[Modest Gym Clothes] A Muslim Woman/Workout Fanatic's Dream Closet 2.0

Two years ago, I published a post on modest workout wear.That post has become, by far, the most popular post I've done. This to me says the sportswear industry is lacking when it comes to providing clothing options for women who seek more coverage in their fitness gear.

Since items from the original post no longer are on sale, here is an updated version of the post with items available for purchase. There's a LOT in this post so make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom.

Click on any image to be taken to the purchase retailer. Be sure to check out the post on modest swimwear too - base layers, swimwear tops, and swimwear pants and bottoms.

Modest Workout Tops

Longer length workout shirts are hard to come by. Even when you think it's long, you do one overhead lift and all of a sudden, everyone can see your six-pack abs (we are talking about one's goals here, right?).

The Nike Women's Epic Long Training top - available here - is not just super-long, but also super lightweight with Dri-Fit technology. It's available on Amazon and at Dick's Sporting Goods stores. Thank you to Aquilla, who pointed this top out to me!

Nike Epic Long Training Shirt

This Nike Dri-Fit Crew Shirt is not as long as the top above, but has a loose fit, and for those who don't like long shirts with their loose bottoms, this shirt ends just below the waist, so you don't feel like you're layered in swaths of cloth.

Nike Dri-Fit Crew Neck Top

Another longer length, Nike Dri-Fit shirt, this top offers a more fitted look but with a longer length.

Nike Women's Seamless Dri-Fit Knit Epic Long Sleeve Shirt

Still looking for that perfect long sleeve shirt? More here! Just remember that if you're working out in the summer heat to pick something that is light weight and loose-fitting. The more fitted an article of clothing, the more heat you'll retain.

In the summertime, I like to alternate between loose-fitting long sleeve and tee shirt workout tops. I fall in the middle of a spectrum where I don't wear sleeveless, but don't mind a tee shirt here or there. For those of you like me, here are a few shorter sleeves.

Giveaway Winner! - Ruche Swim Shirt from Coolibar

Congratulations to our winner, Khadeeja Nadeem!

Khadeeja Nadeem wins a Ruche Swim Shirt from Coolibar - a modest swimming top to wear when she's at the pool or beach this summer!

Check out Coolibar's 25% off sale, going on now!

Giveaway! Ruche Swim Shirt from Coolibar

Who is excited for summer swimming?! I've teamed with Coolibar to give one lucky reader a Ruche Swim Shirt in one of the prints here. Want to learn more about Coolibar? See the original post here (with TONS of photos!).

The rules are pretty simple.

1 - MUST follow Greater Lengths on Facebook.
2 - MUST share on your Facebook page your favorite Coolibar item from  from the Greater Lengths album titled "Coolibar" and ensure it is linked to Greater Lengths on Facebook
3 - MUST caption the photo share by finishing the sentence, "With my Coolibar top found by #GreaterLengths, ..."

When you've done all three, enter the giveaway in the box below. Bonus entries awarded to those who tweet about Greater Lengths, follow the Greater Lengths Twitter page, or share photos from the Greater Lengths "Coolibar" album on their friends' pages.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open only to readers in the US. Winners chosen at random using Rafflecopter.

[Workout Wednesday] Coolibar Swimwear + GIVEAWAY!

A few weeks ago, I posted about Coolibar, a swimwear company that promotes safe sun exposure. Company founder, John Barrow, named the company after an Australian tree in the outback that provides shelter from the sweltering sun.

While Coolibar's focus is on safe sun exposure, their designs are fall into the modest swimwear category. I tried and tested two items: the Ruche Swim Top in Aquatic Paisley and Active Swim Tights in Graphite.



To say I loved my Coolibar items is an understatement. It's rare that modest swimwear looks cute and covetable. Usually in dark, sun-absorbing black and navy, the paisley print and light grey made me feel less conscious about my choice of swimwear.

My friend Sarah, who was graciously gave up a Sunday morning to meet me at her neighborhood pool and then proceeded to be my photographer (thank you Sarah!), said over and over how much she liked my top, and I COULD NOT AGREE MORE.

Design-wise, it's incredibly cute, with a loose fit and shape. It fell well beyond my waistline, a true tunic length. The top gives the option to wear it as an A-line tunic, or to pull the side ties to ruche it an inch or so. I personally liked the ruched look, but it was a very sporty look overall.

Pulling the sides to ruche the top

Tying the ties

This top was functionally fantastic. I personally love to swim laps so having swimwear made of material that releases water allows for a smoother pool experience. Think any Olympic swimmer: they choose their swimwear based on drag and the more the drag, the heavier you feel in the pool. I felt light and it was easy to move around in the water.

I personally would not swim in the top without ruching it, because it did float up a little. Thankfully the tights felt high enough on my waist that I didn't feel exposure, but it could be an improvement in the design.

