Sports Apparel Tips

Warm-Up Suits Go Mainstream

Sports apparel style has truly crossed over into casual wear with the prevalence of warm-up suits in styles, fabrics, and colors to fit every shape and taste from grandmas to granddaughters. Check out the range options from your favorite sports apparel manufacturers. The matched suits are as comfortable as your old college sweats, but nice enough to wear in public. Special features of some warm-up suits are ankle-zip pants for easy on and off, iPod or MP3 pockets for the music enthusiast, hoods, and embroidery.

Sweats Are A Perennial Favorite With Kids

Most kids love sweats, regardless of whether they play six sports or none. Sports apparel manufacturers such as Champion offer high-quality sweatpants and sweatshirts for boys and girls. You can find warm-up sweatsuits in cotton, cotton blend, or mesh, any of which will keep kids comfortable before and after sports, when they are doing their homework, or when they're sitting in the car to go to grandma's. When purchasing boys and girls sweats choose a larger size to allow for the child's growth and the garment's shrinkage. Although some styles of sweats are shrink-resistant, others are not, especially if they are 100% cotton and you throw them in the dryer, so hang them dry if you're in doubt.

Find The Right Sweatshirt Size

The right size of sweatshirt for you depends on how you like clothes to fit. If you're just choosing a sweatshirt to lounge in, your usual jacket size will probably be comfortable. If you are buying a trendy hoodie or pullover that's designed to flatter your figure, try your normal shirt size.

A laundry tip: Washing can alter sizes. Read the labels; a sweatshirt that is 100% cotton will probably shrink if you dry it in the dryer. If you want to avoid shrinkage, hang sweatshirts on a plastic hanger from a hook or shower rod. Hanging sweatshirts on a hanger allows the air to circulate and they will dry more quickly than they would if they were draped over a drying rack.

Zip-Front Sweatshirts Make Great Casual Jackets

Sometimes you just want a lightweight, casual jacket for a little extra warmth as you dash out to run an errand, walk the dog, or pick up children. If wind- and water-resistance aren't an issue, a zip-front sweatshirt makes a great lightweight outer layer that's soft and comfortable enough to wear both indoors and outdoors. Zip-front sweatshirts are available in a variety of styles and fabrics, and you can find them with or without hoods.

Want Maximum Coziness? Slip On A Hooded Sweatshirt

There's nothing quite like a comfortable hooded sweatshirt when you want to feel warm and cozy, whether you're relaxing after a workout, sitting in the stands to watch a game on a cool fall day, or just picking up the kids after the game. Many sports apparel manufacturers offer hooded men's sweatshirts, and look for reverse-weave fabrics or cotton/polyester blends if you want to minimize shrinkage.