It seems that it wasn’t that long ago when sportswear was mainly about throwing on a pair of loose pants, a slouchy t-shirt and a cool cap, for overall looks very much nodding towards the boy in tomboy. The masculine influence was indeed obvious at first, with the on trend outfits replicating nearly all sports uniforms from football and baseball, all the way to the fitness gear. Spring 2012 was the season that marked a subtle return to femininity, with the lines becoming cleaner and the silhouettes going minimal.

For fashion in 2013 the sporty aesthetic continued its enthusiastic progress, slowly but surely morphing into an entirely new embodiment of casual chic. Evolving to become more subtle and to highlight a rather slick and sportier attitude, the luxe athletic wear is no longer channeling specific sports. Delicate volumes and an immaculate styling turned sports fashion unapologetically sophisticated for the spring 2013 fashion season.

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Sports fashion – elements of novelty for spring 2013

Before being able to approach the athletic direction from a fresh and slightly different perspective, it is important to underline what’s new in terms of sporty fashion and what exactly changed from last season up until now. Starting with the previously mentioned subtle quality, moving towards the polished vibe exuded by the garments, we finally get to the elements of novelty that helped shape the sports trend’s current face.

DKNY S/S ’13

By taking a quick look at the spring 2013 runways you will find plenty of fashionable clues and lots of inspiration that will help you get a better understanding of what fashionable sportswear is all about for spring 2013:

• Overall, the looks appear rather minimal, featuring clean lines in basic silhouettes
• White becomes the number one color as chosen to redefine the sporty aesthetic as a chicer manifestation, at times complemented by bold color-blocking
• Sports elements are still being mixed with sophisticated tailoring

Tommy Hilfiger S/S ’13 and Richard Nicoll S/S ’13

• Lots of mesh inserts are being used as to complement the sharp cuts and to accent the sporty feel of the luxe garments
• The midriffs and cutaways point towards a regained sense of femininity and allurement

Ohne Titel S/S ’13 and Richard Chai Love S/S ’13

Sportswear sensibility for spring 2013 – what to wear

Luckily, sports as a fashion trend for spring leaves plenty of place for its current manifestation to be reinterpreted. According to your own aesthetic, search for pieces that will effortlessly blend in your wardrobe, making you fashionably fit for summer but still true to your style. Choose basic silhouettes with sporty twists that are easy to complement, to dress up or down, dependent on the occasion.

With that being said, keep an eye out for mesh skirts, tops and dresses, as well as for slick sports bras and bodysuits. They can effortlessly assure a smooth transition between styles and daily activities.

Sportmax S/S ’13 and DKNY S/S ’13

A pair of impeccably tailored shorts or a t-shirt dress represent another smart take on sports separates.

Diesel Black Gold S//S ’13 and Lacoste S/S ’13

The use of color is not completely ruled out in what regards sports as a fashion trend, so don’t be afraid to embrace bold hues for your future athletic inspired looks. As long as accessorizing goes, it’s all best kept to a minimal, but a cool pair of sunglasses, a chic bag or a pair of wedges can make the difference.

Rag & Bone S/S ’13

Sporty chic: complimentary trends

There are plenty of spring 2013′s other trends that can merge well with a hint of the sporty chic. For example, an androgynous yet sexy look can benefit from some boyishly sporty elements. Transparent plastics and perspex have an inherent slickness that makes them perfect for complimenting other sporty-luxe pieces.

As far as accessories go, baseball caps have been standing out as their own trend, and are themselves an ideal way to inject a sports mood into any outfit.

For any sports inspired outfit a wet look hairstyle, whether it’s worn out or thrown up into an easy wet chignon, is a perfect accompaniment.

Trend Updates

The evolution of sporty fashion

Sporty clothing for men

While a number of menswear collections for spring 2012 directly quoted Olympic sports as inspiration – notably Nicole Farhi and Moncler Gamme Bleu both referenced sports like fencing and rowing – many also leaned gently to the functional. As with women’s a mix of effortless sporty cuts and tailored pieces was key across menswear, a mix that should be looked to in a man’s wardrobe for the season. For men, the most obvious and most popular way of incorporating a sporty feel into spring is by way of outerwear: hooded coats in parachute silks or jersey, varsity jackets, and parkas are all strong options.

