What feels almost as good as completing a marathon, scoring a goal or hiking to the top of a mountain? Looking and feeling great while doing it!

The women's athletic-wear industry is booming across the country and stores are popping up all over to keep up with the growing market. Larger casual department stores as well as online-only and independent brick-and-mortar boutiques offer exceptional lines. It is easy to not only find comfort and activity-appropriate clothing but the design, color and fit that are right for you.

Making History

The best thing about seeing these new styles emerging is knowing where they originated. athletic-wear has literally shaped women's fashions over the past century. As recently as the 1990s, Karl Lagerfeld's popular biker clothing designs became garments that trickled into casual everyday-wear. Hoodies, sneakers (especially lighter-weight shoes like lines by Puma or Adidas) as well as Capri pants and many other garments were initially used in a particular activity but since have made their way into our everyday clothing.

Back in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, clothing was so restrictive that it stopped women from going "hard" at any activity. Philosophies and beliefs at that time defined women's roles and this filtered through into what they wore. It was thought that if a woman could not do something in a skirt, then she probably should not be doing it! Long skirts, corsets and tight-fitting bodices were among the garments that limited women.  Moving into the 20th Century, sports like biking and hiking led to split skirts as well as shortened hems - making history by physically liberating the movement of a woman's body!

So, it is thanks to those women who went against what was deemed socially acceptable to wear all in the name of the game. In tennis we saw some of the bravest moves by female players. In 1922 at Wimbledon, Suzanne Lenglen wore a short skirt and a sweatband instead of a hat so she could see properly while playing and even more shockingly, in 1932 Alice Marble wore white shorts!

Surprisingly, it was not until the 1920s that trousers became worn by women and shorts would not have been much further behind. It took utilitarian work brought on by World War I to make them appropriate - at least as loungewear. They would not become publicly acceptable until the 1930s.

Often it was women designers - particularly those from America - who sparked larger fashion movements. American designers, especially from the 1930s-1970s moved away from French couture and paid more attention to what the women of their era found practical.  McCardell, Cashin, Hawes, Wilkins, Leser, and Maxwell are recognized as the women designers who liberated women's clothing around this time.

In The Studio And On The Streets

The recent popularity of yoga, surfing, and triathlons have been a great inspiration to fashion lines - these activities typically require slim-fitting, breathable, stretch materials that form to the body - almost like a second skin. This gives more freedom of movement without t-shirts or trackpants in the way. Some of the features of modern athletic-wear designed for active women include: flat seams, iron-on labels, vents and mesh fabric, tape on the back of zippers, built-in bras and stylish support bras, as well as short and long lengths of pants to suit a woman's activity and style preference. Check out these companies for fashionable and functional fitness clothing for women that will allow you to work out at peak performance and in top style:

• Athleta - athleta.com
• Lululemon - lululemon.com
• TRIKS - skirtsports.com
• Activa - activasports.com