Earn your stripes in superluxe joggers
TEN years ago, if you had told me that my failsafe, knock-’emdead, favourite trousers in my wardrobe would have two red go-faster stripes down each leg — a bit like military dress trousers, but much more like a pair of trackies — I wouldn’t have believed you.
But my sportswear-inspired trousers, with their peppy streak of scarlet, never fail to put a spring in my step. I like to wear them with wispy romantic blouses when I need to look smart for summer meetings, and with a black rollneck and a giant teddy bear coat in the winter when I want to make an entrance.
On a recent trip to New York, a hip (and rather gorgeous) waiter enquired of said trousers: ‘Are those the Gucci track pants?’ Well, no . . . sadly.
But not to worry ladies, there are dozens of flattering sidestripe trousers available in the High Street right now, such as Zara’s glorious cream pair with a wide mustardy-gold stripe (€39.95, zara.com).
ME+EM does this style particularly well — its tailored crepe track pants (€213
fall brilliantly. meandem.com)
SPORTSWEAR for day time is nothing new. After all, Coco Chanel first dared to use stretch jersey in her designs when she set about revolutionising daywear for women who wanted to take the world in their stride in the 1920s.
But it was really the 1970s that saw sportswear elevated into high fashion — think satin running shorts and rollerskates at Studio 54, and slinky off-theshoulder tracksuits worn with glittery heels.
Sure, tracksuits hit the style doldrums during the 1980s (two words: shell suit), only for the founders of Juicy Couture, Gela Nash-Taylor and Pamela Skaist-Levy, to bring velour towelling tracksuits back into vogue in the late 1990s.
They even gifted one to Madonna, embroidered with her moniker ‘Madge’. But wearing a ‘Juicy’ felt tongue-incheek to me, so I never did.
So why does sportswear feel so relevant right now? The past decade has seen a fitness boom, of course. And if I could have €1 for every article I’ve read about the blurring of work and leisure in modern lives, and the consequent increase in casual outfits, I could buy new Stan Smith trainers.
Young stars such as Hailey Baldwin and Kendall Jenner are trailblazers for the trend — out for cocktails in their Adidas trackies with perfect hair and make-up and, hey, maybe an evening clutch.
Inspiration flows from the track and the barre to the runways — take Donatella Versace showing bold printed Lycra bodysuits in her catwalk collection. Model Gigi Hadid wore one to the CFDA Fashion Awards in June, looking like some beautiful superhuman.
Of course, in our real-life, grown-up wardrobes, a bit of caution is always going to be advised — spray-on, bodysculpting Lycra is strictly for the brave or the gym-bound.
I’ve also spotted some 1980s PE teacher-esque slouchy track jackets recently, but that’s probably a style revival best left to the young.
Rather, get in on the sports luxe vibe by choosing a key piece that features a chic gofaster stripe or two. It’s a trend that’s not going away.
I’m loving the return of the retro ski sweater. Madeleine Thompson makes rainbowstriped ones (€316, trilogystores.
co.uk). Mango has some similar options for a snippier price tag, which are just the right side of kitsch (€35.99, mango.com).
As ever, be careful not to be too literal. I love pieces that mix up fashion’s traditional codes — a Prince of Wales check with a contrasting side stripe looks surprisingly chic, as on a jacket by Miss Selfridge (€47.20, missselfridge.com).
My favourite label, Essentiel Antwerp, has a stripey waist belt with rhinestones that resembles a support strap for lifting weights (€85, essentielantwerp.com). I plan to wear it with everything . . . just not to the actual gym.