Running around in sexy red fishnets, pleats and lacy French lingerie-style frills might sound unusual, but not if you're five-time tennis Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova, the new star in the NikeLab X Sacai collaboration, whose lookbook is debuting in stores and online Thursday 5 November.
Working with the NikeLab research team, Sacai founder and designer Chitose Abe used references from Nike’s archives of running, tennis and American football apparel to create the eight-piece collection of ‘feminine’ pieces that retained their function as exercise gear.
“What I like about the NikeLab x Sacai collection are the proportions—all the mixtures of materials and textures and the pleating,” Sharapova told Vogue. “There is a lot of volume in the pieces, so you can layer them really well from season to season. It can be a transitional dress that you wear with sneakers. Or in the winter, you can put pieces together with leggings. It’s a versatile collection that provides you with a lot of options.”
Abe has added plissé sections at the back of Windrunner jackets, increasing the volume using her ‘signature panelling’. Best of all, skirts of matching hues are designed to flare outward when the wearer moves quickly.
Where can I buy NikeLab and Sacai sportswear?
As well as having been available to buy at Dover Street Market for some time, the collection with it's new look book featuring the tennis champ will be available on Thursday.
What we think...
Sportswear seems to have finally come full circle with this retreat away from functionality and into a purely aesthetic arena. These frills and laces may not actually impede working-out, but they probably wouldn’t leave personal trainers with much hope for those clients who turn hoping to pump iron in frills and fishnets. But then, what is life without fun? These outfits are flashy, a bit outrageous and must surely be worn with a sense of humour, which we like the sound of very much.
Working with the NikeLab research team, Sacai founder and designer Chitose Abe used references from Nike’s archives of running, tennis and American football apparel to create the eight-piece collection of ‘feminine’ pieces that retained their function as exercise gear.
“What I like about the NikeLab x Sacai collection are the proportions—all the mixtures of materials and textures and the pleating,” Sharapova told Vogue. “There is a lot of volume in the pieces, so you can layer them really well from season to season. It can be a transitional dress that you wear with sneakers. Or in the winter, you can put pieces together with leggings. It’s a versatile collection that provides you with a lot of options.”
Abe has added plissé sections at the back of Windrunner jackets, increasing the volume using her ‘signature panelling’. Best of all, skirts of matching hues are designed to flare outward when the wearer moves quickly.
Where can I buy NikeLab and Sacai sportswear?
As well as having been available to buy at Dover Street Market for some time, the collection with it's new look book featuring the tennis champ will be available on Thursday.
What we think...
Sportswear seems to have finally come full circle with this retreat away from functionality and into a purely aesthetic arena. These frills and laces may not actually impede working-out, but they probably wouldn’t leave personal trainers with much hope for those clients who turn hoping to pump iron in frills and fishnets. But then, what is life without fun? These outfits are flashy, a bit outrageous and must surely be worn with a sense of humour, which we like the sound of very much.
| What | NikeLab and Sacai sportswear with Maria Sharapova |
| Where | Dover Street Market, 17-18 Dover St, London, W1S 4LT | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Green Park (underground) |
| When |
05 Nov 15 – 25 Jan 16, Online |
| Price | £free |
| Website | Click here for more information and to buy |
