A winter runner’s guide to looking stylish in the park
I love running. Over the past five years, I’ve gone from a certified couch potato to a committed 5K three times a week guy, and it’s been one of the most rewarding transformations of my life. Not only do I feel fitter, but my mind is sharper, my energy levels higher and my mood more consistently buoyant.
But learning to love running didn’t happen overnight – it took about a year to fully commit. And, perhaps unsurprisingly for a style journalist with exacting standards, it took even longer to make peace with running clothes. For a long time, every time I laced up, I felt like an extra from Challenge Anneka – a blur of neon snot and puke yellow. The choices were dire: ill-fitting, overly synthetic, and aggressively garish.
Thankfully, a new wave of running brands – those which understand that style and performance needn’t be mutually exclusive – have emerged in recent years. The result is running gear that makes one look less like Timmy Mallet and more like Jamie Dornan in The Fall (minus the murderous intent).
“Fashion and running culture are increasingly merging as brands tap into a community that values both style and performance,” says Daniel Todd, the buying director at Mr Porter. “It was exciting to see London running collective Knees Up at Pitti Uomo menswear fair this year, showcasing how brands are blurring the lines between fashion and sport. At Mr Porter, we’re seeing a growing demand for challenger running brands like Satisfy and District Vision, alongside established players like Lululemon and On.”
Founded in 2015, Satisfy set out to bring a distinctly Scandinavian aesthetic to running apparel. The brand specialises in ultra-lightweight, high-spec materials – think technical silk shorts and merino wool running jerseys – all finished in a refined palette of hues, like dusk (deep mauve) and vetiver (muted green).
“Our approach to design is like fine-tuning a mixing board,” says Daniel Groh, Satisfy’s chief brand officer. “On one side, you have pure functionality; on the other, elevated aesthetics. Satisfy is about finding that perfect harmony between the two. Runners have traditionally been forced to choose between technical performance or style, but we knew there was no reason to compromise.”
The fashion crowd is on board, too. “Satisfy is a great brand,” says Gentleman’s Journal’s style director Zak Maoui. “The collaboration with Our Legacy cemented their cult status among stylish runners. I love the neutral tones of their tech gear – you can’t go wrong with coffee-hued, thermal-lined shorts.”
Personally, I’m a big fan of Subi, a British brand that crafts sleek, functional pieces in colours rarely seen in the running world. The rich brown “Recovery” fleece is perfect for winter jogs – so good, in fact, that I’ve found myself wearing mine when not running (if only for a quick pop to Tesco). For Maoui, the brand’s focus on function is what sets it apart.
“I like what Subi is doing with their layering-friendly outerwear – well-considered, thoughtfully coloured pieces that add a bit of flair to running attire,” he says. “Of course, you can’t go wrong with the classics either – New Balance’s performance range, from shoes to apparel, is always a solid choice for a quick 5K.”
For British GQ’s lifestyle director Mike Christensen, a dedicated event runner, Soar is the brand to beat. Founded in Hackney in 2015 by runner Tim Soar, the brand leans toward the performance-driven end of the spectrum. Still, its block-colour running hats and tastefully tie-dyed tees inject just the right amount of personality. “Soar has some technically good running kit, vests, socks and short shorts, and if you’re into colour and old-school diamond patterns, they have a decent offering,” says Christensen.
When it comes to compression gear – ultra-tight apparel designed to boost circulation and reduce injury risk – Christensen swears by Over and Above. “They’re game changers,” he says. “I don’t know if it’s a placebo effect, but I feel like I run faster when wearing OA compression shorts and calf sleeves.”
Of course, no stylish running kit is complete without the right pair of trainers. You can get away with throwing on a vintage band tee for a jog if all your running tops are in the wash, but proper shoes are non-negotiable. For me, it’s all about On’s Cloud Monsters – the meaty cushioned soles make light work of Lambeth’s extra-gritty pavements – and I doubt I’ll ever switch to anything else.
Cloud X3 trainers, £95, On
Christensen, on the other hand, likes to mix things up. “I’m a bit of a trainer slut,” he admits. “I’m always testing what works best for me. Hoka and Nike are my go tos, but the recent Puma x 24/7 collab dropped a banging pair that feel fast for Hyrox races and 5Ks. Shoutout to Sums too – their socks are hands-down the comfiest.” Brave the weather and just go for it.
Read more of Teo van den Broeke’s writing at The Closet on Substack
