schools.

             Some sports brands use that to their advantage . In past years, companies have come out with special jerseys just for tournament time. That is a great advertisement opportunity, because sports brands can come out with eye catching gear that will attract the average basketball fan that they might not see if its shown in a commercial, because if you are like me, commercials are the best times to check your phone for other scores. I think this is ingenious of sportswear companies to use a tournament that they have no partnerships with as a way to sell their product, because in the end, they aren't losing money they wasted on an advertisement, they are creating more buzz for their product that players are unknowingly promoting.  
            Most of the big name schools in college basketball, like Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Duke are easily recognizable because they are the face of college basketball and their fan gear is always in high demand throughout the season. But, what happens when smaller schools like Georgia State and University of Alabama Birmingham make some noise by getting upsets over top seeds on their path to being this years’ Cinderella story? They cause a huge surge in the sportswear world. When a smaller school upsets a big name, they gain followers as most love to support the David when battling a Goliath. When they win, people want to show their support for this newly rising star and go out and buy a jersey or fan shirt to support their team. Think back to when Florida Gulf Coast made a run in the tournament a few years ago and how many people you saw wearing a snapback or jerseys to show their support for a school they had not previously had affiliation with.
           That right there shows the power of the sports and their influence on the sportswear world. This is about big events like March Madness, the Super bowl, the College Football Playoffs, and the World Series. After a champion is crowed, what is the first commercial you see following the game? Yep, that’s right, it’s a commercial influencing the consumers to buy a shirt that supports the winning team, and who wouldn’t want to do that? Sports brands have found a way to use big events that they may not be necessarily partnered with, to create profit by showing support for the winning teams. It’s all calculated decisions when it comes to the business world and when combined with sports, it’s not too hard to figure out as most people tend to support the underdog and the hard-nosed winners.

Image Source: www.bleacherreport.com

Customization: the future of fashion?

                In my past blog posts I have talked about how many sports brands offer the opportunity to customize shoes. The option to customize numerous different articles of clothing seems to be the big thing lately, and I think that is because people feel the need to express themselves more and stand out from the cookie-cutter mold. People want to be different, and to provide that, sports companies use customization. In a post I wrote back in November, The Beauty of Customization, I told of how I customized my basketball shoes for the then upcoming season. Now that my high school basketball season has come to an end, I am once again relying on the customization options to design new jerseys for our season next year.
                To start the process, we met as a team with a sales rep for Adidas and Under Armour, where he showed us the different styles of jerseys available. Most of them were not in my school’s colors so it was hard to in vision how cool the jerseys would actually look, so that was where the “beauty of customization” came into play. The sales rep, showed us how to access Adidas customization tool, mi adidas, and from there we could access the numerous styles sitting in front of us, but this time we could view how they would look in green and gold. Not only is the customization tools offered by these sports companies fun to mess around with to try crazy combinations, but they also give the buyer the option to assess all their creations side by side so they can see exactly what they are buying, exactly how they want it, and exactly how much each creation would cost. It makes the buying process much easier, because there isn’t any doubt on what you are purchasing.
                Obviously within the customization site, you could easily change the colors of the jerseys to match what we wanted, but there were also many other variables that the buyer has the option to change. You could decide where you want the team name placed on the front, where the numbers would be, what the size and font the numbers and letters would be, where you wanted to place your team logo, and so on. Just on one jersey style there are millions of options on how to make your team’s own unique jersey so you can stand out from the rest. Now realistically with all these choices there is also a price to it, which can get pretty high the more options you add. But it is nice because as you are creating your jerseys and you add more options, you can see the price adding up off to the side, so you know that if you got with option 1 over option 2 you could save $10, which adds up when you are buying a team set of jerseys.

                Customization is the future of not only the sports fashion world, but the fashion world in general. People want to be different. People want to stand out from the crowd. People want to be noticed in that one-of-a-kind clothing and know that they won’t show up to a party wearing the same thing as the next guy. Being different is just what we are as people and the ability to customize clothing to fit our wants and needs, satisfies us. Every time I’ve used a customization site, whether it be for personal items or as a team, the process has been an easy one because you get to dictate exactly want you want and how you want it.

Casual Sportswear Shoes

          Shoes are probably my favorite article in the fashion world, as is with most girls. I can’t even begin to count how many shoes I have in general, not just sporty shoes. As you know, I have a great collection of Nike tennis shoes from my previous blog posts, but I also like to wear what I would describe as the casual shoes in sportswear.

