Sportswear - photos and history

Nowadays, sports style is very popular. Many designers in the collections of the new spring-summer 2016 season have focused on sports style. But now we will not talk about new collections, this is still ahead, but about sports style.

If we talk about sports style in women's clothing, then he began to conquer the fashion space in the 20s of the last century, after the end of the First World War. Although sportswear began its existence even earlier, before the twentieth century, when the first bicycles and cars appeared, and women, along with men, sought to get behind the wheel. And a little earlier, a woman's sports wardrobe was limited to more comfortable riding dresses, bathing and ice skating suits. That's basically it.

At the end of the 19th century, active sports became more accessible to women, because they managed to win their rights, simple and comfortable suits with a minimum amount of details appeared. Charles Dane Gibson captured in his drawings charming girls playing sports in simple and modest outfits, known as - "Gibson Girls".

During these years, special costumes appeared in stores not only for outdoor activities, but also for sports: bloomers, cropped skirts, spacious blouses, special corsets for sports. Horseback riding, tennis, ice skating were still popular, the bicycle and the car were conquering the sports space.

A tennis court on your own estate or in a country club has become a meeting place for representatives of the high nobility. The desire of women to actively go in for sports demanded free clothing that did not restrict movement.

Jean Patou became one of the first sports fashion designers. His sportswear line included tennis skirts, shorts, swimwear, and jersey cardigans. He created many different variations of the sporty styles, one of which was the sleeveless mid-calf tennis dress.

In 1926, Patou opened a sportswear department in his Fashion House, followed by Madeleine Vionne. In the same year, Grand Slam winner Rene Lacoste at the US Championship, unlike his rivals who came in long-sleeved shirts, appeared in a white piqued short-sleeved shirt.

In the 1920s, the car began to increase speed, the rhythm of life changed, and many people began to go in for sports, and elements of sportswear began to penetrate into everyday suits and conquer their place in the wardrobe. Fashion quickly reacted to new directions, and it has always been like this - it borrows elements from a military uniform, then from a tracksuit.

For example, a tailcoat. Do you think he has always been a garment for special occasions? No, not at all. The tailcoat appeared in the 18th century as an officer's uniform. The short front bolsters allowed for free sitting in the saddle. After some time, all men began to use it for riding, that is, to some extent, it has already become a tracksuit in the men's wardrobe. After all, horseback riding is the main sporting activity for a gentleman.

But time passed, and the coat once again changed its destination. At first it became a casual wear, and today it is an exclusively formal dress suit.

Life is changing, and our dynamic era, in which a person moves from one place to another, spends a lot of time in a car, train, plane, and requires clothes that correspond to a new lifestyle. This style has become sporty. It is this style that has a simple and free cut that does not hinder movement, is convenient, comfortable and democratic.

Sports style clothing makes each of us visually younger, more energetic and more relaxed in movement.And due to the variety of decor or specific details such as pockets, belts, edging, belt loops, valves, shoulder straps and other elements, a huge variety of styles is created.

The trousers that appeared in the women's wardrobe revolutionized and took pride of place in the sports wardrobe. They justified their appearance, because what kind of sports is there in the absence of trousers. In order for trousers to become a familiar and integral part of women's wardrobe, it was necessary to achieve this, and with considerable work, not only Coco Chanel, but also many other women, and much earlier than the famous mademoiselle took up this business.

For example, Amelia Bloomer, who fought for the rights of women not only in realizing the right to elect the president, but also for the right to wear comfortable and comfortable clothes. Marlene Dietrich, who became a style icon in the 30s of the last century, found the courage to wear typical men's clothes. Elsa Schiaparelli, a famous designer of the 30s, was among the first to wear a skirt-trousers, the so-called culottes. And of course, Coco Chanel, who taught women to wear simple and comfortable clothes.

Today, trousers are a common item of clothing for women. A good example of a sporty trouser style can be found in the models of many modern designers. Here is some of them.

Tods, Vanessa Seward

But a sporty look doesn't have to be pants. A sports suit can be a jacket and a narrowed skirt, a straight free dress, a pleated skirt and a bomber jacket, a skirt and a sweater will look elegant and at the same time sporty ...

Photo above - Topshop Unique, Tods
Photo below - Tommy Hilfiger

A double-breasted jacket with large patch pockets and cropped trousers, or a sweater with a straight-cut skirt and a corset belt is a great option for a sporty style.

Tommy Hilfiger, Iceberg

A knee-length skirt, sweatshirt or pullover, complemented by a bright scarf, loose fit and simplicity also emphasize the sporty purpose of the set.

Tommy hilfiger

Athletic style is not just a tracksuit, which is generally appropriate in the gym or on the court. Sportswear is intended solely for sports activities, and sportswear can be worn every day, except for business and special occasions.

Sportswear includes tracksuits, uniforms for various sports, running and basketball shoes, as well as fitness and dance shoes.

Athletic clothing has the distinct cut, silhouette and trimmings of sportswear, but can also create elegant looks.

Topshop Unique, Vanessa Seward

The sporty style is very prominent and contrastingly demonstrated by the stitching or edging of individual parts.

Tommy hilfiger

Contrast buttons and large patch pockets reinforce the sporty décor wide belts with buckles and hemmed cuffs, zips and lacing ...

Alexander wang

Alexis mabille
Tommy hilfiger

The shirt dress is practical, comfortable and provides freedom of movement during sports - tennis and golf.

Simple dresses and tunics with a free cut and without fasteners, with a minimum number of seams and details, are laconic models that clearly demonstrate a sporty style.

The dress with one sleeve has a history that began in ancient times, it is called the dress of the Amazons. The art of Ancient Greece is associated with beauty and physical perfection, and classic ancient Greek tunics with an open shoulder exemplify this perfection.

In the 80s of the last century, new Amazons appeared - women who reached heights in sports, business or in social activities. The one-sleeve dress has become an evening option. Princess Diana's luxurious one-sleeve dresses perfectly showcase her gorgeous athletic figure.

In 2012, Stella McCartney designed the style of the British Olympic team, and in her spring-summer collection of the same year, she introduced a mini dress with one sleeve. Now a dress with one sleeve can be not only in an evening version, but also in a sports one.

I must say that the sporty style is sometimes emphasized by the material. For example, fabrics such as linen, cotton fabrics, denim, lycra, fleece, polyester, tweed, leather, suede, plaid fabrics, quilted fabrics, wool, jersey are often used in sportswear. The use of suede in a sporty style makes clothes especially elegant.

H&M Studio
Tommy hilfiger

Leather jackets, skirts, trousers and even dresses.

You cannot ignore the sportswear of the summer season - T-shirts, tops, swimwear, shorts, light sandals, slippers and slip-ons.

Military and safari styles are quite close to sports style. They are united by a large number of identical decorative elements - valves, large patch pockets, numerous buttons, zippers, etc. Elements of one style or another, adjacent to each other, allow designers to create a wonderful and effective image.

Sports style permeates everywhere - our life is changeable and fleeting, we need to be in time everywhere, and fashion is a kind of barometer that quickly reacts to all changes.