As soon as I got out of the water, I could already tell how "dry" I was - which meant for less shivering by the pool. Many women who try to find modest swimwear end up wearing long cotton tops, which tend to hold much water while swimming.

Feeling dry even though I'm dripping wet after a few laps and a game of pool basketball with Sarah.

Coolibar's clothing also guarantees UPF protection of 50+ for the life of the garment, so while you're sitting poolside waiting to dry, you're also protected from the sun's harmful and damaging UVA and UVB rays. Their SUNTECT fabrics are embedded with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the same minerals used in sunscreen, that won't wash out or fade away.

After my swimming adventure, I ran both items through the wash very easily and they held their shape and size - definitely quality products. Their price point is about the same as you would find for other performance swimwear, but right now Coolibar is holding a summer sale special - 25% off plus free shipping on all items, so all the clothes you see here are on sale for 25%!

ALSO, the most exciting thing is that Coolibar is doing a giveaway with Greater Lengths readers! 1 Greater Lengths reader will receive a ruched top of their choice! More details on that here.

Loving this look!

If you're looking for modest swimwear for your next beach trip or even just to hang out with your friends at the pool, head to Coolibar's website and buy buy buy! (and enter the Coolibar giveaway here!)

[Sneak Peak] Modest swimwear, anyone?

I went swimming recently...

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[FAVORITE FIND] Wick-It Wader from Athleta

Last year, after much hand-wringing and deliberation, I purchased this Wick-It Wader top from Athleta. My hesitation came from the price tag - $69 for something to sweat in?! how is that okay? After months (seriously, MONTHS) of wanting it, I closed my eyes and clicked "submit" on the order sitting in front of me. And I have not regretted it since.



I've worn this top at CrossFit, during the Nike Half Marathon in DC, and workouts in-between. To say it's my favorite is an understatement - I look forward to wearing this top and think I work out harder, better, faster, and generally more excitedly because of it.

In all my 13.1 sweaty glory with the Tiffany finishers necklace

I HIGHLY recommend this workout top! As a Muslim woman, I feel more confident when I workout because the top is long - extending well past my waist and over my bottom. While I will wear tee shirts while working out, for my, having my arms covered (yes, even on hot days) still feels better than wearing something I'm worried if crosses over into the "less than modest" category.

Even if you're not worried as much about modest workout clothes, get this top! It's great for cooler workouts - early morning falls, in the winter - because it's quick drying (superior sweat wicking capabilities), lightweight, and comes in fun colors. Plus, what woman doesn't want a little extra ass...et coverage when she's working out?

[Workout Wednesday] Ramadan Running

Working out during Ramadan is hard - it's so easy to just go to bed after iftar or laze around until you do fall asleep. However, with my third marathon 18 weeks away (eek - that seems much too soon!), I can't take it too easy.

I haven't yet found myself treading pavement outside yet, but the plan is to utilize Friday and Saturday evenings to do just that. What generally spurs my motivation is new workout clothes. With the heat, it's hard to find something comfortable yet modest to wear for working out, though these contenders may be making themselves into my closet.

Most of these are tunic-length workout tops, with a few modest workout pants (and sorry Kate W., no running tunics this time). I like the wraps and tops, because they give flexible to add this light layer over a top that may be a smidge too short in the waist without adding too much heat-trapping clothing.

[Workout Wednesday] Wick-It Good

I've been getting a lot of requests for the origins of the tunic workout top I wore at the Nike Women's Half Marathon in DC this past weekend (the one where I scored some Tiffany's bling!).




Ladies and ladies, it is none other than the Athleta Wick-It Wader Cover Up, seen here and here! Athleta carries a few different styles of their Wick-It Cover Ups. These tops are great and currently my most favorite product from Athleta. They are meant to be worn as bathing suit cover ups, but are made with their sweat-wicking material, making them ideal for modest exercise clothes! The cover ups all fall past the normal waist line, providing ample rear coverage, and in a rich array of colors for every mood.

They're on the pricier end, retailing at $69, but I got mine on sale for around $40 - well worth the price, I thought.

 Click on all of them to see them in every color!

Athleta Cover-ups · Athleta Tunics · Athleta Tanks

"Pain is Temporary, Tiffany's Lasts Forever"

The blog title is my favorite sign from along the course at this weekend's half marathon.

There were definitely a few others I chuckled at along the way, but I've forgotten most of them. (Of the ones I can remember, a Breaking Bad reference, "Jesse says, 'Run, b***!', a guy holding a sign that said, "Your pace or mine?", another guy with a sign that said, "I like your stamina, call me!", a sign with a picture of a cow that said, "Bessie says keep Moo-ving!")

A half marathon is a 13.1 miles, for those of you wondering, and I ran the Nike Women's Half Marathon in DC. Nike has a Run Women's series where the emphasis is on female runners and their accomplishments in the running field. Instead of a medal, the runners receive a special edition Tiffany & Co necklace - which after a few races, those medals sit forgotten and overlooked in a box, so the functionality of the necklace is very much a plus.

