It's October. Which means, naturally, the air conditioning at the gym has finally started working.
All summer we've been sweating through workouts in what felt like a tropical greenhouse. Now that the temperature outside has dropped, the gym has apparently decided to recreate the Arctic.
Excellent timing.
So, we're talking layers.
Not necessarily the technical, cold-weather running kind. I'm talking about the pieces you throw on to get to the gym, keep on for the first 20 minutes while you warm up, and put straight back on the moment you finish.
The trick is finding things that are comfortable, practical and still look like an outfit. Because I'm spending a fair amount of my life in gym clothes, and I'd quite like to enjoy wearing them.
Here's what I'm reaching for this October.
01. The Trousers
Flares, cargos and a little more room to move.
I've always loved a good pair of leggings, but lately I'm finding myself reaching for something a little more relaxed when I'm heading to the gym.
The soft-touch flare
One of my favourites is the Oner Active SoftMotion flare. Soft, flattering and easy to wear with a fitted top or oversized hoodie.
Flares have become something of a wardrobe staple because they work just as well outside the gym. They're the kind of trousers I can put on first thing in the morning and happily wear for the rest of the day.
I love them with a fitted long-sleeve and a slightly oversized zip-up. Simple, comfortable and a little more considered than the usual leggings-and-sweatshirt combination.
The relaxed cargo
For days when I want something less fitted, I'm loving the return of relaxed, cargo-style trousers.
The Alo Linen Getaway Cargo Wide Leg Pant in Macadamia is the pick for this part of the wardrobe.
Think wide legs, drawstring waists, utility pockets and a slightly oversized silhouette.
I particularly like the contrast of a loose trouser with a really fitted top. It gives the outfit a bit more shape and makes the whole thing feel intentional.
These are very much my getting-to-the-gym, warming-up and heading-home trousers. I'm not suggesting doing an entire HYROX session in enormous cargos. Although I'm sure someone on Instagram already has.
02. The First 20 Minutes
Fitted layers that earn their place in the gym bag.
There's a very specific window at the beginning of a workout when I'm absolutely freezing.
Usually about 20 minutes.
Then suddenly I'm sweating, the extra layers are coming off, and I'm wondering why I was complaining about the temperature in the first place.
For that reason, I've become a big fan of fitted long-sleeve tops.
My favourite: The Avri Long-Sleeve Layer
This is the one I keep coming back to.
I love the simplicity of a fitted long-sleeve. It's flattering, easy to layer and gives a little more coverage without the bulk of a sweatshirt.
The Avri Long-Sleeve Layer has become a favourite in my own wardrobe. I wear it over my sports top for the start of a session, with flares when I'm heading out, or under a hoodie when it's particularly cold.
It's one of those pieces that doesn't need to do anything dramatic. It just works.
And yes, Avri is my own brand, so I'm naturally rather fond of this one. But it's also something I genuinely wear, which is why it's here.
The other fitted layers
I'm also drawn to simple, close-fitting tops from brands like Oner Active and lululemon — the Sculpt Long-Sleeve Shirt is a good example.
Nothing too complicated. A clean neckline, a comfortable stretch and a fit that works with both leggings and looser trousers.
The kind of piece you can throw over a sports top, wear through your warm-up and remove once things get serious.
03. The Zip-Up Situation
Because taking a hoodie off shouldn't require a full wardrobe change.
I love an oversized hoodie. But for actual gym layering, there's something particularly useful about a zip-up.
No pulling it over your head, no rearranging your hair, and no accidentally taking your headphones off in the process.
A small luxury.
The shaped zip-up
The TALA Cocoon Zip Through is a lovely option if you want something with a little more structure.
I like the shaped silhouette, particularly with flares. It gives that comfortable, sporty look without feeling quite so oversized.
It's also the kind of piece that works beyond the gym, which is always a bonus.
The oversized hoodie
Then there are the days when all I want is something enormous and comfortable.
Blakely is a favourite of mine for exactly this reason. I love the relaxed fit, the softness and the fact that an oversized hoodie can make even the simplest gym outfit feel finished.
The Apex Lifestyle Oversized Hoodie is particularly good for that cosy, post-workout look.
It's less about training in it and more about putting it on afterwards and having absolutely no intention of taking it off.
04. The Outfit Formula
Three pieces. Several ways to wear them.
The nice thing about layering is that you don't need an entirely new wardrobe every time the temperature changes.
My current formula is fairly straightforward.
Look one: The everyday gym outfit
Soft-touch flares, a fitted long-sleeve and a zip-up hoodie.
Probably the combination I'm reaching for most often at the moment.
Look two: The relaxed arrival
Loose cargo trousers, a fitted top and an oversized hoodie.
Perfect for getting to the gym, warming up and heading out afterwards.
Look three: The actual workout
Training leggings or shorts, a supportive sports top and a fitted long-sleeve that comes off once I'm warm.
Because however much I love the outfit, I'm still there to train.
A Final Thought
October gym dressing is essentially a series of negotiations with the temperature.
Too cold when you arrive. Too hot 20 minutes later. Freezing again the moment you stop moving.
So I'm building my gym wardrobe around pieces that make those transitions a little easier.
A good flare. A relaxed trouser. A fitted long-sleeve. A hoodie worth putting back on.
And perhaps, by December, the gym will have worked out how to use the heating.
Although I wouldn't count on it.
Shop the Warm-Up Wardrobe
A few of my favourites, plus some pieces worth discovering.
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