I Can’t Stop Buying Monochrome Running Clothes
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The Strategist happens to be full of runners, so this week we hit the ground running (literally), testing tons of running gear and interviewing experts to give every kind of runner all the intel they might need. Welcome toRunning Week.
It all started with a pair of bright purple Sauconys. When they arrived in the mail in the fall (in advance of the NYRR Brooklyn Half Marathon) I was taken aback. Theshoewas a much brighter shade of lavender than I had assumed, and there was some extremely unexpected iridescent glitter on the sole. I hadn’t worn glitter since elementary school, but I loved them instantly.
Soon after purchasing, more lavender began to seep into my wardrobe. An old Nike running jacket called to me from the back of my closet, and a new color drop of my favoriteshortsandsports brafrom Girlfriend Collective matched perfectly. My intention was to save my purple Sauconys for race day, but the compulsion to dress like a Disney Channel character was too strong. I wore the purple Sauconys and my matching set on so many runs leading up to the race, the shoes racked up too many miles and I had to retire them before my fall race.
The next month, I branched out into new color schemes. Navy-blue bra from Tracksmith and shorts from Girlfriend Collective to match my navy-blueTracksmith Eliots. Girlfriend Collective plum shorts and bra with a Tracksmith long sleeve that don’t-quite-match but perfectly complemented my pink Nike Pegasus. When, at the end of last year, I had to sadly retire my bright purple speeds, I replaced them with a new pair in a hot pink colorway (and bought a matching hot-pink bra and shorts — all fromHey Girl Run). I now own over six matching sets and counting — next on my list isa pair of Sauconys in greenthat matches my already green pants, bra, shirt, and hat.
My favorite place to buy these colorful clothes was Girlfriend Collective, but the brand has recently replaced its colorful sets with ones that are more neutral, muted, and far less fun. But thankfully Hey Girl Run, Tracksmith, Lululemon, and Nike still have bright colorways I like to keep tabs on. Below, I’ve re-created a few of my favorite outfits to wear and put together a few others I have my eye on.
Bright Purple
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Although my well-loved purple Sauconys are long out of stock, I found this pair of On running shoes in a very similar colorway (sadly, glitterless). While I haven’t tried them myself, they’re our best-in-classtrendy workout shoesfor women, and Strategist managing editor Kelsie Schrader described them as having “plenty of cushion and a nice bounce.”
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Hey Girl Run just released this purple colorway that is the perfect dupe of my Girlfriend Collective set. I have them in hot pink (more on these below), light pink, and dark purple and really love how the shorts look and feel; they have just the right amount of compression, don’t ride up on long runs, and their slightly thicker fabric doesn’t show as much sweat. Unlike the Girlfriend Collective shorts, these only have pockets on the right side, but the pockets’ double layer still has enough room for all your necessities.
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I also have this bra to match the shorts I listed above. It’s perfectly supportive for all running distances.
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I love thiswater bottleand had to buy it in purple to match my shoes.
Highlighter Pink
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Although I don’t own this pair myself, the bright pink color is really incredible and a super-similar color to the bright pink Sauconys I mentioned earlier. Similar to the Pegasus, these have been around for decades and continue to be a favorite among runners. It’s also one of our best-in-class picks foreveryday training.
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I am particularly enamored by how perfectly these bright shorts I own match the shoes.
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Don’t forget the matching bra, a longline version of our best-in-class pick. I’ve had this bra in another color for over five years and it’s one of my favorites.
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Top it all off (literally) with a matching visor.
Blush Pink
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Nike Pegasus 40
The Nike Pegasus will forever hold a special place in my heart; it wasmy very first running shoe, and I even ran my first marathon, the 2021 New York City Marathon, in them. They’ve been a dependable part of Nike’s running lineup since it was introduced four decades ago.They’re also our best-in-class pick foreveryday training. I own these in this light blush pink. (And I’m eyeing them inthis highlighter yellow, too.)
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I have these shorts that match my bubblegum Nike Pegasus pair and love how compressive yet flexible they are. They’re a little longer than what I typically reach for but add for additional coverage and warmth for those in-between months.
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Add one of our best-in-classbras for high-intensityworkouts to match. (The longline version is one of my favorites.)
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I mentioned this in myMeet the Runnersintroduction as well, but the Tracksmith Harrier Long Sleeve is one of my all time favorite running tees; it’s supersoft, warm, and dries quickly after being caught in the rain (or from excess sweat). I own it in three colors and plan on buying more (including this one in blush).
Mauve/Light Purple
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One of our best-in-class picks forresponsive shoes, I was first introduced to the Saucony Endorphin Speeds by a friend who has been racing in them for years. I was looking for a different shoe to use while speed training and racing and decided to try them out. I instantly loved how they felt; they were sturdy yet bouncy, and maybe it’s the placebo effect, but I do feel a lot faster when running in them too. There are a few shades of mauve and purple that you could play with, all are perfect. (I’m also thinking about trying the pro version of this shoe because it comes inthis perfect purple-mauve.)
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Haven’t tried these myself, but these shorts are the perfect complement to the mauve Sauconys.
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Also haven’t tried, but found a matching color in pants, too, if you prefer.
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And don’t forget a matching top.
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While I admit this Brooks bra (I haven’t tried it myself but it is our best-in-class pick formedium-intensity workouts) isn’t anexactmatch, it does come in two shades that are close; the washed plum picks up the purple shades in the laces and detail, and the light purple is a nice complement to the rest of the kit.
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