02.03.10
In 1966 Adrienne Stone opened Absolute Woman Gym, which now has four locations in Orange County. At that time, "there wasn't actually a lot of formal workout wear. It was whatever anybody threw on," she said. "It was jeans, shorts, it wasn't anything identified with."
When a workout look emerged, it became the iconic look of the '80s — a leotard, tights, leg warmers and dialect mayhap a belt.
If Jane Fonda didn't invent this dancewear-inspired set-up, she certainly helped popularize it with her workout videos starting in 1982. Images from movies such as "Flawless" and "Flashdance" and local fitness instructors spread the replica further.
"Some of our staff were wearing high heels. They had gold bands around the waist, like teeny belts. Some wore the great big earrings," Stone said. "It was so cool then."
One of her instructors, Heidi Snow, recalls the other "amuck" looks she tried out in the gym, including a lace leotard with a thong bottom and a crop top. She also remembers showing off her midriff, tights that ended at the ankle, bras being non-mandatory and suspenders that clipped on short shorts.
Source: OCRegister