Why I Decided to Buy Women’s Activewear
I have been dying to buy women’s activewear from Primark for a long time here is my first time shopping experience.
Walking into the women’s section of Primark for the first time to buy activewear as a crossdresser felt exciting, slightly nerve-racking, and surprisingly empowering.
Ever since Alisha said she didn’t mind me crossdressing — especially after our experience during Valentine’s Day — I’ve been thinking about what I should buy first.
For a while now I’ve known that my weight has increased. I used to be around 9–10 stone (about 57–64 kg), but recently it has climbed to more like 12–13 stone (about 76–83 kg). That’s something I’m not happy about.
A lot of it comes down to my job in PR. I spend most of the day sitting at a keyboard, barely moving. When lunchtime comes, I already have my lunch with me, so I don’t even leave the office. The only real exercise I get during the week is about a 40-minute walk to and from work.
I thought that would be enough to keep my weight under control, but it turns out it isn’t.
Eventually it became clear that I needed to do more. That’s what led me to YouTube, where there are countless women’s workout videos.
My partner and the kids usually sleep until almost midday. That’s part of life with autism — the kids are often awake all night and sleep during the day, and my partner stays up with them.
Because I work a normal schedule, I’m awake from around 6am. That gives me some quiet time in the morning. Normally I would just sit and scroll through YouTube, but lately I’ve been thinking about using that time to do some gentle exercise.
And if I’m going to exercise, I might as well look cute while doing it — just like the women I see out and about.
So… I figured I needed some women’s activewear.
Shopping for Women’s Activewear at Primark
Walking into the women’s section of Primark is where I really come alive.
I pass the store every day on my way to work. Back in January the mannequins were dressed head-to-toe in activewear — of course, because going to the gym is every girl’s New Year’s resolution.
But when I visited in March, the displays had changed completely. Now the front of the store was full of summer dresses and bikinis.
At first I couldn’t find any activewear at all.
Surely they hadn’t gotten rid of it? Women go to the gym all year round.
I wandered past Nirvana T-shirts, Mickey Mouse prints, and endless racks of clothing before finally spotting a corner of the store that was slightly hidden.
And there it was.
The Primark activewear section.
Finding it felt like discovering a small hidden corner of the store where I could finally relax and browse properly.
I’ll admit I felt a little awkward standing there after work, looking through all the cute colours — the pinks, baby blues, leopard prints — crop tops, T-shirts, and leggings.
My heart was beating slightly faster because there were other women browsing nearby.
But then I told myself something simple:
You could just be shopping for your partner.
No one knows it’s for you.
And honestly… they probably don’t care anyway.
Choosing My First Primark Activewear Pieces
There was so much choice that I ended up feeling a little overwhelmed. Instead of rushing into a decision, I decided to go home and do some research online to see what was popular.
While scrolling through TikTok, I saw a creator called @thelsedit wearing the Rita Ora performance set from Primark.
The pieces she showed were:
Rita Ora Scoop Back Performance Tee
Rita Ora Mid-Rise Performance Leggings
Girls online were saying it gave an “Alo look without the Alo price,” referring to the premium brand Alo Yoga.
I thought the set looked really cute — especially in red.
I even considered getting the matching shorts as well.
The Primark Checkout Experience
Shopping at Primark is something I genuinely enjoy because there’s very little hassle involved.
You can look at the website beforehand, get an idea of what you want, and then see the clothes in person when you visit the store.
Of course, once you’re inside it’s easy to get distracted. There are racks and racks of things you suddenly decide you absolutely need.
Sometimes that can be frustrating though. If you’re not quick when a new range launches, there’s a real chance it will sell out.
That’s exactly what happened with the Rita Ora workout range.
By the time I got there, almost everything was gone. All I could find was one solitary jacket.
So I had to change my plans.
Still, the checkout experience itself is usually great — as long as there isn’t a massive queue. The staff just scan your items and move on to the next customer.
In a way, that creates a feeling of total anonymity.
If you like shopping without fuss, it’s perfect.
Trying On My Primark Activewear at Home
Trying everything on at home worked exactly as I expected.
I actually prefer doing it this way. If something doesn’t fit properly, I can simply return it later.
Here’s a small tip: if there’s a nearby McDonald’s and you feel comfortable doing it, you can sometimes pop in and try things on there before heading back to the store to exchange sizes.
As long as you keep the receipt and leave the tags attached, Primark is usually very relaxed about returns and exchanges.
In the end I bought:
A buttery soft T-shirt in coral (size Large)
Buttery soft leggings in coral (size Large)
Since the Rita Ora set wasn’t available, this felt like the best alternative.
The large size fits me well overall.
I had never worn activewear before, and at first it felt a bit like putting on a giant elastic band.
But surprisingly, it’s actually very comfortable.
What I Learned From My First Activewear Shopping Experience
Since this was my first time buying women’s activewear, I learned quite a few things along the way.
First, I really enjoyed seeing the variety available. There were crop tops, jackets, T-shirts, and leggings in so many different colours and fabrics.
Here are my biggest takeaways.
1. Buy quickly if you want something specific
If a popular item launches at Primark, it can sell out quickly. If you really want something, it’s best to grab it while you can.
2. Be flexible
If the item you want is sold out, it helps to keep an open mind and try something else.
3. Trying clothes on at home works well
For anyone who prefers privacy, buying items and trying them on at home can be a simple solution.
4. Activewear is surprisingly versatile
Many women wear activewear not just for exercise, but also for everyday activities like running errands. Now that I’ve tried it myself, I understand why — it’s incredibly comfortable.
Overall, this was a very positive first Primark activewear shopping experience.
Tips for Crossdressers Shopping in Public for the First Time
If you’re a crossdresser thinking about shopping for women’s clothing in public, here are a few tips that might help.
Shop during quiet hours
Going early in the morning can make the experience less stressful because there are fewer people around.
Browse online first
Knowing what you want before entering the store makes shopping quicker and easier.
Remember that most people don’t care
Many retailers now have policies to prevent discrimination. If a shopping experience ever makes you uncomfortable, you can always leave feedback with the company.
This first trip to Primark was just the beginning — and I’m excited to explore more styles and start using my active wear to get my body back into shape.