Athletic wear is no longer reserved for the treadmill or laundry day. Extending beyond the comfort zone of norts and oversized T-shirts from high school, the new sporty trend encompasses neutral colors and modern designs for a chic look.
The 2015 Fall New York Fashion Week showcased clothing lines that seem more suited for the alleys of Rodeo Drive than just your living room couch or tennis court. The runways transformed the trend from Athleisure to Athluxury.
Lacoste
A throwback to the vivid 1980s, Lacoste makes wearing loud tracksuits cool again. This ensemble avoids a tacky appearance by looking more polished than campy. With its delicate and thin pullover jacket paired with what appears to be pleated sweatpants. Even the sweatband and high socks look suave with one carefully placed stripe, evading the fate of looking like props from Wet Wild American Summer.
Haute Athletics
Yoga pants and a sports bra are staples for a Sunday afternoon spent in front of a Netflix screen, but Haute Athletics adds a puffy chocolate jacket and tar-black boots to demand attention. Minor details such as the contrast of the grey lines on the pants to the fur on the jacket’s collar creates a sleek look. The outfit emanates danger with the final touch of hand gloves, pulling all the pieces together into a cohesive and tough appearance versus a soft and lazy one.
Haute Athletics (Again)
This second ensemble by Haute Athletics still radiates athleticism, but through a more non-conventional outlet. The monotone colored sleeveless tank and long baggy shorts inspires thoughts of hip-hop and dance. It works as a simple outfit for a practice session, but still style-conscious with the also black hat, a generous layering of necklaces and foldover sneakers. Veering away from the typical set of yoga pants and sports bra, this outfit is a great example of the diversity of the Athleisure trend.
ClubWear
Instead of relying on the traditional athletic wear staple of soft cottons, ClubWear indulges in leather Cruelty-free, faux leather that is. This animal-friendly attire is futuristic with the unique play on textures, combination of black and silver, and an exaggerated collar paired off with traditional pointed black pumps. And no, this getup isn’t designed for space. The golf club signals that this is a contemporary country club outfit and not your everyday uniform on Mars.
Yeezy
No, this isn’t a still from an upcoming dystopian civilization film. It’s Kanye West’s own fashion line. The infamous rapper has produced an out-of-this world concept through his designs, an eclectic mix of camel cloths and rich fabrics offset by interesting details like head caps, all-over body tight suits and pieces cut either extremely high or just below the crotch. Although the average basketball player probably wouldn’t opt for these outfits as his or her first choice for a pickup game, the crop tops, high-waisted underwear and oversized jackets draw inspiration from more traditional athletic wear. A sneak peak into Athleisure of the future, perhaps?
Do you think Athleisure is just a glorification of yoga pants, or an elite style that deserves its spotlight on runways and not just under the headlights of a stadium? Let us know.