here’s not much to be nostalgic about when it comes to high school PE. We’ll leave it in the (distant) past: the clang of metal lockers unloading themselves of sports kits, elbows knocking in changing rooms, the sting of chlorine once summer rolled around. One thing we’re open to reassessing, though? The rugby jerseys (embarrassing nicknames and all). Suddenly, sporty style has turned très chic.
Sportswear has waxed and waned in the fashion consciousness over the years, and right now it’s in an upswing. We can credit two avid tennis players and couturiers, Jane Régny and Suzanne Lenglen, for inviting sports into the realm of fashion in the early 20th century. Long before Challengers made us want to don pleated minis and slogan tees in any possible situation, this French duo was making tennis de rigueur. But it was really in the ’70s and ’80s that sports and fashion found their groove: a little brand called adidas brought out Stan Smith sneakers, hip-hop sent sneakers into the mainstream, and RunDMC released the iconic My adidas. Suddenly, everyone and their aunt was wearing tennis shoes; tracksuits became acceptable in public (thank you for your service, Bruce Lee) and the word that spawned a thousand influencer labels was coined: ‘athleisure’.
In 2024, sporty style has well and truly evolved. High fashion players have been dabbling in the arena for a while, both via collaborations and through their own athletic-inspired collections—who could forget Dior’s Air Jordans?—but this year, it’s been taken up a gear. In London, Grace Wales Bonner collaborated with adidas for a series of coveted apparel and sneakers (The leopard print! The silver!), while Martine Rose partnered with Nike. But Nike and Jacquemus’ collab was probably the most anticipated of them all. In the US, Emily Oberg’s tongue-in-cheek label Sporty & Rich has taken off, being valued at US $50 million; while in Australia, brands that blend style and ease, like P.E Nation and Aje Athletica, are leading the charge. On runways and on the streets alike, from oversized rugby sweaters, short shorts and retro sweatshirts, to polos and preppy skirts, athletic style is everywhere we turn.
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One unexpected style hero for this trend? Paul Mescal. Specifically, his affinity for ultra-short shorts. They made their public debut on the star in 2020, during the pandemic, which probably explains why his innocent pairing of sporty shorts with an adidas bomber caused quite the stir that it did. Suddenly, Paul was on the moodboards of young women everywhere—seeing a hint of a handsome man’s upper leg after months of being locked inside will do strange things to the mind—and his ascension to genuine style icon was on the way. If you’re taking cues from Paul, match your look with loafers for a touch of polish, or swap out the bomber for a leather jacket for the ultimate transeasonal look.
For another dose of inspiration, cast your mind back to last year’s Matildas fever. As pride and unusually patriotic sentiment swept the nation, we also saw the fashion set stepping up. Whether to attend a match, watch at a pub or just to show their support, the country’s most fashionable women were styling their jerseys in truly innovative ways. Tuck yours into a suede mini for a play on textures, or wear it oversized with denim shorts and a stack of bracelets for a cool, casual-errands outfit. If you want to take it out for the nighttime, never fear—a pair of leather pants and a kitten heel and you’re sorted.
"Sportswear has waxed and waned in the fashion consciousness over the years, and right now it’s in an upswing"
Otherwise, you could lean into the preppier side of things. With the Australian Open coming up in early 2025, show off your love of the game with a baby tee and pleated midi skirt, matched with your favourite pair of Adidas Sambas (or some Gazelles – we don’t like to play favourites). Scrunched socks add a Gen Z flavour to the mix—but you do you. A knit vest is a simple, elegant take on the prep-athletic trend, and is perfectly office-appropriate. Choose a lightweight style for summer, and tuck it into wide-legged trousers and ballet flats for an easy, go-to work look. Otherwise, all-white is a great way to lean in (if you trust yourself enough, that is). Match a fitted blouse with a midi skirt and add a tough shoe—leather, studded or platformed—to add a little contrast to the look.
Your options are endless. The beauty of sporty style is, after all, in its flexibility and comfort. No ‘beauty is pain’ mantras here. And chances are, you have many of its big hitters in your wardrobe already. It’s all about mixing and matching your elements—or interspersing an athletic-inflected piece into an otherwise classic outfit for an update. Game, set, match.

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This article originally appeared in Issue 03 of Cosmopolitan Australia.
