DESIGNER TRACKSUITS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF FALL/WINTER
Brands like NEEDLES and Wales Bonner have led the charge for the designer tracksuit, transcending the style’s original purposes. These labels add personality and exclusivity while retaining the functional comfort and ease.
Like many aspects of luxury clothing, the designer tracksuit comes from humble, functional beginnings. Made to keep athletes warm in between events or during training, jersey builds with elasticated hems offered an easy way to slip into something more comfortable. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, the idea of sport as a leisure activity took hold; athleisure became a thing long before anybody had ever heard the term. This meant that tracksuits began their journey into the lives of everyday people, not just athletes.
Fast forward to the present day, and most luxury collections are home to at least one tracksuit. With particular attention from the likes of NEEDLES and Wales Bonner—for which the tracksuit forms the foundational bedrock of every collection—luxury tracksuits have well and truly asserted themselves in daily style. From retro tracksuits to bolder velour tracksuits, the scope for creativity is ever-expanding.
Featured In This Image: MISBHV jacket and MISBHV pants.
MISBHV Beige Jordan Barrett Edition Paneled Track Jacket
and MISBHV Beige Jordan Barrett Edition Paneled Track Pants
Taking a very ’00s approach, this MISBHV tracksuit, made in collaboration with model Jordan Barrett, is cut from glossy nylon taffeta. While many designer tracksuits eschew the sporty features for a more versatile look, this iteration leans heavily into it. A neutral two-tone palette combined with piped edges brings a refined edge to the ensemble.
Featured In This Image: Sporty & Rich jacket and Sporty & Rich pants.
Sporty & Rich SSENSE Exclusive Brown Track Jacket and Sporty & Rich SSENSE Exclusive Brown Track Pants
Built entirely on the aforementioned aesthetic of the ’80s and ’90s, Emily Oberg’s Sporty & Rich imprint naturally lends itself to luxury tracksuits. The brown hue of the SSENSE exclusive complements minimal detailing for an uncluttered finish that asks you to accessorize.
Featured In This Image: Stockholm (Surfboard) Club jacket and Stockholm (Surfboard) Club pants.
Stockholm (Surfboard) Club Green Patch Track Jacket
and Stockholm (Surfboard) Club Green Trim Track Pants
Neutral tones are the name of the game for Stockholm (Surfboard) Club here, with complementary green and brown tones highlighted by a white stripe to the jacket and pants. Chunky rib-knit trims emphasize the cut of the jacket, which contrasts with the effortless drop of the wide-leg pants.
Featured In This Image: Needles pants.
NEEDLES’s velour tracksuits have become a stalwart of the luxury streetwear scene. A notable feature of the track jacket is the shawl collar, making it a real asset when it comes to layering. As for the pants, a stitched crease renders them a cut above regular straight-leg track pants, adding structure that opens the door for creative footwear styling. Try a pair of loafers or leather shoes to mix things up.
Featured In This Image: Wales Bonner jacket and Wales Bonner pants.
Wales Bonner SSENSE Exclusive Black Percussion Track Jacket and Wales Bonner SSENSE Exclusive Black Percussion Track Pants
In keeping with the rest of Grace Wales Bonner’s work, the Percussion tracksuit looks further back than the ’80s, finding its sweet spot in the retro styles of the ’70s. The addition of considered detailing in the form of woven sections to the shoulders and waist-tie raise the bar of this coord.
- Date: September 27, 2023
