Peta Bee: How to ... dress for a workout

Don't choose cheap socks. Look for an acrylic mix with cushioning and no seams. A US study found that cotton socks absorbed sweat, left the feet wet and caused more blisters than man-made fabrics. If you run, try knee-high compression socks à la Paula Radcliffe. Manufacturers (including Nike and Oxysocks) claim that they reduce muscle fatigue and improve a runner's aerobic capacity by increasing blood return from the legs to the heart.

Do invest in a supportive sports bra, however small your assets. A study in a recent issue of the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise showed that wearing badly designed and ill-fitting bras for physical activity can affect breathing, posture and workout technique. Most of the women questioned wore ordinary bras - which is asking for their cleavage to hit their knees.

Do buy footwear to suit your activity. Running shoes are designed to provide support when you are moving forward, but not from side to side and are therefore unsuitable for aerobics and team sports. Cross trainers give extra ankle support for these activities but are not sufficiently cushioned for a lot of running. Ask at a specialist sports shop for advice.

Don't wear the same pair of sweaty trainers every day. A survey commissioned by Daktarin a few years ago showed that the average pair of trainers had 76 times more fungi than a toilet bowl. Even a few days after use, 40% of trainers had a higher number of fungi than work shoes that had just been taken off, proving that the warm, moist environment is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Do invest in some basic items for your fitness wardrobe. Wear breathable fabrics (such as Coolmax) next to your body, which will keep you drier than cotton (which is heavy and absorbs sweat like a sponge). Think thin layers rather than bulky items, so that you can discard them as you get hotter.
