My career means I’ve pretty much always lived in activewear. Before I joined Peloton, I was a professional dancer on tour with artists like One Direction, Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue, and on shows like X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing. When I was a dancer, I spent most of my time at rehearsals, in activewear; when I wasn’t dancing, I was teaching fitness classes, also in activewear. Then I’d put jeans on and be like, “They’re not as comfortable as leggings” - so back into the activewear I’d go. I've literally been dressing like this since I was about five.
Now I teach up to six Peloton classes a week. Preparing for a class is a major process. I like to think of my rides and the way I prepare and dress for them a bit like a show. I think about my outfit, my hair, my make-up - I go through the same process preparing for my classes as I did on stage. Every time I get on the bike, that's like a show for me; that's my performance moment.
Some rides are bigger productions than others. For my Spice Girls ride, I knew that, number one, it had to look very British. And I wanted it to be a nod to something that was really iconic for the Spice Girls. The first thing that popped to my mind was Geri in the Union Jack dress from the 1997 Brit Awards. It’s iconic.
I had a Zoom meeting with a seamstress and was like, “This is my idea, it might not work, and we’ve got a week.” I didn’t sketch it out, but I was very clear with what I wanted and sent over a couple of Peloton Apparel outfits that I love as references. I wanted to have a touch of as many Spice Girls as I could, so there was a little animal print as my nod to Scary Spice, and a high, slicked-back ponytail for Sporty Spice. It came together exactly as I hoped it would.
I definitely put a lot of effort into my outfits. The most important thing for me is that I'm comfortable in what I'm wearing. And also that the outfit gets me in the mood for the workout I'm doing. It's fun to try and match what I'm wearing to the kind of class that I'm teaching - if it's an ‘80s class, I’ll have a pop of colour, or if it's ‘70s, maybe we'll get a bit of tie-dye in there. I do rewear pieces, but try not to repeat the exact same look. Peloton members often remember a ride based on what the instructor looks like in the thumbnail. So if I can change it up a little bit, that helps people distinguish between the rides.
I always go for a high neck in a top and high-waisted leggings. I know that it suits my body shape and it makes me feel the most comfortable. I love the new Peloton Apparel line - especially the Melody set. I feel great in that and I like the autumn-winter vibes. I also love leggings from Beyond Yoga, Lululemon and Year of Ours. They have really fun pieces, like zebra-print leggings and good pops of colour. Everyone needs something that’s going to give them a boost and help them get in the mood before a 6:30am workout.
When I was a dancer, there were times when I really struggled. And I used to think, “One day, I’ll have so much activewear and I'll be so happy.” Now I can't find anything because I've got so much. If I was to give a polite estimate - keeping in mind that I’ve just cleared out a lot of leggings - I’d say I probably have over 50 pairs of leggings right now. I wear them all.
I know it looks like instructors don’t sweat, but you have to remember that we’re in a gorgeous studio with perfect lighting, air-conditioning and fans. And the right makeup. My three hero products on the bike are the Bare Minerals lipstick in Confidence, the Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash mascara, which just doesn’t budge; and this Hourglass shimmer stick in Champagne Flash. I love it. It really bounces the light and gives me a nice glow on the bike.
I probably spend 75% of my time in activewear. The rest of the time, I love to play with my style. Recently I got to go to the James Bond premiere. It happened to be on my birthday as well. I thought, what would I love to wear that I would never have an opportunity to wear anywhere else? I chose a dress by 16Arlington - it was hot-pink crushed velvet, with a high neck and feathered cuffs. When I put it on, I knew it was the one. It’s timeless but fun. And the best part? It matched Daniel Craig’s jacket. You can’t say that about a pair of leggings.
As told to Emily Cronin
Is there a piece of clothing you own many varieties of? Let us know in the comments section below
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