Dior, Prada, Etro, Rabanne, and the younger brands such as Alain Paul, Maitre Pierre and Vaquera, will show a new trend during the Milan and Paris fashion weeks in September 2024: ‘Athletic Chic’.
In fact, the aesthetic has been around since Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, before it gained momentum in the 1980s with the development of sports. At the time, the trend was to put together an outfit from sports equipment, or to be inspired by it. Later, a multitude of collaborations emerged between luxury and designer brands with sportswear labels, eventually leading to the latter’s takeover of the footwear market.
Athleisure Chic: Ultra-chic elegance meets sportswear
Athleisure Chic gives a new dimension to sporty chic: the focus is on the contrast between a cool, sporty look and a chic outfit that meets the demands of city life. Hoodies with or without a zipper, worn with day or evening outfits, are among the key pieces for spring/summer 2025. The integration into high-end collections bridges the gap between streetwear and refined fashion. The hoodie undergoes variations that modernize it.
Another garment seen on the catwalks is the anorak. The anorak is a short, waterproof, lightweight jacket with a zipper and (optional) hood. In line with this, the parka – same model, but longer – is also making a comeback. Both come from the sportswear wardrobe, which strongly influences current fashion.
Athleisure Chic also continues the trend of Balletcore, which peaked in 2023. Inspired by ballet – the name says it all – the young designer Alain Paul was one of the most important representatives.
The trend is also in line with the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, which were supposed to carry the aura of France and therefore also of Parisian fashion to the world. Dior played this card for its SS25 collection: the LVMH group was one of the main sponsors and dressed several stars for the opening ceremony. With Paris Fashion Week not over yet, it’s worth keeping an eye on this emerging trend.
This article previously appeared on FashionUnited.fr and was translated by Susan Zijp using digital tools .
FashionUnited uses the AI-based translation tool Gemini 1.5 to speed up the translation of articles and improve the end result. They help us to make FashionUnited’s international reporting quickly and fully accessible to a Dutch-speaking audience. Articles translated using AI-based tools are proofread and carefully edited by our editors before publishing.