Galaxy Authentic Low Pro Vans

          I am in love with Vans. I don’t know what it is about them, but I probably wear them 4 out of the 7 days during the week. I like how simple all their styles are. But, even those they have simple styles, they have every pattern or color imaginable when it comes to the designs of the shoes, and that's what makes them stand out from the rest. I’ve seen floral, galaxy, tribal, and rainbow tie-dye designs just to name a few. I myself own four pairs of the Authentic Low Pro Vans, but I only have them in the basic colors like white, black, gray, and navy. But, this summer I am really looking to expand my collection to the more vibrant colors like pink and bright yellow!

White Low-Top Converse

          Another type of casual shoes that have definitely made their comeback in the fashion world these past few years would be Converse. The most popular color among a lot of my friends and teenage girls in general is the classic white. I also have black and dark gray pairs as well. Converse are a classic shoe that will probably never go out of style and they come in both low and high tops. I mean, when you think of any old shoes the first image that pops into my mind would be the original black Converse.

          There are numerous different types of casual shoes that fit into the sportswear category like Sperry’s, but Vans and Converse are the ones I am most familiar with. Lately I have been wearing them a lot more than my beloved Nike Running tennis shoes. Crazy right?!?! But, if you are seriously looking for a reliable pair of shoes that you can wear with literally anything, I would definitely check out what Vans and Converse have to offer.

 

Images Courtesy of www.zappos.com and www.conversehighsneakersoutlet.com

Are Labels and Brand Names really that Important?

            I know I am guilty of this all the time. Just go read my blog posts and it is evident that brand labels are an important part of my posts, whether it’s Nike, Adidas, etc. But, I want to make a point that they are not everything. They don’t define who you are. They don’t determine whether you are worthy enough. They aren’t the end all be all of any type of fashion. Clothes are clothes.
            The brands you wear do not define or determine who you are as a person. Just because you wear knock off Nike sweatshirts, it doesn’t mean you are good enough to fit in with the people who wear the actual Nike brand clothes. If you were to find a knock off of an equal or better quality than the actual sweatshirt that I was wearing for example, I would be more impressed with you than myself, because you found a cheaper a more effective way to spend your money. Sometimes when buying certain types of sportswear, it’s all about how smart and efficiently you use your money, because the total cost can add up quickly when you are only looking for brand name stuff.
            Another point I want to make about labels and clothes is that they don’t define your worth. I remember back in middle school when I played AAU basketball, my team was at a regional tournament in Chicago. When we got on the court for one of our games, my team and I thought we were about to have an easy win because we were playing this small town team, with old reversible $5 jerseys, and we thought, “Oh, this won’t even be a game, they don’t know how to play basketball,” and boy were we wrong. We ended up losing a close game with them because we had underestimated them. This is just one example of how the saying, you can’t judge and book by its cover, is true with anything. You can’t judge or stereotype somebody just because they aren’t wearing the brand name, up to date clothing. If you want to get to know somebody, you have to talk to them and figure out their personality.

           This post that was supposed to be about sportswear and labels, turned in to a life lesson that I was not expecting. And I think that is what the main point in this post is really about, even though I didn’t realize it when I first began writing the post. I think what really needs to be remembered from this post is that spending more money for name brand clothes, doesn’t define you and determine your personal wealth. Yes, there are some people in the world who will judge you based on the brands you wear (and sometimes I even catch myself doing this) but a good person will judge you based on your genuine self and personality.



***NOTE: I just wanted to let you know that even though I did make this blog post about how labels aren't everything, that doesn't mean I will no longer post about name brands like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour because they are an integral part of my blog. When I review products or talk about the up and coming news in sports fashion, a lot of it will be centered on these name brands because they have such a wide array of topics to cover. I just wanted to write this post for those who may not be able to afford name brand clothes and let them know that they are no less of a person because of it.

