The stylish sportswear Telegraph journalists swear by – and you should too

Telegraph

2 days ago

I could write a book about the benefits of taking up tennis again in mid-life (fitness, body confidence, family bonding). I could also pen a ranty diatribe about how inadequate and weirdly patronising a lot of sports lines for women are.
Let's see… Men's shorts featuring ball pockets, plus a zippered one at the back for keys. Women's shorts? Ah, no pockets at all. This is particularly annoying when you are playing tennis and need an extra ball for serving.
Happily, some cool, boutique sports lines are springing up that are more enlightened and have a less cookie-cutter approach. One such is Spence (a tomboyish US tennis label, with an aesthetic that's more Billy Baldwin in The Squid and the Whale, than Aryna Sabalenka in a racer-back bodycon).
Spence founder Amanda Greeley told me that 'we fit all our men's pieces on women too, which is a little unusual, but we found during the process that the men's shorts looks really great on women too'.
Greeley doesn't go for the whole matchy-matchy club tennis look, preferring something 'kind of mixed and matched and layered', which certainly suits someone like me.
For this article, I wanted to tap into the wisdom of other female colleagues at The Telegraph who play sport (read on to glean their expert tips on practical sports gear, plus sample their inspirational attitude).
What does it matter what anyone wears to play sport you might carp? Well, if wearing a kit that makes you feel more confident in your body gets you out there in the field to enjoy the endorphin-boosting, health benefits and exhilaration of sport – I certainly can't think of a bigger win than that.
Here's to more pockets and more joy. Let's go.
Skip to:
Running
Cricket
Yoga
Netball
Tennis
Running – Jess Benjamin
Jess wears: Airism jacket, £29.90, Uniqlo; Running vest with flasks, £160 and crew socks, £19 (both Salomon); Double layer shorts, £48, Oner, Skyflow trainers, £150 and run hat, £30 (both Hoka)
How long have you been running?
I've always dabbled in running, but properly got into it during the 2020 lockdown. Ideally, I do a long run at the weekends and short runs during the week, but it depends on how busy I am.
What do you typically wear to train/play?
In the winter months, I wear leggings, a long sleeve top and depending on how biting the cold is, a sports jacket too – all from M&S. I think their sports range is really good and great value for money. In the summer, I wear shorts and a vest, shedding the vest on really hot days so I'm just in a sports bra and shorts.
What are your frustrations with what is available in the market?
Most of all, the shorts. My winter leggings have a handy zip pocket at the back that holds my phone and house keys, but no women's shorts do. I find this especially frustrating as my boyfriend's shorts have two zip pockets, but men's shorts won't fit me properly. I also find many pairs of shorts tend to ride up so that by stride five of my run, I already look like I'm wearing very voluminous knickers. It's annoying.
Have you found pieces that work for you?
My compromise is currently wearing longer, tight cycling shorts with a running belt to hold my phone. However, I find the belt jostles around a lot, and I'd prefer something a little less tight and revealing than the tight shorts.
Running styles to try...
Cricket – Sonia Twigg
Women's sport reporter
Sonia wears; Pace short sleeved top, £39.95 and Spin trousers, £54.95 (both Lacuna Sports); Spikes shoes, from a selection, Asics
How long have you been playing cricket?
I have played cricket for almost as long as I can remember, starting in the garden and then moving into club cricket and even county age group level up to under-17s. I then continued playing through university and into adulthood so it really has been a big part of my life.
What do you typically wear to train/play?
As an outdoor sport in England, cricket is very weather dependent. To train if it's warm I will probably wear shorts and a T-shirt, but for matches it's always long trousers and then a mixture of long-sleeve or short-sleeved shirts and even jumpers if it's cold enough.
What are your frustrations with what is available in the market?
When I was a teenager and playing a lot, I do not think they even made women's cricket shirts and trousers so I grew up wearing boys ones, which never fit right. Although there are now some limited options in the market I have always found the kit a bit restrictive when it comes to fitting a thigh pad underneath for batting or being comfortable in the field without being too baggy.
Have you found pieces that work for you?
To be honest no, at least not ones that fit perfectly. With my club's move to coloured kit there are also additional problems with wearing black trousers on a hot day as sometimes the material used is not breathable enough.
Cricket styles to try...
Yoga – Susanna Galton
Health writer
Susanna wears: Soft flow studio twist back vest, £35; Ultimate Studio leggings, £80 and Power pulse bra, £45, all Sweaty Betty; Grip socks, £16, Adanola
How long have you been doing yoga?
I've been doing Pilates for 15 years, yoga for six (did the teacher training in 2019 but ended up not teaching and stayed a journalist). I got into running five years ago and did two half marathons, but now run only once a week for 5k, I do yoga only once a week now and Pilates less frequently – but plan to do more)
What do you typically wear to train/play?
Leggings (high waisted and bum sculpting ideally) sports bra, loose vest top but tucked into my leggings, so I can check my form but so the top doesn't fall into my face when in inversion moves. Generally, bare feet but sometimes socks for Pilates with grip on soles (bare feet is better to be fair but unless I have time to paint toes I might hide them! I am a size 4.5)
