As Autumn looms, we’ve set our eyes on the first Autumn/Winter range to tickle our fitness fashion fancy. Boudavida is our Kitspiration this week
Last Saturday Healthista’s Parisa and myself took part in the women’s Boudavida 10K race at Windsor Running Festival. Set in the picturesque countryside of Windsor Great park, the route was (unfairly) hilly and extremely challenging for our first 10K entry. Nonetheless, in true Healthista spirit, we soldiered on – all these new fitness classes around London we trial for review have set us up for any challenge.
If any of you read my post beforehand, 10K training plan – get race ready in 10 weeks, you’ll know my aim was to finish in 60 minutes, or to actually finish at all considering I hadn’t ever attempted further than 5K. I’m satisfied, together, we completed the 10K in 63 minutes, and I must admit, getting to that finish line was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Healthista score!
It was at the Boudavida 10K race that we got a first look at the activewear company’s new Autumn/Winter range. Their overall collection has expanded considerably since they launched just one year ago with just 12 pieces. It’s foundations were laid as a classy, upmarket brand with drop-dead gorgeous style. Their clothes are, in their words, ‘designed by real women for real women’, with one of their key goals being to make women feel good about their bodies whilst working out.
In fact, the name Boudavida encapsulates female strength, inspired by the historic Boudicca, Queen of the Celtic Inceni tribe. Boudicca is often considered a legend as well as a strong and powerful woman, who led an uprising against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire around AD 60.
But that’s not all. The new brand has a passion for women’s sport advocacy, and aren’t going to sit around and do nothing about it. Since the beginning of their ventures, Boudavida have pledged to donate 5 per cent of every sale back into projects that support women’s and girls’ sport. Considering that of all the commercial money invested into sport in the UK, only 0.4% goes into the women’s sector, according to Boudavida, it’s about time this became a focal talking point of businesses within the industry. Boudavida is headed towards huge popularity for it’s unique attitude (let alone it’s stylish and functional clothes), and perhaps the bigger brands will soon follow in similar steps.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZdxdffD8cQ/?taken-by=boudavida
The Boudavida Autumn/Winter collection
This autumn, Boudavida have taken on board what their new fan base want and added to their existing range. They claim to source the finest of materials – soft touch, high-stretch and quick drying for enhanced performance, keeping in line with the competition of brands such as Lululemon and Sweaty Betty at the mid-higher end of the price range. To touch, the garments feel of a high quality, and reliable to last you session after session.
But the beauty of these pieces are in the design, too. Each item has been created by the team to deliver functionality whilst feeling (and looking) divine when wearing, and if you don’t feel like you fit the part, you won’t be inspired to work out.
Keeping an eye on fashion trends, the most striking of the new range is the matching co-ord crop tops and leggings. For those who are confident to make a statement, the prints come in leaf pattern, zig zag print with a signature waist band. The low impact sport’s bras, ideal for sports such as yoga and Pilates, incorporate cut out detail to show off a little shoulder and back.
Above: Left, Zoom Leggings in Zig Zag, £72 and Spirit Crop in Zig Zag Print, £52, Right, Zoom Leggings in Leaf Print, £72 and Spirit Crop in Leaf Print, £52
I particularly like the black co-ord (surprise surpise!) Who’s with me? I can’t resist a mesh panel, which features at the bottom of these Zoom cropped leggings. Going into Autumn, I’m not ready to commit to the full hog – it’s the perfect time to invest in a decent pair of high waisted crops which will look just as stylish when spring comes round. The logo in a rose gold embellishment on these two garments screams style – no, rose gold is not ready to go out of fashion just yet.
Above: Zoom Leggings, £65 and Spirit Crop in black, £45
Onto the more essential items which have elements of style in the most simplest of ways – less is more, especially if you are not one to encourage head-turning at the gym. I adored the Dynamo Vest, which comes in black, white and orange, as soon as I saw it. The panels either side shape your waist and the cut out in the centre of the back adds elegant sexiness. What I later found out is that it provides breathability – of course, just where sweat patches are very unwelcome.
It pairs perfectly with the Spirit Crop top, which has the same back design, giving a sleek finish with no bra straps in sight. Imagine the white one with a post-summer tan – gorgeous.
Above: Dynamo Vest, £50
Boudavida have catered for the more subdued and slouchy gym attire, too, with this performance gym vest. I personally cannot get enough of tops like these, which hang most flatteringly over the chest and show a little skin with the dropped armholes. Although it’s relaxed, made from a soft jersey fabric, it’s looseness makes it ideal for high impact exercise too. I can even see myself wearing this a day-to-day top, especially in granite, which must be a good sign.
Above: Pow Tank, £55
As the weather gets more chilly, a lightweight hoodie is a great addition to your gym kit. Named the ‘Cwtch hoodie’, it’s inspired by the Welsh word ‘cuddle’, perfect for throwing on after a gym session or during a cool down. It feels divinely soft, and the coloured drawstrings in keeps with the sporty feel.
Above: Cwtch Hoodie, £75
Healthista is still in love with the Resolve Jacket, which we first set our eyes upon last winter on the lookout for sensible running gear. Sensible it is, and also a beautiful upgrade from the usual throw-on jacket. Confidence soars when wearing the shaped garment, which could pass as an every day wardrobe item. It comes in a black or white colour with rose gold detailing on the zips up the front, for the hands, and security pocket behind. The high-quality fabric will keep you warm and dry and isn’t restrictive despite being fitted. It’s part of Boudavida’s growing outwear range that fuses fashion and functionality best.
Above: Resolve Jacket, £110.
Boudavida plan to branch out into more sport-wear to cater for all woman’s lifestyles, but for now their generic range ticks all the boxes.
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