Fashion-forward fitness affects the body, and mind

A fun read in last week’s Wall Street Journal, “The Louder the Leggings, the Better; Bye-Bye, Basic Black” had me wondering if what we’re wearing to the gym is having an impact on our mood and our workouts.

But, does all this outward display really produce better fitness results?

While there isn’t much in the way of scientific research on this specific topic to date, a Shape.com article did touch on how what we're wearing to the gym can impact our mood. Karen J. Pine, professor of psychology at the University of Hertfordshire and author of Mind What You Wear: The Psychology of Fashion explained that putting on workout gear can prepare our minds for an upcoming workout. Perhaps this explains the growing trend of people wearing gym gear outside of the gym.

In fact an article in The Business of Fashion cited the global sports apparel market, which includes activewear is on a steady climb and set to reach $178 billion industry by 2019 according to Boston-based research firm Trefis. To put this in perspective, in the US in 2013 sales of women’s activewear reached $11.5 billion, an increase of 9% from 2012 according to market research firm NPD.

So shopaholics rejoice. Pick up a new pair of neon chevron patterned leggings and hit the treadmill. Bottom line, if your "Beast Mode" T-shirt gets you in the mood to workout, get after it. Chances are your confidence alone will motivate you to run faster, train harder and produce one heck of burn in the process.