MAN FRIDAY SPORTING STYLE
Are you a Boris or a Roger? It’s time to consider the finer points of athletic gear, says Stephen Doig
This week saw a tale of two sportsmen; one very British and ad hoc, the other as polished as a fine Swiss timepiece. Just after Roger Federer made history at Wimbledon last weekend, Boris Johnson was stepping out in what’s become a trademark – er, “offbeat”, shall we say? – running garb of a bold T-shirt and what seemed to be garish swimming trunks. He has form here; he seems to favour swim shorts in retina-searing floral prints, a mulchy looking fleece and what appears to be a tea-cosy atop his head schlepping around Islington.
Not that anyone would judge someone for not giving a jot about what they look like while putting themselves through their paces – I, for one, am more a decrepit, wheezing labrador than sleek, glossy red setter when it comes to the 5k around Clapham Common. But the onslaught of fresh whites at Wimbledon serves to highlight how sharp sports style can be when it’s done right.
At a recent event in Monaco with Novak Djokovic (he says, grandly), the star – despite wearing proper, functional sportswear designed for the rigours of the court – could have easily passed muster at a smart Monte Carlo lunch. Athleisurewear
– that term for elevated sportswear designed for daily life instead of just the gym – has meant serious activewear has had to up its game too, looking slick as well as functional.
The Djokovic encounter was due to his recent partnership with Lacoste, and you’d do worse than opting for one of its iconic polos from this range, which come with grid patterns and block colour.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, German designer Philipp Plein – he of the spikes-and-crystal-skulls-with-everything-aesthetic – launched a sports clothes range that combines technical capability with his take-no-prisoners signature approach to dress, while e-tail behemoth Mr Porter has just launched a range of exclusive collections from sporting outfitters across different disciplines, from sailing to cycling.
So what to look for? Obviously functionality is key – as sweat-absorbent as Johnson’s swim shorts may be, they aren’t built for runs around the park. Look out for more sleek designs; a close-to-the-body zip-up track top will aid movement a great deal more than a sagging fleece would. Likewise, pieces that are at least a tad aesthetically pleasing will make the arduous process more appealing when the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; a vibrant Under Armour T-shirt can’t but fail to get the blood pumping.
Adhere to these few tenets and even a man with leadership goals on his mind will still find time to look less jumble sale and more jaunty when out pounding the concrete.