The Bag That'll Take You From Work to Workout

Like most people, until recently my fitness regime had consisted of extortionate gym memberships that got utilised somewhere in the region of twice a month. 

It's no surprise therefore that my gym kit is even more pathetic than my attendance record; my 'sports bra' is basically an old bra which a size smaller than my current size and therefore restricts the jiggle. I only just invested in a pair of good running trainers to suit my gait last week - ever the over-dresser my previous training footwear had been a pair of inappropriately fashionable neon pink Air Maxes.

If you'd have seen me in the gym a couple of months ago, puffing at the treadmill at a speed level of about 5, you would have chuckled sympathetically at what was clearly a newbie out of her depth.

The pictures from a recent trip to Paris were exactly what I needed to kick me into action however - me barely fitting into my favourite pair of trousers and being cheated out of the colour black's promises to shield a multitude of sins. That and the fact that a lot of my clothes have been bought from China where the sizes run smaller than expected - something I really should have grasped by now. Alas optimism has kept me ordering the smaller sizes and I am now left with a heap of clothes I never wear due to my inability to bend over without flashing the people behind me, or stand up straight without brandishing a hideous camel toe.

So now I go very regularly and actually take my training pretty seriously. However as you can probably tell by my previous choices in footwear, Sportswear is not my forte. Anything with a visible sports logo on it is instantly rebuked by me, and don't get me started on the gym bags. I had recently bought an American Apparel duffle bag that had looked a nice burgundy colour on the website but in reality is a garish red that matches none of my outfits, sporty or otherwise. I set about trawling the web for some suitable alternatives and decided to take into consideration that there will soon come a time that someone will actually want to hire me to do 'fings' for money at some point, and I would therefore have to carry this gym bag to and from work a lot of the time. Well there was no way I'd dare be spotted with a bag the color of a fire hydrant, especially if I'm working an office job with a dress code. Unfortunately the alternatives in the female sections of my desired websites were coming up short also. I needed something with lots of space to fit my gear and any materials I may need for work. It also needed to have side pockets for my oyster card, purse etc and it had to be wearable to suit most of my clothes. A girlfriend of mine flicked a light bulb switch in my head when I bumped into her as she was on her way to spend a few nights with her boyfriend. Her overnight bag was a marvelous Ralph Lauren holdall which fit all of her garments and managed to make her look fabulous.
I followed suit.

Though Ralph Lauren is a bit (a lot) out of my current price range I took to the web again, but this time in pursuit of men's holdalls. I managed to find this gem from ASOS which cost around £35 and also came in black, although I strongly suggest getting it in a chocolate brown like I did, as it shows up just a few shades lighter than black anyway and will go with EVERYTHING in your wardrobe.

As you'll see from the pictures, I have already placed my gym gear in there, but I still have so much room I could fit like three small toddlers in there (however this would be highly unethical and I strongly advise against attempting to prove this theory).

Have a gander and then if like me, you like to keep it practical yet fashionable ladies, you must get searching for a men's holdall.

After all, nobody on the commute has to know you actually work for that body right?