There are a couple of factors to consider. First of all, you have to decide whether you're shopping for sports apparel you intend to use for actual sporting purposes or if you're just looking for sports apparel that's wearable in an everyday sense. There are an ever-increasing number of sports apparel manufacturers out there who cater to sporting enthusiasts, sports fans, and people who just like to look a little sporty. Most manufacturers specialize in one particular facet of the sports apparel market, so it helps to know what you're looking for before you shop.
Then, for those of you looking simply for fashion, there's another decision to make: do you want sports apparel simply for a more active look or are you after sports apparel featuring your favorite school, team, or sport somewhere on the garment? The first type of sports apparel is pretty widely available, generally fairly inexpensive, and can be worn in lots of different settings. Team-, sport-, or college-specific sports apparel, though, can be a little trickier. Sports apparel with a particular affiliation is usually carried in slightly more specialized sports apparel stores, sometimes those associated directly with the school or team featured, and there are sometimes licensing fees associated with that kind of clothing, so specific sports apparel can be a little more expensive than non-specific sports apparel.
No matter what kind of sports apparel you need, though, you have a variety of choices as to where you shop. Sporting good stores, general apparel outlets, and internet shops all have the potential of having the exact type of sports apparel you're shopping for in stock. Sometimes you can get a better deal in the sports apparel section of an internet business, sometimes only a local sporting goods store will carry the specific apparel you're looking for, and sometimes a general clothing store is the only place you can find a good deal on that really generalized sports apparel. You have to do your homework, you have to be willing to shop all sorts of sports apparel stores to find what you need, and it helps to have an idea what you're after going into the process. A little preparation and a touch of specificity can go a long way towards making your sports apparel shopping experience a big success.