| Remember what we used to say about people who went out in their sweatpants? We said they’d given up.
But it looks like these hopeless individuals were really fashion mavens, as was revealed when J. Lo came out with her pastel velour tracksuit and a slew of hip-hop artists launched their own signature lines of hoodies and sneakers.
Couture and athletic gear existed separately for years, but recently they have come together.
"If anything, athletic wear has invaded and given some new life to fashion," says John Gerhardt, contributing fashion editor at Flare, citing Yohji Yamamoto designing for Adidas, Jil Sander for PUMA, and the enormous popularity of Juicy Couture (read the April issue of Vogue for its article about Juicy Couture attending the couture shows in Paris). As well, the surf trend seems to be everywhere this season – at Chanel, Balenciaga and Miu Miu.
While dressing head to toe in sports apparel is nothing new, mixing it with more traditional fashion is.
"Athletics styled with more formal pieces is really chic," says Gerhardt, who’s been wearing a shirt and tie under a track jacket this winter.
The trend also reflects society’s obsession with all things multifunctional. For example, Lululemon – the athletics company with the coveted monopoly on Calgary’s yoga wear – says its clothing "focuses on physically functional apparel that, because of the technical qualities of the fabric and a fashionable cut, can double as street wear." Ideally, you can go from a sweaty Ashtanga class to lunch with friends to shopping to home all in the same outfit.
Self-control is required when checking out Lululemon’s fabulous spring arrivals – loop-back tanks in paisley and floral prints; light purple mesh basketball pants; vest hoodies; cropped pants with tri-coloured waistbands; and terry tracksuits.
Another new arrival in Calgary is Canada’s first Patagonia store, which opened in November 2002 on Stephen Avenue. Local owner and manager Jason Hay echoes the sentiment that people are looking for multifunctional clothing.
"Weekend warriors enjoy being outdoors and appreciate good product if it’s going to do the job, but at the same time, we want more versatility if we’re spending that much money on one piece."
Patagonia enjoys an international reputation for its superb technical clothing for hiking, climbing, snowboarding, mountain biking and fly-fishing, but it has expanded its line over the years to attract more consumers. Their women’s line includes tailored, drapey, knit-cotton dresses, skirts, pants and shirts for the traveler and businesswoman. The company’s Rhythm Line features comfortable stretch-knit cotton and polyester fabrics that cater to the active woman’s lifestyle, for activities like yoga and Pilates.
The hot item for guys is their series of funky Hawaiian shirts, which are limited edition prints made from organic material. Also popular is the travel line of men’s clothing, a drapey, poly-cotton blend that’s as comfortable for hiking as it is for a travel business meeting. For a more retro look, Patagonia has revived the 1970s rugby shirt.
But do hardcore adventurists think less of Patagonia because of its fashion inclinations? According to Hay, it’s just the opposite – everyone loves one-stop shopping.
But the sporty look may be on the way out. Gerhardt predicts that athletic gear will be benched for the next few years starting this fall, although casual clothing is here to stay. |
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