Now before you dub them gym clothes, I’d like to contend that you can work it in sport chic without looking like you’re actually about to hit the bench press. Most of us have spent the entirety of this season going gaga over feminine silhouettes, all while coveting the latest from the Louis Vuitton Spring 2012 collection…meaning really, the only thing we’ve been sporting are floral prints and pink. But who would we be without an occasional sartorial mix up, right? Give girly girl a rest for a day; all the art of sport chic lies in a fine mingling of tailored sporty pieces and regular day wear. The end result is nothing short of a winner, and you can achieve it in a variety of ways.
ON YOUR FEET
Starting from the bottom up, the easiest way to achieve the sport chic look is by buying a pair of shoes (I don’t know about you, but I don’t need to be convinced to buy shoes!). The champion of the sport chic look, Isabel Marant wedged sneakers have become a favorite of bloggers, celebrities, and fashion editors alike. Since not all of us have an extra $1000 plus lying around for a pair of high-end kicks, alternatives can be found at stores like Aldo and by brands like 80%20. If chunky shoes just aren’t you, a pair of classic Converse Chuck Taylor’s can achieve the look without denting your pocketbook.
ON YOUR LEGS
Track pants are no longer left to the treadmill – the 3.1 Phillip Lim Fall 2012 collection showed us that sporty can be tailored too. The slim track pants that were showcased looked sleek and clean, posing as a huge game changer in how I viewed the short chic trend. Suddenly sleek track pants seemed a lot more appealing, and they beg to be placed with crispy blazers. For a more subtle look, look for sporty details on skirts and pants, such as drawstrings, paneling, or light mesh materials.
ON YOUR TOP
Remember how you used to borrow your jock boyfriend’s varsity jacket when you were in high school? You had the right idea, even back then. As if we needed any other reason to steal from the boys, varsity jackets have been street-style spotted from New York Fashion Week all the way to Milan. The trick, as with track pants, is to wear them with something unexpected and clean, like a lace pencil skirt or a plain shirt.
ON YOUR HEAD
I never thought I’d be reporting on baseball caps as a trend, but there was an undeniable flood of them at New York Fashion Week. We’re fans of all kinds of toppers, from floppy and oversized to dainty fedoras. If all else fails, top off a conservative outfit with a baseball cap, just for a little bit of that edgy juxtaposition we all strive for.
ALL OVER
Did I just say all over? I also said sports chic (is a “syke!” in order?). The thing about doing chic is that you should never overdo anything. Choose your own adventure by choosing just one way to play. Be playful, yes, but you don’t want anyone to mistake you for an actual sports player or back up dancer from a bad 90s hip hop video. Then only thing you need is a smile and a dash of confidence. How’s that for ready-to-wear?
Images via LovelyByLucy, Ila23, PurpleWang, Madeleine5768
