Where's your waistband?
So, what’s going on with your trousers?
I'm sticking with the clothing theme and asking because according to a story by Guardian News & Media, due to the ravages of time "the last time most men are able to fasten their trousers around anything resembling a natural waist is at the age of 39."
This has led to those in the fashion industry adopting nicknames for blokes.
Overachievers haul their trousers towards their armpits, taking on the oh-so-sexy look of Steve Urkel. (Did anyone else grow up during the Family Matters era and remember him? Suffice to say it's not a good look.)
Underachievers, on the other hand, go for the almost-gangsta below the waist look - presumably plumping for the builder's crack look that we all know and love.
However, to be fair, the extreme low-riding pants that were favoured by fashion-obsessed women a few years ago made me question if a lot of them were planning to go into trade.
Waistbands have been up and down like a ... no wait, let’s not go there ... they’ve been up and down with trends over the last few years.
I have noticed that teenage boys no longer seem to wear their waistbands quite so low. This, at least, saves me from walking along wondering idly if they’ve actually pinned them to their boxers. I mean how else do their trousers stay in such a perilous position? Are they not afraid they’re suddenly going to make a break for their ankles?
Thinking about it, apart from one skirt, the only clothing I own with high-rise waistlines are training shorts. In my opinion there is nothing worse than your shorts sliding down while you’re trying to run, or working out at the gym.
Unfortunately, there’s no power on this earth that will stop my shorts riding up, which is why I favour the two pair look. At least the skins stay in place and the other pair can do what they please, short of strangling me.
Training clothing is a tricky issue and one that’s very hard to get right. It’s the one part of my wardrobe where function leaves look a distant second.
For example, when it comes to cycling the shorts are easy but it’s important to get a shirt of just the right length and fit, so it’s not loose and yet doesn’t creep up your back.
Running T-shirts are simple (though length can be an issue too). It’s the shorts that are tricky, as I’ve indicated above. And the gym is another issue again.
The trouble is it’s almost impossible to tell what the clothing will do when you’re trying it on in the shop.
Shorts that seem fine might start the dreaded downward creep 20 minutes into a run. And that T-shirt that looked great just will not sit in the right position no matter how much you tug on it.
I know this from bitter experience. I have a whole drawer of scarcely worn training clothes because they are "not quite right". Unfortunately, I just spent $100 on two new pairs of shorts that seem to fall into that category.
It's just as well I like to spend some time in sports shops when I need retail therapy.
Am I the only person that has such serious issues with training clothing?
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I finally sucked up the courage to buy myself a pair of running shorts in the post-christmas rebel sale because I get very very hot very easily in summer and my usual 3/4 tights just don't cut the mustard. I thought I'd finally found a pair that didin't disappear up my anything-shorter-than-knee-length-and-whoops-where-have-they-gone thighs 'coss they seemed fine in the shop. Took them out for their first test run and schloop!* off they went (*the sound of previously mid-thigh-length shorts being sucked skywards). Luckily for me I am less about the caring how they look these days and more about the not getting heat stroke. Reading about your solution though, I wish I could bring myself to part with enough money to buy me some Skins!
"get a shirt of just the right length and fit, so it’s not loose"
What's wrong with a loose shirt when cycling?
I had an unfortunately experience with my favourite pair of running tights at the start of the Rotorua marathon. Having trained with a fuel belt I decided to cram all my gels into the small hip pocket of the tights instead. I therefore spent the first 10k hitching up my tights as the combined weight of all those gels kept sending them towards the ground.
Like Sass, the last pair of running shorts I bought (the kind with 'bike shorts' underneath a looser pair of shorts over the top) are an epic fail for anything longer than a 5k, as the tights inevitably head crotchwards,with the associated chaffing.
Still looking for the perfect pair of cycling shorts. I'm not sure they exist. One of the criteria (other than the obvious protective qualities necessary in the chammy) is that the waist band be low enough to not rub up under my bellbutton piercing. And no, bib shorts are not the answer, and I refuse to wear those women's bib shorts with the strap that goes up between the breasts either ...
"jhn #3 11:55am
What's wrong with a loose shirt when cycling?"
It flaps about in the wind.
I've solved the shorts problem by still wearing the same pairs of shorts I bought three years ago. Never buy new stuff, never encounter the problem.
Re-sult.
I would love to find a pair of running shorts, that work with someone that has thighs, that are long enough that they don't walk up my inner thigh when running. I have to wear running tights, which are so NOT flattering. If anyone has found the perfect pair please let me know, but I am sure they don't exist. Like Ann says, you need skins and shorts over them!
@ Pip.
Louis Garneau do an awesome pair of bike shorts with a stretchy soft waist band that sits quite low. They are $170-$215 but they are so comfortable! Another awesome brand is Pearl Izumi for low sitting shorts that dont rub or cut off circulation.
Found some excellent tan stubbies in an op shop, nice high waist and short short legs. My short of choice at the moment, certainly stand out from the ubiquitous boardies when out and about. Drives the wife mad too...
I've found my 3.4 length tights great for running in with no upward migration, but they are just too hot for running in summer. I found a pair of mid thigh tights but unfortunately they sat too high on my waistband and I somehow ended up with chafing inside my tummy button. Other (looser) shorts have almost without exception only just escaped requiring surgical removal - although I ran in a really old pair of short glassons shorts last night, admittedly only for an hour and had no issues. I imagine a longer run would have resulted in chafing as they were cotton shorts. It's gotten to the point now where I go for my first run in new shorts on the treadmill at home, as I've had certain pairs where I didn't even make 500m before they were removed and the old 3/4 length tights put back on.
I always used to run in adidas running shorts but always had a slight problem with them creeping upwards. A couple of years ago I borrowed a pair of my brothers adidas running shorts - very simiar but a bit longer. They dont cause any riding up or chaffing and I havent looked back - boys/mens shorts all the way for me now (for running!).
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Luckily motorsport race overalls tend to fit me fine and don't seem to make a bid for freedom at any stage.
While climbing earlier in the week however, I did have my shorts attempt to return to ground level without me. The joys of the climbing harness being tighter around my waist than the shorts were.