What does a fashion gal wear to work? The Devil Wears Prada will tell you it’s a Prada pencil skirt and Manolos, while Absolutely Fabulous will point to “look at me” ensembles. Head-to-toe black has also become a well-worn trope for magazine editors (ever heard of the “front-row crows”?), as has a certain low-key “jeans and a boxy blazer” look. But, currently, it’s all about the humble Adidas tracksuit bottom.
Stroll down any city street or scroll through social media, and you’ll see that Adidas trackies are having a moment – in no small part thanks to the brand’s sellout partnership with British brand Wales Bonner. However, British Vogue editors, including head of editorial content, Chioma Nnadi, have been repping the sporty staple for years, balancing its sense of low-key cool with polished tailoring, statement outerwear and elevated accessories. It was only a matter of time before other team members caught the Adidas bug, and an average day in the office will see at least three or four individuals hitting the hallways in their three-striped trousers.
Who would’ve thought that such a comfortable wardrobe staple would become such a cult item? Remember Regina George in Mean Girls, who shamefully admitted that “these sweat pants are all that fit me right now”? Similarly, back in the 2010s, any (female) celeb spotted wearing a stretchy waistband would have be written off by gossip magazines as having “given up” on her appearance. Thankfully, the world has moved on from such outdated notions of sartorial success, and we are all the happier for it.
The beauty of the tracksuit renaissance is that there are no styling rules – it’s all about mixing the sporty with the sleek, the smart with the slouchy, or a mixture of all of the above. But, if you’re in need of a little guidance, we’ve come up with four outfits comprising Adidas trackies that will help get your create juices flowing.
Our main takeaways? Don’t be afraid of a colour clash: Adidas tracksuit bottoms come in a rainbow of hues and so will make for a feel-good pairing with equally bright separates – think green and red or black and blue. Incorporating tailoring – whether it’s a pinstripe shirt or a boxy blazer – is also an easy way to add polish to a track pant and a shortcut to that high-low fashion editor look. Finally, don’t forget to check out both the men’s and women’s sections of vintage sites for pre-loved iterations.
Asymmetric slip dress + tracksuit bottoms + loafers
Striped shirt + tracksuit bottoms + mules
The original article can be found on Vogue UK.