My Little Blue Box - a Tiffany's necklace for finishing the Nike Women's Half Marathon DC

As a Muslim woman who grew up with a Pakistani heritage and culture, I experience that the fitness for women was discouraged either through jest or simply the mindset that it was "too hard" or "too dirty". In many cultures, isn't there an idea that women shouldn't sweat? The mindset was fully a result of the culture the immigrants brought over from their originating countries and passed down to some of their first-generation kids.



Thankfully, my parents weren't like that. I played soccer and pursued my beloved sport, gymnastics, for years, sometimes at the dislike of my parents (sports = their time + money) though they never say "no" to any of my fitness interests. As a result, I developed a lifelong belief that a person is meant to move.



After college, I picked up running as a way to combat the ortho issues I was seeing manifest in my aunt and mom - issues that were hereditary, but also preventable. Running was also a way to get myself back down to a more acceptable body weight (I'd added a few pounds in college), and overall to stay healthy. At first the goal was to run a few minutes without stopping, and slowly a few miles, until now...when I plan to run my third full marathon in November (a full being 26.2 miles).

There have been a number of challenges along the way: backhanded comments from members of that immigrant and first-generation community about being "too fit", backhanded hospitality to overeat foods without quality nutrients at social gatherings, and of course - finding modest clothing to wear while running or lifting weights.



However, there's also been a lot of support, primarily from women who've been victims of the mindset I managed to escape. For the many reasons I keep doing this, it's also with the hope to inspire them to lace on a pair of sneakers and set out for a mile-long run, even if it feels slow or they're teased as they head out the door.

(Various photos of me running over the years)

At 31, I'm fit, happy, and confident. I can physically and mentally propel myself on my own two feet to cross 13.1 or 26.2 (and many distances in between) miles, a gritty mindset I can apply to other challenges that seem "too hard" for women. I'm proud to be the type of woman who earns her own fortune, rather than has it handed to her.

[Workout Wednesday] Clothes That Run

Back in November, I signed up for a half-marathon for this coming weekend, thinking, "April? That's PLENTY of time to train!" Unfortunately, I'm a wimp when it comes to the cold, so I was indoors a lot more than I would have liked to be during the training period.

I've done a few half-marathons before but not really since May 2012. At least this time around, I find myself more confident about the clothing I plan to wear. Distance running clothing is a strategy. You want to be warm when you start, which means donning extra layers. By the time you hit mile 2, your body temperature has risen from the exercise and you find yourself shedding those layers. This is why you often see distance runners in tiny, thin layers - their body is pumping so much blood, they're keeping from overheating.

Finding modest running clothes has been one of the biggest challenges of the sport. Most workout clothes are fitted, curve skimming, which on some level I understand the necessity of design. Too much fabric and you're reserving unnecessary heat. However, with performance materials, modest exercise clothes are possible and available more easily! Exercise fabrics are now created to vent heat, pull away moisture and sweat; it's why I champion wearing performance clothing over cotton any day.

For this weekend's half-marathon, I'll plan to wear my pair of Adidas Adifit pants (seen here) with my Athleta Wick-It Coverup (seen here) and a long Nike sports bra tank. Sunday's weather is predicted to be in the high 60s, so those two layers should be plenty. The Wick-It Cover up is tunic-length, and has rounded hems that are split down the side. This allows my legs to push the top out of the way and prevents it from from getting caught by friction in my...front.

If you're in need of your own outdoor modest exercise clothes (tops and pants!), see a few of the options I pulled together. Click on the item to be taken to the retailer!

Modest workout tops and tunics (don't forget to click on the side arrows to see more finds!)

Athleta Cover-ups · Athleta Maternity Swimwear · Athleta Activewear

Modest workout pants (don't forget to click on the side arrows to see more finds!)

Athleta Activewear Pants · Nike Activewear · Nike Activewear Pants

[Workout Wednesday] Modest Gym and Fitness Tops

It prides me to say that the most common reasons Greater Lengths is stumbled upon is the search for modest workout clothes. This implies a lot of things:

1. Women who dress modestly are not letting clothing get in the way of their fitness
2. In general, women are seeking more modest ways of covering up while working out
3. My blog is providing solutions to these needs!

I do get a sincere sense of satisfaction and motivation when I get comments like these on the blog:

In the name of alliteration and all things modest fitness apparel, welcome to the first installment of “Workout Wednesday”, a regular feature which will be dedicated to the fitness clothes available on the retail market that defy the typical body-skimming athletic apparel trend. This is a double benefit for me as I am trying to get back into a normalized running routine and having new clothes is a spring of motivation.

Nike Sport Tops · Nike Activewear · Nike Day Dresses

Please leave comments and your thoughts. I love knowing your opinion!