A model takes sporty chic beyond the workout
MANILA, Philippines - Do you work out?” This is a question I would avoid altogether if I could. Seems like everyone wants to know how models stay fit. Well, the answer is “no.“ Upon answering I immediately feel like people want to chase me like angry villagers with pitchforks. I say it’s in the genes (thanks Mom and Dad), but probably the real reason is that I had an extremely athletic childhood. It started off with swimming. So many of my summers were spent in the water. I used to be up at 5 a.m. for swim practice. I formed a biking club with my sister and friends. We used to bring out our mountain bikes and pedal our way through the steep hills in our village. In college, I joined the volleyball varsity team.
So what happened, I’m quite sure you’re wondering? My days as an athlete ended when a speeding car, while crossing the street, hit me as I was walking towards my house. Yes, you heard me. Hit by a car, while walking home. To my surprise, I didn’t break a bone. But it was enough injury for me to quit sports for the rest of my time in college, somehow, it just carried on until today. Call me lazy. I’ve always had a love for sports, though. That’s why it excites me when every four years, the Olympics come around. There’s just something about sportsmanship and goodwill that puts a skip in my step. My favorite thing about the Olympics is the gymnastics. It always brings back good memories of a five-year-old me doing cartwheels and headstands, hearing my mother yell, “Stop that, or else you’ll end up breaking your neck or cracking your head open!” Thank you Mommy; morbid much? What I most enjoyed was seeing what they would adorn themselves in –– those leotards.
A trend that I oh-so-love at this very moment is sporty chic. Or sport couture. Whatever you want to call it. And what better time for it to trend than now? With the dreadful monsoon season in full swing, we may as well be cozy in comfortable yet fabulous clothing. Think well-tailored, figure flattering clothing with the comfort of athletic gear. So ditch that frumpy tracksuit from the ‘90s and check out what’s on the runways this season. Everybody from Helmut Lang’s sporty asymmetry, Alexander Wang’s athletic resorts collection, Rag and Bone’s basketball-inspired aquatic chic show that even included goggles, Kenzo’s eye-popping colored patterns and excessive use of sports caps and utility jackets, to BCBG’s energy-filled chiffon dresses and more have had the same idea with an Olympic-inspired look in wonderful bright hues (mostly orange and bright yellow), and traditional sports colors such as tennis court green, grays like periwinkle and navy blue.
Now, if there were a way to make my fantasy Olympian chic wardrobe a reality, if any of these pieces actually do exist, feel free to notify me via Twitter @ornusacadness.
Disclaimer: any designs or sketches made that are similar or exactly like existing products are purely coincidental. With that said, I hope that everyone who reads this finds inspiration in cool comfort clothing for this season and enjoys the long festivities that have yet to come during the 2012 Olympics. “Citius, Altius, Fortius!”
