From L to R: Grid Neoprene Top by Clover Canyon with Knee Length Leather Short by Nicholas (Image from Shopbop); Mock Neck Scuba Tee by T by Alexander Wang with Bustier Dress by Olcay Gulsen (Image from Shopbop); Neoprene Body Con Dress by Shakuhachi; Grid Neoprene Top by Clover Canyon
We all know sports apparel fashion is nothing new…with the onset of trendy running events and a new gym class or workout popping up in what seems like every few months, we’ve gone quickly from the street-fashion of Puma to the functional style of lululemon, Under Armour and Ellie (although don’t get me wrong, Puma running shoes are one of the only brands that protect my crazy, beat-up feet the way they do and are a big leader in the neutral or minimal running shoe trend. I love them!). Just walk into Dick’s and you forget if you’re shopping for fashion or for function (I could spend all day in there) and I think it’s awesome that it’s gotten easier to find both!
However, I’ve seen another awesome trend pop up – sport INSPIRED style – threads that aren’t meant to be used for athletic purposes but have the obvious sport-appeal. I’m not talking just about looks either. These are items created with some of the same material, like neoprene, that functional sports apparel does. Some of these items look sporty, and some are more subtle or take advantage of some non-sporty quality that a sporty fabric may provide (like neoprene used for bodycon dresses).