What are your frustrations with what is available in the market?
Leggings that are too low and reveal my tummy (loose skin after three kids = bad look) or ones that don't suck in arse cheeks to make a smooth silhouette. Any leggings that go see through in downward dog are a big no no. Finding knickers is hard as G-strings look better but no one wants to floss their arse or show a whale tail when bending over. I also hate leggings that might give a camel toe – generally the Oner active ones have some seam at the front so you have action man/Barbie style genitals which is good, or preferable at least.
Have you found pieces that work for you?
Yes, by avoiding cheap leggings that go see through. Some sports G-strings are OK. Or go commando if you're doing a sweaty workout and it will all go in the wash after one wear anyway. I wear any trusty sports bra that gives shape without pushing up into a cleavage. I like a loose vest on top, but I buy very cheap ones as I prefer thin material anyway and I tuck them into the leggings. I don't mind if these are sheer as, if the sports bra is solid/bright coloured, I am happy for it to be visible underneath. I usually wear a sports bra and then a bra top too.
Yoga styles to try...
Netball – Lizzie Newton
Publisher, Features & Lifestyle
Lizzie wears: Seamless top, £35; skort, £52 and socks, £15 for three pairs (all Oner); Gel-Quantum 360 VIII netball trainers, £180, Asics
How long have you been playing netball?
I've been playing netball for 15 years. I went to a tiny village primary school (three girls in my year!) so joining sports teams wasn't really an option. When I joined my secondary school I went a bit mad with all the after-school clubs that were on offer. After starting to play for the netball team I fell in love with the sport and carried on playing weekly – throughout my time at university and now with a team in a social league in south-west London.
What do you typically wear to train/play?
When playing for a club I wore a netball dress which was exclusive to my team. However, now that I play in a social league the attire is casual sportswear. As we play on outdoor courts all year round, my clothing varies from shorts and a vest top in the warmer months, to sports leggings and a long-sleeved, fitted zip-up top in the winter. You do warm up very quickly so something with a zip or that's easy to fling off is always preferred. Long and double-lined socks are also a winner for grip and comfort when running – but also for aesthetics.
What are your frustrations with what is available in the market?
I get irritated at tops or shorts that ride up when playing. As it's a sport that involves a variety of movements (running, jumping, bending, stretching, etc) I find myself often having to readjust my shorts or pull my top back down. This is particularly problematic as a tall woman (5ft 11in).
Netball dresses for games tend to be expensive and exclusive to the club you play for. It would be nice to see more skirts and dresses for general training as they are practical and fun (and look great). I have noticed more of these are becoming available, such as Lululemon's Shake it Out High Rise shorts. Tala have also released a number of skorts which come in a variety of fun, pastel colours.
Have you found pieces that work for you?
The double lined shorts are great, they're floaty but have an extra layer so you don't flash the rest of the team when jumping/ stretching over your opponent to mark them. Practically, they're not restrictive either. I love the pieces from Tala and Alo. Specific netball shoes are safer to play in for support and grip on the court – Asics are a good brand. Double layered socks are also excellent for movement and comfort when running.
Netball styles to try...
Tennis – Sarah Bailey
Acting fashion director
Sarah wears: Terry hat, £59; sweatshirt, £140; polo, £119 and shorts, £117 (all Spence); Eliot Runner trainers, £198 and tube socks, £20; (both Tracksmith)
How long have you been playing tennis?
I'm a mid-life convert to tennis. I took it up so I could play with my sons and share a hobby with them (it's easier to get on board with than playing Fortnit e/eating Doritos). I also do a group lesson every week at Parliament Hill Fields (with fellow grown-ups) which is a major stress reliever after a week of desk work.
What do you typically wear to train/play?
When I first started I just wore gym leggings and whatever sweatshirt was at hand, but as my quirky mum hobby progressed to become something I took a little more seriously, I wanted to wear tennis clothes that felt breezy in the summer and cosy through the winter months playing outdoors. Of course, you can't go wrong with a Uniqlo gilet over most things, but what I wanted most of all was shorts with pockets.
What are your frustrations with what is available in the market?
The strange assumption that every woman who plays sports is looking for spray-on bodycon that leaves nothing to the imagination. And at the risk of repeating myself, I am in despair about the dearth of pockets in women's shorts.
Have you found pieces that work for you?
For summer, I bought an Alo yoga skirt with ball pockets from Net-A-Porter, which is easy to wear (and looks really pleasing with an oversized sweatshirt). Leny has great shorts sets with an old school varsity feeling. But it's Spence, the brand created by Amanda Greeley, a passionate tennis aficionado, that really hits the spot for me, in terms of both utility and old skool style.
Tennis styles to try...
Styling by Sophie Tobin, additional shopping by Hansveni Dave and additional reporting: Olivia Jacobs