How do you wear sporty lux? - YouLookFab Forum

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How do you wear sporty lux?

Elly

Veteran

I'd love some ideas. Although I never would have typified myself as sporty (much more outdoorsy than sporty) on the fashion spectrum I definitely appreciate sporty looks. This summer I had a grey pair of athletic sneakers I wore with rolled jeans and skirts, along with sassy sweatshirts and ball caps -- all of which were some of my favorite pieces.

However, I'm struggling a bit wearing it this fall. I live somewhere where people wear a lot of gear and things are very casual, plus sneakers will soon be out of the question because of snow. I want to keep wearing sporty ensembles, but am having a harder time adding the fashion element while still keeping in mind my job (no heels) and winter temps (most track pants are out, as are most leggings). I don't want to look like I wore my ski jacket with my work clothes . . . because people do it here everyday. Any ideas for adding luxe elements to a sporty topper keeping in mind the flat shoes/jeans base?

How do you wear this look?

P.s. My office is freezing!

Women Uf Long Sleeve Blouson

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Dressing

17 replies

Latest reply was from Marley

unfrumped

Veteran

I'm hoping to learn, too.

Are you building around this jacket?
For cold office, does a cashmere hoody or something fit Sporty Luxe?
For footwear, do you mix regular flat leather boots wits more gear- ish top, or do the boots need to be a sport boot in a luxe material?
See, I get confused!

Elly

Veteran

Unfrumped-- I've purchased the jacket thinking I could wear it with navy and black pieces in my frigid office and around town this winter. The jacket itself is nice looking and indeed is meant to slant sporty lux/urban (marketing and the fabrics). I'm mixing it with lux sweatshirts, jeans, chenille sweaters, even a silk blouse and instead if looking like an intentional thing I feel like I look more like my intern, who wears his puffer to work (inside). I'm not a huge one for outright sparkle, but am definitely doing texture and shine.

I'm wondering if it is my environment, or if there are key elements I can add to "lux" things up enough.

Liz

Veteran

I don't know how to help you amp up the look, but I do think you've got an extra challenge in your environment.

The problem with the sporty luxe trend is that observers have to know it exists in order to "get it." Otherwise, to them, you just look like you're wearing your gear with your other clothes. Since you're in a location where everyone wears gear as clothing, it would be hard to make sure they understand that's not what you're doing. I think you'd have to be OK with dressing to please yourself, even if others think you're just wearing your gear, like they do.

kkards

Veteran

elly, i think your on the right track with that jacket and with lux sweatshirts. i wore this angie pick to the office this week (we are business casual, no jeans),with black boot cut office pants. i'd also play around with a track pant style pant (there are winter weight/fabric ones) and booties…second find is an example. i don't think this would be easy to pull off, but i really like it, think maybe it could work for you.

Oversize sweatshirt in exploded floral

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Wilfred Free VANESSA PANT

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Anonymous

This is a fall back look for me - in fact, it's become my everyday look lately. As Liz says, the observer isn't going to "get it" if they don't even know what they are looking at. But really, who cares? What you are doing is dressing for work in pieces and styles formerly known for their comfort level , utility and practicality. It's usually the fabric that's been luxed up - as you know. You are wearing all the right pieces from the sounds of it, so all you need to do is to add really nice quality accessories to polish it up and make it clear these are not your Colorado hippy fleece clothes (sorry, just a visual I had :)) I happen to like jewellery with the sporty luxe look - like an interesting necklace, chunky braclets, earrings, etc - and then a really nice backpack or bag. To me it's the details that elevate the look from everyday to something intentional and lovely.

Anonymous

btw - the November Vogue did an editorial with the sporty look - it obviously is not going anywhere and is here to stay as a fashion look for awhile i think!

unfrumped

Veteran

I have not been able to see Sporty Luxe as normal hospital work attire for myself. However I think I'm underutilizing it for weekends and vacations ( hmm, what are those?) a d could benefit from the comfort factors built into the look-- as in the list on REALLY comfortable footwear.

Elly

Veteran

K--- I hadn't thought of wearing my buisness-y black trousers with it--- probably not something I'd want to do every week, but that is an idea.

Lisa P--- got the bag, although that doesn't help much once I'm at work. I will have to experiment with jewelry. At work I'm limited to earrings and a short necklace (watch depending on the day) but I will play with it.

I'm wondering if I should be looking for trackpants--- they seem impractical in the winter because they don't seem to work as well with boots. My other concern is having people think I'm wearing sweats, I'd have to go for a fabrication that made them look like pants!

I seem to struggle with this kind of layering-- where the sum of the pieces is greater than any one piece.

PalmFronds

I haven't quite been able to get into this trend myself.still trying though! The furthest I've gotten is nice futbol-inspired shoes with my nice casual clothes. Tried various track pants inspired looks and it still reads " work out" to me, so I let it go.

