How the Sporty Look Evolved
Styles have changed a lot over the past fifty years, but athletic apparel and sportswear has remained a steady part of women’s wardrobes, most notably in trendy junior fashion. The only thing that’s changed is where we wear athletic clothing and what we call it.
If you came of age in the 1970’s, you might have called your “tennies” to the gym, but only to the gym, but as soon as the 80’s began, so did the athletic boom. Before long, jogging shorts, tennis shoes, and workout tops were a part of every woman’s wardrobe, and they were worn everywhere. Remember when women wore running shoes and socks with a business suit? It was a contemporary apparel trend most were glad to see go away.
Then came the movie “Flashdance” and the danskin/hip-hop look, complete with ripped t-shirts, leg warmers and stretch pants.
Today’s wholesale fashion apparel buyers are still cashing in on the sporty look, but now it has many faces. Some trends just seem to hang on forever, like leggings, Converse “Chuck Taylor” All-Stars. Even though the athletic look has been toned down a little this decade, these styles continue to play an important role in junior fashion apparel.
But the more interesting story here is the way top designers have interpreted athletic apparel and worked it into even some of the highest priced couture items. Sweatshirt fabric, platform sneakers, athletic-inspired jackets and yoga pants have all made their way, in some form, onto the runways of Paris and Milan, and into wholesale boutique clothing showrooms, such as Fashion Spot LA, for decades.
Perhaps it is the comfort-factor that attracts even the best dressed people to athletic wear, but it is a trend that doesn’t seem to be going away. Junior fashion apparel is more influenced by the sporty look than others, with most teen stores focusing on hooded sweatshirts, sweatpants and yoga pants as anchors to their fall collections.
Even the Juicy Couture brand has cashed in on the popularity of their signature tracksuits for children and teens, and sneaker companies have learned that sneaks can come in every pattern, color and texture under the sun. Now, if we could just start working out as often as it looks like we do, we’d all be in great shape!