The market for upscale workout-wear is getting pretty crowded. Outdoor Voices, Laain, and Bandier are just a few of the independent brands making good-looking sports bras, leggings, and all-terrain layering pieces that have been connecting with consumers of late; meanwhile, the big names in athletic gear have been upping their game, style-wise. Which is to say, Adidas by Stella McCartney, a label that was way, way ahead of the curve on the whole athleisure trend, is facing stiff competition these days. This collection seemed designed to stand out.
In other words, it was designed to be eye-catching. There were pieces here of liquid gold, and op-art black-and-white stripes and a graphic bamboo print counterpoised with painterly florals. Reflective detailing on the running gear was eye-catching to a more functional end—and functionality, in fact, is the area where Adidas by Stella McCartney still sets itself apart from the upstarts. A new range of items meant for interval training boasted an extra-supportive sports bra with cushioned straps and shorts with abbreviated compression tights underneath; the yogawear was mainly done in seamless knits, and the jackets for runners featured fleece lining, a touch of quilting, and Adidas’s Climaheat technology to lock in warmth on frosty mornings. Serious athletes will appreciate these details, while women looking for sporty togs with a touch of chic will gravitate to the line’s snappy aesthetic. And some customers—serious athletes who are also serious aesthetes—will be happy to find that this Adidas by Stella McCartney collection has seen to both their needs at once.
