Athletic Trend

Blame it on Sochi; the athletic trend is back. The Olympics seem as good a reason as any to re-embrace standard sporty riffs, breathing new life for Spring 2014 with neoprene, nylon and the like .

To mark the 25th anniversary of DKNY, Donna Karan took showgoers on a journey through the brand’s archives, bringing back some its streetwear staples. Silhouettes DKNY is known for—tracksuits, barely there athletic dresses, parkas—were updated with graphic prints and sheer panels. Similar sheer athletic inspired outfits were seen at Stella McCartney, the matriarch of modern sport chic.

At Tommy Hilfiger, the West Coast surfer reigned supreme with sporty swimsuits and raglan-sleeved shirts in bold colour blocked pairings. And with Hilfiger’s plethora of crop tops, also seen at Balenciaga, you’ll need to hit a wave or two to get those washboard surfer abs. Neoprene was transformed into flared dresses and cut-out swimsuits. His boxy bomber jackets were also a huge trend, seen elsewhere at Jonathan Saunders and John Galliano.

Even Gucci got sporty, featuring mesh-ified leather tops and track pants that were paired with sky-high bandage heels and glossy hair. Halter-top bikinis peeked out from sexy evening gowns with metallic raglan sleeves and a thigh high slit. The high gloss finishes and shots of skin were what maintained that legendary Gucci glam amid all the sporty references. Marni also took the glam route, updating visors and letterman jackets with heavy embellishments and rich colours.