My friends and I have a private group on Facebook so we can easily organize mommy meet-ups (I highly recommend this as a fun and easy way to stay in touch with groups – so convenient!). The other day, my friend Lindsay posted this status.
How many of you rock workout clothes as ‘regular’ clothes, too? Me! Not ashamed to admit it, either. Especially when it comes to yoga pants. After all, they are comfy and flattering. Better than sweats, right? Hey… I never claimed to be a fashionista.
Here’s the big question… Do you wear clothes you workout in as regular clothes, too? Or keep them separate into ‘real’ workout clothes and ‘fake’ workout clothes? I kind of swap back and forth – it definitely depends on the item. And how stinky it becomes over time. 
Speaking of yoga pants, I wear mine to death (probably because I live in them). I have two pairs that I‘ve been rockin’ since, oh, 2002, and I think it’s time to retire them both. One has a hole in the leg and the other has a hole in the crotch. I’m still doing a bit of social media work for Old Navy’s Active line (everything is on crazy clearance now), and I was really excited to find these Active Control Max Fold-Over pants (on sale from $34.94 for $22.00!).
So far, I’ve worn them for dog-walking and hotel yoga, but I give them two stay-at-home-mom thumbs up. The fabric is really nice, smooth, and stretchy, and I like the slight boot-cut at the bottom. I’m wearing a medium.
Holdover from maternity pant days – I never fold over the tops of pants like this anymore! It’s comfier to wear pants rolled up over your belly. 
I’m wearing the Active GoDRY Running Top in Silver Blaze. I have a bunch of running jackets similar to this one, but this is probably the best priced one I own (on sale for $20; I’m wearing a small). I like the thumb holes and the half zipper. And the cute neon detailing. I just wish it had a pocket, too.
I really love tops like this for winter walks and errand running, but it’s perfect for running, too – flowy and loose and absolutely no chafing.
By the way, Maggie was not a fan of this photo shoot.
But she was a fan of the post-photo walk!
A side note… I recently started to wash my workout clothes with a little bit of baking soda. I’ve been adding about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda to my regular detergent when washing super stinky workout clothes (or super stinky baby clothes), and it definitely ‘boosts’ the detergent and helps get rid of smells and stains.
And it’s cheap!
This post is sponsored by Old Navy. Check out Old Navy’s Active wear in stores or at oldnavy.com #GetYourActiveON
Do you live in your yoga pants, too? Do you wear them for both exercise and regular life or have designated workout pants? I know some people strongly prefer either tight or loose shirts for exercise, but I don’t mind – it depends more on the specific shirt. I do like looser jackets for running, like the Old Navy one above. And at least when it comes to running, I can’t wear yoga pants. Anything that’s loose around my ankles drives me nuts when I run, so I favor tights for running, and yoga pants for yoga. Or, you know, going to the grocery store.
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{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
I pretty much always wear tights for running/yoga and I wear the exact same ones as part of my “normal” wardrobe! I have a bunch of just plain black ones that go to my ankle and some that hit mid calf. Super comfy and flattering to workout in and throw a sweater and boots on over
I like tights for running, too, but I do have a pair of loose windbreaker pants that I like to run in, too. I don’t like loose pants for yoga, either, so I always wear capri tights. Yesterday, I put on a pair of capris and the exact same Old Navy pullover you have above to go to yoga. I never went…fell asleep in it…and am still wearing it. To my boyfriends sorrow, I change out of my fancy work clothes and into my yoga/workout clothes in approximately 5 seconds of walking in the front door.
Ha! I totally have “fake” workout clothes that I never actually wear to workout and just wear around the house.
I have those foldover pants too and I liked that they kept my tummy kinda tucked in, but I tried to run in them and they unfolded very quickly.
As a trainer, I definitely live in yoga pants! I get excited when it’s the weekend and I get to put on jeans, lol. I’m definitely not complaining though
I’m not a mommy, but I work from home, and I too count anything that’s not pajamas as “dressy” clothes. No shame!
I make my own detergent off a pinterest recipe and it has tons of baking soda, lasts forever, and is cheap to make. It works great on stinky clothes.
I literally live in yoga pants. I wear them to work everyday and then right after work I have class and I’m too lazy to change into anything unless I’m running after class, then I change into my running attire (: I also have “fake” workout clothes that I think are too cute to get sweaty that I wear to run errands.
Aww love the pictures with Maggie! Too cute.
I love Old Navy! I am not sponsored by them but I’m going to do a blog post about their clothes vs Lululemon.
I am definitely guilty of this. If I didn’t have to teach for a living, I would probably never wear anything else! And, yes, I think I have a few yoga pants I need to retire. I need to go check out Old Navy!
I think all SAHMs live in yoga pants. I love me some yoga pants. I even had maternity ones (not that they were that different). And I keep my yoga pants separate from the rest of my workout clothes… I guess I consider them “real clothes.”
I saw this on Lindsays post too… I wear my yoga pants everywhere!
I work full time so I wear my fancy work clothes during the day but immediately change into my “comfy” clothes when I get home. That means cute sweatpants, leggins or even pajama pants if I have not plans to get out that evening. I pretty much save my workout clothes for working out. Love Old Navy Active line too, I have some great items from there that have held up great to multiple wears and washings over the past two years. Compression tights and their jackets are my favorite items, love the thumb holes!