Vest Takeover

Goodbye North Face fuzzy fleece jackets, and hello North Face vests. Yes that’s right, I said vests. I can’t even begin to count how many people I have seen wearing these vests at school in just the past week. I’ve seen vests from basic black, to purple, and even aqua blue. These vests’ have rapidly rose in popularity following the holidays and continue to take over the classic winter coat.
                Even though I don’t own a North Face vest, I am absolutely in love with them. They can be worn in casual or even semi-dressy situations. A lot of my friends like to pair them with a thin sweatshirt or a long sleeve t-shirt. They are also nice to wear due to the weather we have been having here where I live. We’ve been staying in the upper 30s lower 40s for the past few weeks, and these vests seem to keep people perfectly warm. Another thing I like about them is that they aren’t just worn as a coat to keep you warm, but they can be worn as everyday clothing to school or work.
                 I am looking into buying my own vest and there are so many options available. The original North Face vest retails between $100-$150. As I have said in my earlier post, Staying Warm this Winter Season, where I talked about the different types of North Face jackets, the prices can be seen as high compared to other brands like Columbia Sportswear, but they are definitely worth it is a quality brand. Also these North Face vests come in many different patterns and colors to fit exactly what you are looking for.

               If you want keep up with the latest trends in fashion, I would definitely recommend at looking in getting yourself a vest. It doesn’t necessarily have to be North Face, that is the brand I just decided to do my feature on, but there are other brands like Columbia Sportswear and Spyder that offer great deals on vests just like the North Face ones. These vests are comfy, have good insulation, and you can wear them with almost anything; they are the perfect addition to any outfit.

 

Images Courtesy of www.lyst.com

 

What is Lululemon Athletica?

          Everybody knows that following the holidays, you always have to wear the new clothes you received, it’s like an unwritten rule. You want to show your new wardrobe off to all your friends, I mean who wouldn’t want to make others jealous. So, with everybody heading back to school this past week, the normal array of new clothes made its way through the hallways from new shoes to sweaters to beanies (this year’s new fashion statement). But, one new clothing brand that stood out to me was Lululemon Athletic or just Lululemon for short. I’ve heard that name tossed around in the past, but it wasn’t really a big thing at my school until now. So for today’s blog, I decided to interview a friend of mine about her experience with Lululemon.

 

1) When/Where did you first hear of Lululemon?

I first heard about Lululemon last year from my sister who goes to college down in Texas and is often in Oklahoma which in the big cities of those states stores are popular, its fairly new so the stores are usually in larger cities so that’s why I hadn’t really heard about it yet.

2) What has your buying experience at Lululemon been like?

I absolutely love everything Lululemon sells and everything is so easy to purchase whether it’s online or in the store and when you go into the store the people there have so much information to offer you about the clothing and items and also about yoga.

3) Do you do most of your shopping for Lululemon online, or at one of their stores?

I do most of my shopping online because the closest store to us is 2+ hours away, but every time I’m in a big city I always look to see if there are stores around and almost always stop and shop.

4) How would you describe the prices of the clothes at Lululemon?

Some may see the prices of Lululemon as expensive compared to those of other brands but in my opinion the quality and styles of the clothing is worth what you’re paying… you are for sure getting what you pay for.

5) What is your favorite item of clothing at Lululemon?

I have a lot of their styles, but my favorite are the Wunder Under pants whether they are long or cropped I just love them! I also am a huge fan of their headbands which are of top quality

6) What type of person shops at Lululemon?

Lululemon sells items for both men and women and also have an off branch of their brand for kids, in my opinion anyone can wear Lululemon.

7) Do you think Lululemon may become the next big sportswear brand, like Nike or Adidas?

I think once people start hearing about Lululemon more they’re going to see how great it is and will start purchasing more and more and will indeed become a big brand like Nike or Adidas.

8) Is there anything else you have to say about your experiences with Lululemon?

A lot of people have yet to really hear about Lululemon but I would suggest it to anyone, I wear it all the time and I absolutely love everything so it’s worth the shot of trying!

           Personally, I’ve been wanting to check out Lululemon and this interview I had with my friend, only makes me want to go even more. As seen from this interview Lululemon doesn’t just pertain to one group of people. When I first heard about it, I assumed it was a women’s clothing line, so I was surprised to learn that they had both a men’s and kids clothing line. Also I have heard that the prices can be more on the expensive side, but I like what my friend said about how the clothing is worth the price, because as compared to the prices of Nike, I feel like there isn’t too much of a difference, and I know that what I am getting is quality.

         I am excited to share this post because I want to get the word out about Lululemon. It is an up and coming brand that I can see becoming one of the frontrunners in the sports wear world. I know that I will definitely seek out a Lululemon store next time I’m in a big city.