For better or for worse: how sportswear has become a new classic

Modern fashion constantly offers us new trends, which are born thanks to the combination of things from different style groups. Sports style, which has become one of the most popular in men’s closet, is one of such trends. In this article we will tell you about the way this style has made its way and what sporty things we can’t imagine men’s closet without, together with stylist Nata Nikonorova.

Nata Nikonorova

image stylist

I, like many people, adore sporty style for its convenience and brevity!
No wonder why it has become so firmly entrenched in our everyday life.
Girls have long worn romantic dresses with sneakers, joggers and cycling shoes with heeled sandals; guys – more and more often pick up comfortable sneakers under a suit. And the trend for tracksuits? It’s a gift of fate! Now you can dress like this not only at the airport or in the countryside, but quietly move around in the city, looking stylish.

From rebellion to fashionable pedestal: how did sports style appear?

Sport became fashionable in the second half of the XIX century. Then during training people began to realize that they need special equipment, which, incidentally, would be convenient to use during travel, for walks in the countryside and for outdoor activities. Clothing manufacturers began to think about a line of comfortable, not restricting the movement of things. Initially, all sports novelties were intended for men, but soon the number of women keen on sports increased greatly, and brands began to sew for them.

With the advent of the bicycle, men’s and women’s sportswear practically did not differ: they were baggy trousers, something reminiscent of oriental ones, or shorts complete with a T-shirt or shirt.

In the XX century fitness appeared, based on the teachings of the Swedish therapist Per Ling, and it was this direction in sports that required new fashion changes. At the beginning of the XX century, couturiers, whose names are associated with the concept of “high fashion”, began to create clothes for sports and recreation. One of the fierce propagandists of comfortable clothes for women was Coco Chanel, who began to create ladies’ suits made of knitted fabric and claimed that a woman could wear pants, comfortable shoes, borrow models of men’s closet, swim on the beach in an open bathing suit and do sports.

Tennis added polo shirts, short pleated skirts and above-the-knee dresses to the sporty style. René Lacoste, the French tennis champion, created his Lacoste brand, producing polo shirts for tennis players and golfers, which grew into a huge company creating leisurewear and footwear.

In 1930s-60s designers tried to combine sports and fashion, thus creating a new trend – sport-chic. Sportswear became more elegant and glamorous. It was during this period that shorts with high waist, voluminous sleeves and bright colors appeared, which were introduced into fashion by Emilio Pucci.

Since the 1970s jeans became fashionable and they are still in fashion today. At the same time aerobics became popular, so both men and women bought up leggings and tight tops that emphasized all the athletic achievements on the body.

Polo shirt

The polo has migrated into the everyday closet from the iconic uniforms of golfers, tennis players and rugby players. The polo shirt is a more stylish alternative to the traditional t-shirt and is indispensable for everyday style, as it goes with any bottom from shorts to classic pants. Men can choose a polo instead of a shirt under a classic suit, or they can combine it with jeans and sneakers for evening outings. To create the most comfortable and free outfit, you can choose sporty joggers or shorts, with sneakers as the best footwear.

Hoodie

A loose hooded sweatshirt is very functional: in spring and summer it can serve as an outer garment that protects from cold; in the kangaroo pocket you can put your phone, and the hood protects from rain. You can wear it with jeans and pants, with boots and sneakers, with a classic jacket and a windbreaker.

Loose shirt

A loose shirt is a must-have for any man’s closet, especially in summer. It can serve as an independent element of the image, and it can also be worn over a basic T-shirt. It came to men’s closet from the uniform of golfers, the most famous manufacturer is Ralf Lauren.

Longsleeves

Longsleeves owe their popularization to runners. They were the first to use this format of clothing as an element of sports equipment, which did not go unnoticed by the world’s largest brands (for example, U.S. Polo Assn.) Now these sweaters have become a staple in the closet of rappers, who prefer to wear a large T-shirt over it. Longsleeves can be worn on their own and combined with sporty pants, wide jeans and even with shorts.

Sport suit

What could be more comfortable than a tracksuit? A sweatshirt and sports pants are the best companion during long journeys and walks. In it you can look stylish without picking up additional things to the image. Men like to wear them with sneakers and belt bags, from accessories fit sports watches and sunglasses.

Vests

Summer sports vest has long entered the urban fashion, and it is best to wear it in combination with a variety of T-shirts, golfs or raglans. The bottom can be sports pants and the most popular casual option – jeans. In the fall and warm winter it is better to create multi-layered images, adding sweatshirts or insulated plaid shirts.

Sports shoes

The trend of shoe production in recent decades is eco-friendliness. Sports brands are teaming up with media personalities to bring eco-friendly models to the attention of consumers. For example, the joint collaboration between Yuri Dudya and adidas led to the appearance of the well-known Stan Smith sneakers made of recycled plastic. Moreover, men often choose the well-loved Nike Jordan sneakers, bright Vans and tall black Converse sneakers depending on the occasion and things in the outfit.

Nata Nikonorova

image stylist

The new generation promotes sports trends even more, and they do not have to do sports, through clothes they broadcast their independence, rebelliousness, self-confidence.
Conclusion – the fashion for sports style is with us forever, people will not want to give up their usual comfort and broadcast their inner self through clothes.