I live in workout clothes, like always. I’m a full-time nanny so I totally know what you mean! Forever 21 has some awesome, durable yoga pants and running tights for suuuuuper cheap
Who doesn’t love yoga pants!!?? Since you are already adding baking soda to your wash you should check out the recipe on Pinterest to make your own laundry soap. I made it and LOVE IT. It cost $20 to make about 1/3 of a 5 gallon bucket. You only use about 2 T or 1/3 c for each load. It cleans your clothes really well and smells good too.
My yoga pants drawer actually out numbers the jean drawer. Amazingly enough I have worn jeans twice this year! That being said, I live in my yoga pants (wearing them now here at work). Only time I “dress up” is if I have to meet friends for dinner and that’s only if it’s fancier than a Red Robin or sushi bar. LOL.
I LIVE IN WORKOUT CLOTHES!!! Love yoga pants and zip ups. I just love to be comfy! Haha
I only wear workout clothes to workout, walk the dog, or clean around the house. I try not to wear them as regular clothes. I remember when I was little, I thought how weird my mom was when she would come home from work (where she was required to wear a suit) and immediately change into pj’s (at like 7pm). But now I realize that there’s no point to dirtying more clothes!
Total fan of fitted tops that aren’t super tight, because roomy tops make my broader form look fat, although I’m not. I am also a pear shape so I like loose bottoms to make my legs look straighter!
I use a scoop of baking soda and 1/4 cup of vinegar in my clothing and it works wonders in getting rid of smells and stains. The vinegar is also said to take the place of fabric softener!
I will sometimes wear my long yoga pants to work with a pair of ballet flats, a v-neck tee and a cardigan with a necklace. It’s put together, but still so comfy
I don’t get to wear comfy clothes nearly often enough- as for my job I need to dress professional. However, the moment I get home, I change into sweatpants. My lululemon yoga pants are definitely my relaxing at home pants though as well- they’re just so comfy!
When I was a university student, I’m pretty sure I wore workout clothes every single day, whether I worked out or not!
Lookin good! I put on a pair of boot cut pants the other day and laughed. Skinny everything is so in right now I felt like I was going to trip on my bell bottoms.. ha. Even though they are just reasonably flared out.
Black yoga pants are definitely acceptable all around- working out, going out, running errands, and work! You can certainly dress up a pair of yoga pants. I swear by them for working overnight shifts when I do need to look somewhat professional, yet would like to be comfortable all night long. It’s nice not to have to sacrifice my comfort for a professional look.
I wish they werent so accepted! I dont need to see the entire surface of your butt! Its ridiculous.
I could live in spandex and yoga pants
Nope, I dress up for work and only wear workout clothes during workouts or at home. It’s not socially appropriate to wear yoga pants (or any athletic wear) in public where I live! People would find it dirty (eww did you sweat in that?!) or lazy, kind of like wearing scrubs to a restaurant after you’ve worked in them. Guess it’s a regional thing
Where do you live???
Vinegar is great for smells too. (I mostly pre-treat with the vinegar) I know it sounds counter intuitive, but it really does work.
Also thanks for the baking soda tip. I know what I will be using in my laundry when summer comes.
I wear fake workout clothes all the time at home (I find yoga pants too heavy for an actual workout)! My rationale isn’t that I’m being sloppy (because actually I think my yoga pants are very flattering!), it’s that the more comfortable I am, the more likely I am to be active with my kids. In the summer I often wear workout clothes (real ones actually, because I don’t really have fake summer workout clothes) and it allows me the spontaneity of playing with them, going for a long walk, running around with them, etc.
I love your outfit! I also tend to wear yoga pants all day long, and it’s pretty amazing! When I run it has to be a skort or capris. I can’t stand the long loose pants or any kind of shorts because they ride up!
For smelly workout clothes, I recently started using Sport Suds and it is a MIRACLE. Granted, it is not as cheap as using baking soda, but it completely got rid of the perma-stank in my and my husband’s workout clothes and that is totally worth it for me! It’s also non-scented and *seems* to not contain creepy chemicals (they say it’s actually safe for lake and stream use). I guess for all I know it could BE baking soda, haha, but is has really worked well, so I’m a convert now!
I bought a pair of “nice” yoga pants from Old Navy on maternity leave, and now that I’m going back to work, I’m going to try and pull them off as work pants. Shhhhhh.
You are looking great these days Caitlin!!!
I wear yogas to workout in, after I shower, and on weekends. They are a staple in my wardrobe.
you are really rocking that shorter hair!
That someecard is definitely me these days!
I love all the blogger fitness posts on Old Navy clothes, except I click over to buy them and the size selection is so limited! I guess that is what happens with a sale
Love the new ‘do!
I have a “day job”, teach yoga, and I’m a health coach so I always wear my yoga clothes as workout clothes. I find I need a different set for running as I need to really strap the girls back and I have found yoga pants fall down as I run and I’m constantly pulling them up!
I really love that black leggings, a cute top, and boots are so in right now. Makes being lazy and stylish all the same!
I only wear workout clothes. I’ll throw on jeans if need be, but I love the forgiveness of workout clothes. With all of my digestive issues bloating is a huge problem and I need that flexibility. That’s why for years I’ve rolled my eyes at the weight loss advice of “get dressed in workout gear first thing in the morning and you’ll be forced to work out.” Not this girl!