Now is the time of year when minds turn to the business of repairing the body after its delightful spree through the sweetest, stickiest and stodgiest time of year. For many this will mean picking up their yoga or Pilates practice once again. We’re in the business of  bringing together the best in yoga and fitness wear so I thought this might be a timely moment to go through how to choose the best outfits if you’re new to yoga and Pilates or simply looking for a new outfit.

When choosing yoga clothes it’s tempting to go for items that flatter your shape. For instance, wearing baggy clothes to hide bulges. The normal rules of fashion have to be adapted when looking for clothes to exercise in however, since there are practical considerations that must take precedence over how you look. The main aim of yoga wear should be to provide comfort and ease of movement. If you’re constantly checking and readjusting your clothing, you won’t be able to relax and focus on the task in hand, which is vital when practicing yoga.

Many of us avoid wearing tight fitting tops, especially if we have large breasts or a less than flat middle. Wearing loose clothing during yoga could backfire though. Some yoga movements involve inversion and all of them involve some kind of stretching. If your clothes don’t fit snugly they could ride up or even end up over your head! This is likely to be much more embarrassing than a top which shows a few ripples and bulges. A good compromise is a top and leggings of some kind which are fitted enough to stay in place and to allow your Yoga teacher (if you attend a class) to see your movements properly.

It’s worth bearing in mind that boot-leg or flared trousers can disguise poor positioning, which limits your teacher’s ability to provide constructive advice. Making sure that your feet, ankles and knees are visible allows you and your teacher to check your alignment and improve technique. Similarly, it’s difficult to ensure the correct posture if the upper body is shrouded in a large T-shirt that bunches up around the neck every time you bend down. Another important consideration when exercising is underwear.

Again, it’s vital that you wear a bra that keeps you in place, doesn’t ride up and feels comfortable even when stretching or bending. Sports bras are ideal and are available in all shapes, sizes and colors nowadays. It’s about trying different items that make you feel secure and comfortable but allow for a level of visibility. Don’t worry about what you wear for your first few classes. Choosing clothing is an ongoing process, just like Yoga itself. You might find that you settle on a particular outfit or that you like to have a selection of colors and styles to suit your mood. Go for something that you feel confident wearing but remember that it’s unlikely anyone else will even notice what you’re wearing. After all, it’s an exercise class and not a fashion show.

Lovestretch Customer Laura Raux wears a selection of yoga wear from Wellicious and Yogamasti.

It’s great to get a mention in gorgeous mags and Grazia is one of those we really love to be mentioned in. The glossiest weekly has chosen our Atelier zodiac chains for its bumper Christmas issue. Yes, these are presents to covet and there’s no denying that if Santa leaves one of these in your stocking on the 25th, a very popular bloke he would be. And if he doesn’t? A present under the tree labelled, ‘To Me, with lots of love from Me XXX’ achieves the same happy ending.

‘Great expectations’ might make you think of the book by Charles Dickens. But here I’d really like to focus not on our own great expectations and how deep an effect these can have on our mental, emotional, even physical state.

If you’re out with friends tonight and anticipate the moment with the attitude that ‘it’s going to be fantastic’, you have already applied a certain outcome to a future event. One that is subject to a wide array of variables over which you have no control. What if the taxi doesn’t come? What if your friends can’t make it? Disappointment quickly replaces excitement.

If instead we only made a plan without attaching any sentiments to it and stayed in the here and now, it could still be the fantastic night one would hope for. Or it may not be. Whichever, the result is the say but expectations, and emotions, are managed and remain balanced.

One of the essential concepts of Yoga philosophy is non-attachment. It has many facets with expectations an important part of the whole. In this context, expectations are an attachment to a future event or outcome: we are attached to something that has not even happened. In short, we are compromising ourselves if we allow our hopes and expectations to rule our mind and emotions.

If you want to experiment with this concept, you can start on your yoga mat. No matter how deep your forward bends were last time, start afresh every time you step on your mat. Don’t expect your practice to be one thing or another, just practice. You will reap the profits without ever having expected them, all the sweeter for its unexpectedness.

Outfit by Yogamasti.

Congratulations to Tiffany Forbat, the brains behind quarter style crisis, for coming tops in our blogging competition. Our style queen-about-town – seen here wearing her Lovestretch favourites plus her prize, EMU Australia’s luxe shearling waistcoat – is always first with the fashion news and we’re pleased as punch to be right up there with her other favourites. Check out her blog for the best in fashion and beauty… We’ll keep in touch, too.

We definitely love a bit of traditional style here at Lovestretch but when you add a dash of modernity we love it even more. Take a printed satchel, it’s a vintage idea, only better. Which is why Zatchels has really hit the spot here at Lovestretch. This British company creates satchels and barrel bags in the traditional way but with a twist that turns them into a fashion accessory to adore. A cracked leather snake print satchel or a gold barrel bag definitely fall into that category. The satchels are big enough for all the essentials (iPad, yoga kit, notebook and beauty bag) plus they all offer hands-free shopping – a must at this time of year.

We’re never slow to blow our own trumpets (yep, we’ve all got one here!). So we thought we’d point you in the direction of the latest issue of Easy Living. That’s us, bottom left, in the excellent Websites column.

Our fabulous silk playsuit from Sestra Moja has turned up in Women’s Fitness this month as the piece to wear for parties. We couldn’t agree more, so thanks to them and if you’re looking to accessorise yours, try a statement Peter Lang necklace or cuff and a pair of party-friendly flats as an alternative to sky-high heels.

Stylite uncovered this amazing fact via Jezebel and Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet. Not content with the bodies of real models – any of which the rest of us would probably trade our houses for – the Swedish clothing giant has started to create their own.

‘H&M concedes that they indeed digitally create bodies that make their clothes look good, and then paste on different (real) models’ heads, as well as the clothes themselves. The company explains:

“It’s not about ideals or to show off a perfect body, we are doing this to show off the garments. This is done for all garments, not just underwear. It applies to both women’s and men’s clothing.”

Even if they are doing this to show off the clothes, isn’t it misleading that this is not what the clothes look like on actual bodies? Perhaps part of this is a cost issue — surely it’s less expensive to cut and paste looks than to pay for an actual shoot.’

Clothes shot on ‘live’ mannequins is a slightly creepy concept but as budgets squeeze and fashion companies look to trim budgets will they be able to resist this wheeze? And will you be able to trust your eyes in the future when you’re choosing clothes?

via H&M’s Models Are Computer-Generated | PHOTOS | Styleite.

If Santa could find it in himself to struggle down the chimney with a well-wrapped EMU Australia jacket – what a happy Christmas morning that would be! The latest lovelies from this top sheepskin brand are these sumptuous pieces for seeing off the winter chills. The hooded jacket comes with an asymmetric zip and can be worn several ways to create a high or lower neckline. The reversible vest continues with the versatility theme and can be worn furry or leather side out to create different looks. There’s no snugger way to celebrate the season.