The sports set that looks perfect on the hanger may not always stand up to the test of a real workout — it turns see-through when you move, feels tight in the wrong places, or loses its shape after the first wash. The difference between a carefully considered choice and a random one rarely comes down to a particular color or design. It comes down to the fabric, the cut, and choosing the right size, working together, rather than separately.
The fabric and its technology
The fabric is the first and most important consideration when choosing a sports set, because it determines how your body will feel while moving. In sportswear, synthetic fabrics are not a compromise but the standard — the combination of polyamide and elastane provides the close fit, durability, and stretch that cotton simply cannot offer.
A ratio of around 75–80% polyamide to 20–25% elastane is considered optimal: enough elastane for four-way stretch, but not so much that the fabric loses its shape after a few washes.
Polyamide is preferred over polyester in premium sportswear because of its softer, smoother feel and better ability to wick moisture away from the skin. This combination creates the signature "second-skin" feel — a fabric that moves with your body as you squat, stretch, and move dynamically, without feeling heavy or restrictive.
When checking the label, pay close attention to the balance between polyamide and elastane — it is a more reliable indicator of quality than the price or brand alone.
Size
With sportswear , getting the size wrong is more noticeable and can make the clothes uncomfortable to wear than with everyday clothing — an oversized sports bra loses support when you move, while leggings that are too tight restrict your freedom instead of supporting it. That is why you should always use your actual body measurements (bust, waist, hips) when consulting a size chart, rather than relying only on your usual clothing size.
As a guide, EX Corde Fashion's size range follows this logic:
|
Size |
Bust |
Waist |
Hips |
|
XS |
82 cm |
64 cm |
90 cm |
|
S |
86 cm |
68 cm |
94 cm |
|
M |
90 cm |
72 cm |
98 cm |
|
L |
94 cm |
76 cm |
102 cm |
It is important to note that with highly elastic fabrics featuring four-way stretch — as found in premium sports sets — the recommendation is often to choose your usual size, since the fabric is designed to move with your body in four directions, not simply to "squeeze" it.
Cut — how the silhouette shapes comfort
The cut is where engineering and aesthetics meet. A fitted cut with a high waist, for example, is not just a fashion trend — it supports the abdomen during movement while shaping the silhouette. We see this approach in styles such as our Premium women's sports set with sports bra and shorts EX AURA and Premium women's sports set with sports bra and leggings EX Mocha Sculpt Set, where the high waist of the leggings is designed to follow the body's natural lines, while precisely placed seams visually elongate the silhouette.
In our premium women's short sports jumpsuit such as EX AERIS, the cut plays a different role — it creates a complete silhouette with a single garment, with no break at the waistline. This makes it a popular choice for yoga and stretching, where freedom of movement takes priority over a structured look.
What all three styles have in common is the principle behind their cut: it follows the body rather than restricting it, thanks to the stretch of the fabric, not at its expense.
Choosing the right sports set always comes down to three factors working together — quality fabric, the right size and a cut suited to the movements you make. For detailed information on exactly how to choose sportswear for the type of workout you do and the body shape you want to accentuate, see our article "How to Choose Sportswear Based on Your Workout and Body Shape."
