Are You Team Tight-on-Tight or Tight-on-Baggy?

Grinned when I scanned through the fun headlines. Oh, are we at this now? Apparently we are!!! We do all own sportswear. The fashion has evolved through the years. Leggings used to come in flare bottoms. That was hilarious. I always found that design flaggingly cumbersome while running. 

Now, with renewed emphasis on fitness and all sorts of gyms coming up and with more than IronMan and duathlons, we also have Spartan Races, CrossFit, and the still-hot format of Hyrox, gym wear has never been soooo popular. And it's not just shorts and tees. People could live in it all day. Many live in sportswear exclusively on weekends. At least I do. And many dog owners I know do too. It's practical and comfortable for our crazy humid weather in Singapore.

Are you team tight-on-tight or tight-on-baggy?

We're at this, 'Millennials and Gen Z Are Fighting Again. This Time About Gym Clothes.' by Madison Malone Kircher, published in The New York Times on March 17, 2025. I couldn't stop laughing because I had to pause even while reading this short article, to get onto IG and TikTok to actually check it out. 

And here I thought we were done at gym socks! Apparently not. It now extends to everything one wears at the gym. 

The infamous “war” between millennials and Gen Z has found a new battleground in recent weeks, with a fight brewing on TikTok over workout clothes.

There are two camps: People who like wearing tight-on-tight outfits to the gym — think leggings and a well-fitting tank top — and people who prefer baggier ensembles. According to some users on TikTok, these preferences fall along generational lines, with millennial women favoring the tighter outfits.

My gym offers tees and shorts, and socks on loan to gym-goers. Many people take it up so that they don't have to deal with stinky and wet clothing fermenting all day in the office before they get home to launder them. I don't bother wearing the gym's stuff because I'm more comfortable in my own clothes. 

I can wear just a sports bra and leggings at the gym. But I prefer wearing a tank or crop over it. Sleeveless. Sleeves are warm and cumbersome for me. Baggy or tight — I only care about whether they flap too much or get in my way during a workout. A workout at the gym ain't a dance competition. I can't wear a baggy top that flips into my face if I'm doing inversions at Pilates right? I live in activewear because of the dog and the crazy Singapore humidity. 

I wear leggings or pants most of the time because I'm not into wearing skirts or even shorts. Running gives me that 'runner's itch' in my thighs, so that's ameliorated by wearing tights even in this heat. I've grown used to it. Sometimes I get that itch on my arms, stomach and neck too. It's exercise-induced urticaria, a response by my allergic mast cells. Zzzzz 

Are you Team Crew Socks or Team Ankle Socks? 

I'm all ankle socks because I'm not bothered to get out to buy new socks. Socks that end higher on the calves give me a rash. I need certain types of toe socks for the gym for my bunions and such, so I don't bother wearing thick crew socks or anything. Dohhhh. 

So I'm not into tight-on-tight. Neither am I into tight-on-baggy. I LIKE SLIM-FIT, CAN? 

Seriously. FFS. Just wear what you want and what makes you comfortable.