There's a sporting spirit sweeping the catwalks of New York Fashion Week, as designers exchange little black dresses for track jackets and synthetic fibres- and it's not just those New Year's resolutions kicking in.
Women's sportswear has been a mainstay and commercial powerhouse of ladieswear wholesalers for decades, but this fresh trends has given the entire sportswear industry a refreshing rethink, with the appearance of both a more considered tailoring to the pieces and a liberal application of the season's coolest palette, straight from the catwalks for Paris, London and Milan. Likely the most forgiving fashion trend of the last decade, the loose silhouette hides all but the most imposing of sins, though remain widely accepted to be simply the most unflattering style of clothing. Catwalk designers had their work cut out for them, but with the help of high street brands and wholesale ladies clothing designers, they have proven this as a strikingly stylish look for early 2012.
This year at New York Fashion Week, Donna Karan, American fashion designer and creator of the Donna Karan New York and DKNY labels, turned heads with a striking demonstration of one of this year's hottest, but most contentious trends – luxe sportwear. In the collection she combined a number of this season's freshest trends into a vision of striking style; tailored jackets, cropped trousers and sculptural dresses, all in a variety of modern synthetic fabrics. Continental fashion house Lanvin found it difficult to part with their signature decadence, and paired track pants with lush silks for what is likely the world’s most sumptuous work-out gear.
Simultaneously, the palette drew reference to many of Winter 2011's biggest colour trends, forsaking early-winter's tired neutrals for sultry jewel tones and, most sensational of all, striking metallics, with more than a nod to Giambattista Valli's collection from last season as well as the retro tones of the synthetic colours and fibres of the 80's and 90's.
This trend is a fantastic throwback to the late 20th century, and a fly in the face of last year's glamour obsession. 2011 was a fast-paced and fickle year of volatile trends, with plenty of surprise wins by the underdog and falls by the mighty - a true season of sportsmanship. Though unlikely to be seen on the back of a mountain bike, or winning an Olympic medal any time soon, the style is a nod towards what will surely be an exciting year for Britain, sport and fashion.
