WACO, Texas - Women might want to exercise, but they also want to look good while working out.
The athletic wear industry is a $30 billion to $34 billion business. And women make up 80 percent of the market, whether buying apparel for themselves or buying for others.
Today's clothing is influenced, perhaps more than ever before, by celebrity athletes, industry experts say. From tennis aces-turned-fashion-students Venus and Serena Williams and flashy 22-year-old tennis star Anna Kournikova, to top-ranked golf pro Annika Sorenstam, their female fans are taking notice of their clothes.
"They are walking, talking, living, breathing billboards of how a woman will look if they perform in the clothes," said Mike May, communications director for the Sporting Goods Manufacturer's Association.
But Waco residents, local sports enthusiasts said, like a more conservative look. Instead of the sleek, form-fitting outfits seen on professional athletes, many local women prefer looser, more comfortable clothing.
Apparel is one of the biggest components of the sports industry, May said. And there are now more items for people to spend their money on than ever before.
"Hats, jackets, T-shirts, shorts, socks, gloves, visors, skirts, shoes," May said. " You name it. It's out there."
A lot of the clothes are transitional. May said women want sportswear that's easy to wear from the grocery store to the gym. Most sportswear is worn for casual purposes, but it makes women feel affiliated with a sport, he said. It makes them feel like they're dressing like sports enthusiasts, even though they're picking up the dry cleaning or a gallon of milk.
Special features, including moisture-wicking fabric and Lycra, are now major players in sports apparel. The moisture-wicking fabric helps to draw moisture away from the body and allow air to pass through the clothes. Lycra allows for body movement without losing the shape of the clothes.
Tennis and golf offer a lot of crossover wear, as well as clothes with special features, May said. The clothes are appropriate for play and for running errands.
"People who play tennis want to be comfortable," said Jackie Bruington, owner of Tennis Etc. "They don't want to have to think about their skirt flying up. They want room in the sleeves so they can reach for a serve. It helps them play better when they're not having to think about their clothes."
Marc Johnson of Ridgewood Country Club said the number of female tennis players in Waco is increasing.
"I think the reason they like tennis is that it doesn't take as much time," Johnson said, "and they get a full-body workout."
In tennis, the clothes are usually short and somewhat tight. But Waco women, Bruington said, want a little more room in their clothes than those seen on professional players.
Women usually still stick with the thigh-length tennis skirts and shorts. No matter what the women wear, the bottoms must have pockets.
They're not considered proper tennis clothes if the shorts or skirts don't have pockets, Johnson said.
"The pocket is used to hold the extra ball when serving," he said. "People who are serious about tennis will usually buy a wardrobe. If they just go buy a pair of wind shorts from a regular store, the shorts are probably not going to have pockets."
Bruington said younger girls want variations of the tighter, shorter clothes seen on professional athletes. Older women want looser clothes and typically like the shorts. She has one customer who keeps insisting on longer shorts, but tennis apparel companies don't make shorts with an inseam longer than 3 inches.
"There's a lot of running, stretching and bending in tennis," Bruington said. "So the clothes are shorter to give more room."
While women tennis players are a common site and stores cater to their apparel needs, women golfers don't get the same attention.
Waco golf stores, such as Tee's Golf and Clubhouse Golf, carry only limited women's apparel. And some don't carry any. Ridgewood Country Club and Bear Ridge Golf Club also have a limited selection.
"There are typically more men golfers than women," said Doug Cofer, general manager at Bear Ridge. "I would say there's probably one female golfer to every 10 male golfers in this area. And the PGA tournament is more popular than the LPGA tournament, so that gets more men involved."
But golf professionals said women like Sorenstam, who plays in the PGA tournament in Fort Worth beginning Thursday, are helping to change the face of golf for females.
When women do shop for golf apparel, they look for things that are fashionable. They want style, comfort and something that's going to keep them cool. The moisture-wicking fabrics also are extremely important in golf.
Women golfers also want function from their clothes. Most golf shorts are knee-length and the shirts are usually polos, whether short sleeved or sleeveless. Visors are another necessity in golf apparel, sports pros said.
"They look for an outfit that goes together," said Bill Slade, assistant golf professional at Ridgewood Country Club. "They want something that's cute."
Wearing sportswear is based on an attitude, May said. It's about showing confidence on the court or green, as well as looking good.
"If you look good, you feel good," he said. "If you feel like you belong, then you'll perform like you belong."
Christina Minor writes for The Waco Tribune-Herald. E-mail:cminor@wacotrib.com.
