Sportswear (as in athletics, rather than American chinos) has been a hot topic for several seasons now. But in Milan it seems to be moving on from a place that's less literal and more feminine. Instead of a faithful re-creation of, say, a tracksuit, we're seeing smaller details that allude to athleticism.
Take Fendi: If Marie Antoinette were an ELLE-reading millennial, she might look like the "modern rococo muse" Karl Lagerfeld showed for Fendi, all open-back apron skirts, sporty crop tops and fabulous knitted Victorian boots.
It looked fresh and romantic, yet very cool—thanks largely to the athletic undercurrent running through the clothes. Most appealingly, it gave us a different, more playful take on femininity from all the tiers of frills we've seen this month.
Meanwhile, Max Mara mixed the idea of sport with references to and influences from Carmen Miranda (a woman who is trending this month) to create a more grown-up, sophisticated take on the trend.
That meant sleek leggings, belted jackets, sweats, and anoraks in tropical prints for the woman who appreciates the look of sports more than actually playing one.
