Let's Get Physical

CEBU, Philippines - Remember the McDonald’s McSavers aerobic instructor who fills the airtime with ridiculous exercise moves that double as something you can actually do beyond the confines of the aerobics studio? Now you have there the epitome of gaudy and frivolous sports fashion a la 80s. The elements are present: the ridiculous broad headband, the neon lycras, and the clashing colors that make the entire ensemble even more outrageous.

Well guess what, sweeties? Sports is the new street wear for the upcoming season but before you allow your jaw to drop with images of the 80s aerobics instructors vividly doing lounges in your mind, it’s safe to say that the 2010 sports fashion is anything but 80s-ish. 

This year’s sports fashion revival takes on an element of tomboyish cool that’s bound to bag you the MVP award in the fashion field. Heavily influenced by the works of hip and happening young designer, Alexander Wang, we take inspiration from all-time favourite sports like American football, hockey, tennis, baseball, ,scuba diving, and yes, even a wee bit of dance.

Tania Braukamper of Fashionising zeroed in some key looks to help you navigate through the sea of styles in channelling that athletic feel just in time for the summer season.

The Sporty Flapper

Sports inspirations: Golf or Tennis

The Dibs: the sporty flapper look is clean, classic, vintage, and put together. Look to Hermes for inspiration with the classic pleated skirts, the sports lines, and all things plaid. Flapper colors come in classic university motifs of red, blue, yellow, and even touches of green and oxford brown. The flapper look is generally about being Jordan Baker of The Great Gatsby: athletic, boyish, seductive—plus a twist of the roaring 1920s.

The Urban Dancer

Sports inspiration: Dance

The Dibs: Forget Swan Lake of the Nutcracker. This look will make for a very tough cookie to crack. More than anything, the urban dancer look is far from the elements of femininity. This is all about being tough yet carelessly seductive. The shades to watch for when bagging this look are the key colors of the concrete urban jungle: black and steel grey or dirty versions of pastels. Details to take note of: studs and grunge marks. Charlotte Ronson has the perfect examples for this look with stonewashed body suits and topknots taking center stage.

The Tomboy

Sports inspirations: Baseball, football

The Dibs: Remember the cool sporty girl in school who’s all rough-and-tumble, who’s got that one-of-the-guys flair, who plays basketball with the dudes, and who is annoyingly unaware of all the beauty underneath all that sweat? The tomboy is the sports it-girl minus the grime and the dirt of playing countless hours underneath the sun. The look is perfectly captured by Alexander Wang as he ups the cool ante with cropped tops, illegally low pants revealing the band of boyleg panties underneath, leather cross-lacing, powerful football shoulders, and touches of jersey. 

The Bond Girl

Sports inspirations: Swimming and scuba

The Dibs: Damn those unrealistic Bond chicks for heightening the standard for the perfect Miss Independent: rich, intelligent, tough, and definitely a bombshell. Think of the supposedly functional swimwear (which are actually meant to pop eyes) that the Bond girls are famous for if you want to bag this look. Think about small, tight, body hugging, and muy peligroso. Check out the Bond movies or the runway collections of Alexander McQueen so you’ll know how to look and feel like one dangerous dame.

As with any new trend on the dish, take it slow and easy with the sports trend so as not to look too sloppy nor too glamorous. Experiment with common sports look elements like leather cross-lacings (think baseball gloves) or mix it up with other trends like the knee-high socks trend or the hot pants trend. Sex up the look with a pair of hot sports-inspired heels and messy long hair. Now there’s a strat for scoring a home run for this trend. (Photos from the wires)