Get sporty now

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. Or so shopaholics like me want to think. But with the global situation now, shoppers not only buy wisely but also ethically. Not only is it about the money you spend, it’s also about how you spend it. Women now want to live relevant lives. Women not only want to look pretty but also want to give back to humanity. The modern woman follows a correct value system also in relation to fashion. Social and ethical values direct hip women’s fashion and shopping choices. Now it is so important to invest in separates. Now is the time to check your closet and build quality basics that will go the distance.

For those ahead of the race, take a look at the latest sportswear trends and add them to your wardrobe for extra mileage. As I mentioned in a previous article, remember that a successful design combines style and substance at a smart price.

Versatile activewear, utilitarian casuals and clean-cut separates return to the runways of Bottega Veneta, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermès, Balenciaga, Chloé, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Stella McCartney, Preen and Céline, to name a few. Fashion now is about wearable and comfortable separates you can mix-match. The key to a fashionable sportswear look is practical yet luxurious. I am not talking about sweatpants, please. The look still has to be polished, not sloppy. Don’t confuse the two. Pick from the season’s mid-thigh shorts, above-the-knee skirts, double-breasted cropped jackets, tees with edgy details and an assortment of differently cut pants. Soft tailoring is key.

Sportswear traces its beginnings to the Depression era. At that time, gone were the days of extravagant French fashion. The need for practical basics paved the way for sportswear. Now it is the same need that continues to keep the trend alive and ever so popular. As women’s roles change, so do their lives. Daily life has become so fast-paced. Modern women play multiple roles. They juggle career and family positions. Thus came the need for easy-to-get, easy-to-care-for and easy-to-wear clothes. Practicality won over extravagance. Credit American designers in the Thirties, Clare Potter and Claire McCardell, for sportswear innovation. According to Wikipedia, fashion historian Richard Martin described these designers as aiming to produce clothes demonstrating ”problem-solving ingenuity and realistic lifestyle applications.” Synonymous with the style are American designers Geoffrey Beene, Norma Kamali, Perry Ellis, Anne Klein, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Isaac Mizrahi and Marc Jacobs.

The sportswear influence truly merged in fashion during the Seventies. Stretch velour, originally used for sports, was utilized for sexy party garb. Although its true origins emerged from America, the Italians are credited with luxurious sportswear. Italy’s high-quality fabrics and workmanship combined with America’s casual style guaranteed its success in sportswear. Their Italian counterparts are Krizia, Missoni, Trussardi, Emilio Pucci and Miuccia Prada.

If sportswear met mainstream fashion, fashion also influenced sportswear brands. Yohji Yamamoto was one of the most successful when he collaborated with Adidas in early 2000. It was so successful that a separate brand, Y3, was launched. Then designers like Jil Sander and Alexander McQueen also designed limited-edition sneakers for Puma. Moreover, Adidas carries a regular Stella McCartney line in their stores. It is no longer just about a particular sport now but a complete lifestyle.

Get sporty now with the following regimen:

• Clichéd as it may sound, adopt a healthy lifestyle. Clothes are no good if you are not in good shape.

• Invest wisely and buy less.

• Look into separates that have staying power.

• Build basics that will go the distance.

• Start with these key pieces: cropped trousers, an above-the-knee skirt, mid-thigh shorts and a softly tailored jacket.

• Navy, white and khaki are good alternatives to black.

• Spruce up your basics with a splash of color. (Only if you have already built a strong wardrobe foundation!)

• Versatility wins. Interchangeable pieces are the modern woman’s wardrobe trophies.

• Focus on design, cut, fabric, quality and style for lasting power. Invest better and buy less. Build a wardrobe of quality basics that will go past the seasons’ trends. Remember that true style is more about how you wear it rather than what you wear. Be a champion on your own terms. Be true to yourself.

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Send queries and suggestions to jo@joyceorena.com.