Most are likely to recall—some fondly, some not—the ubiquity of the velour
Juicy Couture tracksuit, and, shortly thereafter, the trendy pervasiveness of the
American Apparel zip-up hoodie. Despite loungewear’s slow retreat from hyper-popularity, shoppers should hardly get too comfortable with its absence. This past fall, we identified the
resurgence of the sweat pant and, as these examples confirm, it’s time to prepare for the second coming of the Sweatsuit Generation.
Aglec: Aglec creator Gosha Rubchinskiy’s collections may be modest, but they’ve achieved widespread adoration in his native Moscow. A 25-year-old clothing designer, filmmaker and
photographer, Rubchinskiy is a
tastemaker in the style of Dov Charney, as he operates on an informed and, admittedly, not-always-savory level in regard to the desires of his young audience. With affectionate nods to ’90s teen delinquents and post-USSR youth, he casts local graffiti artists and skaters to model his original sweatsuits. This deep sense of understanding between designer and consumer, which so visibly drove London’s street style in the ’80s, has again piqued the UK fashion capital’s interest in the form of a capsule collection of his pieces created just for
Dover Street Market.
Kings of Cole: With velvety soft fabric, slimming fits, feminine colors and hardware detailing done in rose gold, these blingy sweatsuits are poised to be the frontrunner candidate in the race to become the next ‘just-rolled-out-of-bed’ uniform for pampered sorority girls. Conceptualized by New York transplant Elana Brynes as a quick fix to Boston’s unrelenting winters, the label’s matching comfort ensembles are now stocked at a range of Upper East Side staples like
Infinity and
Lester’s. But with Brynes
working the press circuit in her native Gossip Girl manner, expect the line to make its way west soon. Not that we suggest taking fashion cues from her, but
Kim Kardashian has already been spotted wearing one of the “boyfriend hoodies,” if that means anything.
Artysm: Witty and unique design details like silkscreened anvils, contrast stitching, and basket-woven chest plates have earned Parisian loungewear line Artysm its well-deserved hold on the French street wear market. The sweats are made from 100% cotton and range in aesthetic from clean and monotone to embellished and loud. Convertible detailing on some styles gives sweatsuit sporters the choice to wear half or long sleeves and shorts or pants in an avant-garde fashion. Artysm’s crew neck sweatshirts, hoodies and sweatpants are available online from
Le Bouclard and
Styleserver, but the line hasn’t hit the States just yet.
SEVEN New York, we’re waiting...
