It isn’t surprising that the shell suit was recently voted the worst fashion item of the past 50 years (closely followed by dungarees, the jumpsuit and shoulder pads). For those that need a reminder, the accused came in the form of a lightweight (highly flammable, I may add) nylon tracksuit, consisting of a zip-front jacket and matching elasticated trousers. To add insult to insult, they often bore flashy fluorescent panels on what seemed like an outbreak of pearlised pastels.
As with most sportswear trends, the movement started out as purely functional – high-performance wear for elite athletes. Who knows how these things transcend – call it a blip in taste, but somehow, rather quickly, what we had on our hands was a super-trend for the masses, whose only exercise routine involved walking to the nearest fish-and-chip shop.
What I’m trying to demonstrate is that it’s often the trends that seemingly appear overnight that we need to approach with much trepidation. In the world of fashion, where inspirations are often inexplicable, we need to learn how to take from the trend what will work for us. Take luxury sportswear – sportswear basics re-imagined in luxe materials – as a current example. Like it or not, it’s unapologetically on a winning streak.
Hopefully, we’ve learnt to negotiate a little this time around; to read between the lines rather than emulate – for its influences will, thankfully, no longer be so barefaced.
The spring/summer 2014 collections have redefined our preconceived notions of sports apparel. Conditions are certainly more refined – luxurious fabrics such as silk, leather and beaded chiffon used to counterbalance the relaxed silhouette.
Dedicated players came out of the woodwork from even the most serious of design houses – liquid-lamé tracksuit trousers and laser-cut T-shirts were seen at Gucci, while DKNY offered an array of logo-laden outerwear, and Marc by Marc Jacobs brought satin running shorts to the runway. There was also a fair amount of literal referencing at play, directly replicating sports uniforms. Tommy Hilfiger played with tennis skirts, while Alexander Wang offered a series of basketball shorts for his collection at Balenciaga. Meanwhile, Prada’s football socks took us straight back to schooldays.
If you’re excited but overwhelmed by the thought of wrestling into glittery athletic shorts, then sweatshirts in a good-quality jersey offer a more grown-up way to tackle things, as will off-the-shoulder fine knits, cut-outs or stripes. Opt for joggers in a buttery soft leather, silk bombers and the obligatory grey marl T-shirt – quality fabric choices will help take the look far from its cheerleader tendencies.
As with most trends, the use of clever accessorising – elastic belts, football socks or high-top trainers – makes for a good start. As will old-school references, such as hoods, racer backs and three-quarter-length trousers. Try mixing your fabrics: a leather shoulder on a good-quality cotton T-shirt looks great, as does a sleeve detail or a trim – and these also make it more suitable to wear through the day.
Misinterpretation is often a hard pill to swallow, but that’s the nature of fashion, and a careful reminder of the importance of investing in timeless pieces. Iconic leisurewear is one of those trends with rules. The key? Not to see too much of it. This time around, we need to think runway rather than running track. You don’t need to look like you’ve just stepped off a podium; you want to make it excessively clear that you’ve not been anywhere near one.
ktrotter@thenational.ae
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Sweet%20Tooth
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TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17
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Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Score
Third Test, Day 1
New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
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On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
