Be A Sport

The runway seems to have finally caught up with the track and field. Thanks to a flurry of designers,uber chic is now about peppy jumpsuits...

The runway seems to have finally caught up with the track and field. Thanks to a flurry of designers,uber chic is now about peppy jumpsuits,funky hoodies and track suits,and T-shirts with Gothic prints. The smug Parisian lines and girly flounces may yet be around,but the accent is gradually shifting to sporty influences in casual eveningwear, says designer Falguni Peacock.

Delhi-based Namrata Joshipura,for instance,has given the boxer jacket a designer twist with her hexagonal jackets,satin fan jackets and the multi-fan jackets. These can be paired with tulip skirts or trousers for evenings, says the designer who unveiled the look at the Wills India Lifestyle Fashion week (WILFW) earlier this year. The collection will hit the stores in September,though Joshipura has already started receiving calls from 20-year-olds.

Nitin Bal Chauhan,on the other hand,continues to experiment with T-shirts; this time he churns out an androgynous line for the upcoming Van Heusen India Mens Week. The collection will also have khakis,denims,shorts,lowers and three-quarters aimed at the mass market and will retail from stores such as Shoppers Stop and Pantaloons, he says. Inspired by Gothic architecture and heavy metal music,the T-shirts come in psychedelic colours and are priced upward Rs 299. Chauhan is upbeat about the increasing fascination with the sporty look. Sportswear is a relatively new trend in India and most designers focus only on the high-end market. I am,however,looking at campus shops where the young crowd pours in, he adds.

The popularity of the jumpsuit,another sports gear-turned-fashion necessity,has continued unabated throughout summer and looks set to rule in autumn. Designer Raakesh Agarvwal attests that it has been his best-selling piece ever since I showed it at the Lakme Fashion Week. His strapless jumpsuits (picture) have been worn by socialites Tanisha Mohan and Queenie Dhody and model Neha Kapur among others. His jumpsuits are pegged around Rs 10,000 and available at Aza and Bombay Electric.

For shiny hood jackets,baggy track pants and T-shirts in psychedelic colours and skull motifs,check out Mumbai-based designers Shane and Falguni Peacocks autumn winter collection at WILFW 2009. There is an absence of sportswear in India,except for brands such as Nike,Adidas and Reebok. Our collection bridges the gap with designer sportswear, says Falguni. Their collection is available from Rs 2,500 upward at Kimaya.

Sports footwear cant get more snazzy than Manish Aroras Fish Fry line of shiny disco brogues which he created in association with sports brand Reebok in 2005. Even four years later,this colourful line can pep up any outfit,anytime of the day. It is a sign of changing times that sportswear brand Puma has signed on designer Aki Narula from Mumbai to create footwear,accessories and clothes. Their earlier designers were Alexander McQueen and Sergio Rossi. I am the first Indian designer on their list, gushes Narula. All style,no sweat.

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