Elly

Veteran

I really enjoy the look, but haven't figured out how it works on me yet. In the fall (maybe even the summer) track pants in a luxe fabrication would have been right up my alley, but we have a really short fall as far as work and temps go because of our many days of sunlight and very harsh sunlight.

I just can't imagine them working well with boots, and socks and warm shoes are a must now that "winter" has hit. Usually the other thing I see the look with is leggings or leather or coated pants. Leggings are a "no" for me at work, leather pants are a no for laundry reasons at work, and I haven't found a pair of coated jeans that seems like it would work for long-legged, curvy me.

Can the sporty lux look work with jeans?

unfrumped

Veteran

I think jeans would work for sure. You might want to review all the examples Angie gave. It seems to me that some amount of juxtaposition is allowed and desired, else it'd be all sporty or all luxe.
For jeans I would think the cashmere hoodie with a blazer over that--and then a sporty shoe.
I get stumped on winter-sporty-luxe for footwear. In summer it's easy with differnent types of luxe sneakers. In winter I think you could wear some kind of upscale leather sneaker. i would wear socks and have jeans scrunched down, but that's me. But I get confused about something like jeans + boots because then where's the sporty?

Meredith

Veteran

Yes, I think jeans are just fine. My favorite sporty lux combos are jeans with sassy sweatshirts and slip on sneakers or black pencil skirt or pants with bomber and booties. For me grooming is more important to pull off this look. Extra sleek hair when down or up in a top knot, some lip gloss or brighter blush to help combat winter skin. I also think those little details can help differentiate your sporty look from the crowd around you.

Staysfit

Veteran

I keep trying sporty luxe and the only way I know is to mix nice sporty pieces with my everyday wear. Sort of like what Meredith is saying, and what it sounds like you are planning to do. My pathetic attempts have mostly been to look for track pants, so I think you are wise to stay away from them. However, I did finally find a pair that I think looks halfway decent from Athleta (see below). I just ordered them in the tall size because I think they may be even better if they are a smidgen longer. I'm not sure if they count as sporty luxe though, the material feels very much like a track suit material. If I am understanding it properly, which I very likely am not, I think sporty luxe means it is supposed to be a look composed of sports wear that is made out of luxurious fabrics? Anyway, having said this, I think I you might want to look at Athleta for some tops. They do have some nice merino wool, cashmere and cotton sweaters in all various sizes and shapes that you may like with your jeans, flats and jacket.

Now that I've found these pants, I have to figure out what to wear with them?? I'm kind of in the same place you are huh?!

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ElleH

Veteran

Hmmm, the only sporty luxe I can think of for cold weather is winter weight track pants & sweatshirts, not necessarily together if you want to mix something more luxe with them. And a backpack.

catgirl

Veteran

I have to say that I feel like adding a slouchy cashmere beanie adds an element of sporty luxe to any outfit. What else could a slouchy cashmere beanie be? That's my cheat.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/377035800023742728/

Elly

Veteran

AG-- I'm glad you mentioned the beanie. I've purchased a slouchy one from Unliquo that I'm enjoying.

Staysfit--- I understand, Athleta is one of the only places I found a warm-looking pair that is long enough, but I think the gear fabric would be an issue at my workplace.

Meredith-- for some reason I hadn't though of wearing it with skirts. I will have to try it with skirts and black dress slacks. I've also ordered a pair of coated pants, which may luxe up denim enough that I could wear the jacket with a more typical workday pant. That said, I will also try it over my much neglected button downs.

I wish I could do sporty sneakers---- I have one pair that is gortex that I do wear in the winter, but I have to limit them to indoor wear on bad days after changing out of gear boots or to days when we have melted off-- otherwise I get too much snow-to-foot contact to wear a lower-cut or snow-damagable shoe. I will have to explore high-top winter sneakers.

Marley

Veteran

I think that when pulling off the sporty lux look that its important to wear clothes that are designed specifically for that look - rather than wear clothes that are actually sports-wear. For example, the Athleta pants pictured above are designed for sportswear or leisure wear - I would not try to style them in a way that would make them office-wear. Rather, I'd look for a pair of "track-pants" that aren't actually track pants - but are cut in the style of track pants - KWIM? There are winter weight pants that are cut in the style of track pants and I've seen them tucked into boots and they are really cute. You just need to play with it and see if you can make the look your "own."
Another idea - how about wearing a pencil or tube skirt with blazer, leggings and sneakers? Or, a pair of trousers, boots, and sporty cut and designed "tee" or "sweater." I've seen tops in that style over that past few months at J. Crew and also at Old Navy.

ETA: You could also wear jeans, silky blouse, dressy shoes/boots, and the jacket that you have pictured in this thread!