I’m just not into expensive workout clothes. I’m convinced it’s a biological predisposition. Friends of mine go on and on about how pouring thousands of dollars into matching sets with elaborate cutouts is the only thing that motivates them to show up at the gym. I feel entirely the opposite.
I want simple, stretchy, black, and machine washable. I live for the midwestern grandmother in my head’s approving nod when I show her the price tag. And, notably, I’m six-foot-two, so your run-of-the-mill yoga pants are going to flare at my upper calf. Not ideal.
My best friend, who also has a midwestern grandmother in her head, gave me this unitard six years ago for my birthday. I was impressed, having suffered a few workout classes in regular-people unitards that left the majority of my leg exposed and me with a painful midsection. The length on this Old Navy option went right to my ankle bone. I could take a high-intensity class without having to layer another sports bra underneath. And even after a hundred washes, it still feels as good as new.
If additional length isn’t your objective, you’re in luck. This jumpsuit comes in petite and plus sizes, too. And color options abound every season, but I do think there’s an elevating effect in opting for black when the garment costs less than a fast casual lunch. It’s made of 77 percent polyester and 23 percent spandex, which could colloquially translate to not-quite-butter-soft, but sturdy enough for machine washes and hang dries. Mine is still in as good of shape as the day I ripped it out of its plastic shipping packaging.
Old Navy sports bras were the de facto uniform for my volleyball team in high school — affordable, supportive, and seamless under tight jerseys. My pregnant friends rave about the maternity workout options, too. It’s safe to say you could find more flattering fits or softer fabrics, but the durability and price are impossible to beat.
Don’t just take my word for it. The women at my Fort Greene Pilates class, particularly the tall ones, always stop me when I wear it. There’s nothing sweeter than feeling a sly smile form and shaking my head as I whisper, “You won’t believe it’s Old Navy.”
[Editor’s note: The black unitard is currently sold out in most regular and tall sizes, but is available in petite sizes. Colors restock seasonally.]
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