Nicole Farhi S/S ’12, Moncler Gamme Bleu S/S ’12

Sleek, body-conscious cuts aren’t reserved for womenswear, either: a sporty mens jacket or pant cut can take its cues from motorcycle leathers, scuba-gear or other more streamlined sports cuts. At the opposite end of the spectrum loose slouchy pieces or relaxed tailoring offers up a casual sporty aesthetic that can be smartened up by way of luxe fabrics or the right accessories.

Alexander Wang S/S ’12, 3.1 Phillip Lim S/S ’12

Sporty fashion in 2010

You know what’s happening now, read on to find out where it’s evolved from.

Alexander Wang’s inimitable cool factor put him at the fore of this trend. The young, fresh interpretation he sent down the runway for Spring 2010 saw us all looking to American football for an injection of youthful tomboy cool into our wardrobes come Spring. But while football is key, it’s not the only sportswear inspiration: don’t forget to look to sports like baseball & hockey, tennis, scuba-diving, and dance.

Sports trend: the looks

The possibilities for 2010′s sportswear fashion trend are many – but it’s also easy to go wrong. Thus, we’ve singled out four key looks for how to wear this trend in 2010: the tomboy, the sporty flapper, the urban dancer, and the Bond bombshell.

The tomboy

She’s the pretty girl at school with the rough-and-tumble attitude, the one who’s blissfully unaware of her own beauty; the one that kicks the ball with the boys oblivious to their crushes. Alexander Wang epitomised this look with his Spring 2010 collection: youthful, unimaginably cool, and ultimately sexy. The cool factor is engineered by way of cropped tops, pants low slung to expose the waistband of an under-layer; leather cross-lacing, jersey fabrics, football-style shoulders. Woven into the effortless tomboy look are super-feminine elements like sheer fabrics and high heeled shoes, placing the look firmly in 2010.

Along with American football – which was also an inspiration behind Alexandre Herchcovitch‘s Spring 2010 collection – you can also take your fashionable sportswear inspiration from other tomboyish sports like hockey, baseball, rugby league, and soccer.

Alexander Wang Spring 2010 runway

The sporty flapper

If she were a character, she’d be The Great Gatsby’s Jordan Baker; athletic, boyish, cynical, seductive. Golf or tennis are the flapper girl’s games, so in 2010 it’s preppy with a 1920s twist. Look no further than Hermes – with drop-waist pleated skirts and sports stripes in classic colours – for inspiration.

Hermes Spring 2010 runway

The urban dancer

She’s a little more Dirty Dancing than Swan Lake; but that said it’s not an 80s costume party free-for-all either. We simply mean that – as with any take on the sports trend in 2010 – it’s best when femininity is kept low key. There’s an element of the urban, of the street. A little bit of toughness and carelessness. Look to Charlotte Ronson as a perfect example, with a subtly stonewashed bodysuit given modern flair; soft ballet pinks and creams transferred into skinny pants and flowing sheer hoodies, her looks capped off by topknots and understated braided sweatbands. Bottega Veneta‘s slouchy sweats in pastel yellows are another prime example.

Charlotte Ronson Spring 2010 runway

The Bond bombshell

You know all those knock-out Bond Girl bikinis that somehow suggest an element of the functional, and yet are really nothing more than sex bomb swimwear? Ursula Andress’ belted bikini, or the red scuba suit in Thunderball… that’s what to think of when you attempt this look.

Based heavily in scuba and diving wear, sleek modern takes were seen on the runways of Gucci, Julien Macdonald, and Alexander McQueen for Spring 2010. Any dabbling in this type of sporty look should be skin-hugging, sexy, and most of all – dangerous.

Scuba-inspired outfit at Julien Macdonald, Spring 2010

How to style it

As described above, there are many ways to add a sporty look to your wardrobe for Spring 2010. For any sporty style, the important thing is not to look too sloppy like you’ve just spent an hour at the gym, or too “glamorous” either – no Juicy Couture velour tracksuits please. Here are a few things more generally that you can try to work the look:

• Messy long hair, the side braid
• Sexed up with super high yet sport-inspired heels
• Incorporate some knee-high socks – look to Alexander Wang’s cut-out back socks, or sports socks with stripes – but in luxe fabrics. The right kind of leg-warmers can also work
• Cross-lacing – particularly in leather – reminiscent of baseball gloves and boot laces
• Shoulder pads, football player style
• Work in the hot pants trend for a sporty take on hot pants or bodysuits
• Cut off tees
• Jersey fabrics; mesh
• Pleated tunics (elegant ones – no super-short cheerleader skirts)
• Utility elements like plastic buckles, snap closures, and rope ties

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