Despite what my stories on the WNBA and Formula One would have you think, I’m not a very sporty person. I love sports, yes, but dressing like I play one isn’t something I often partake in. If I’m not physically in the gym or on a run, you’ll rarely find me wearing activewear. I don’t dress practically at all, as I constantly choose heels over flats even if I have miles ahead of me, and rarely come prepared when the forecast says rain or snow.
Because of this, it came as a total surprise when I fell head over heels in love with the most utilitarian garment featured during the S/S 24 runway shows last year. I’m much more of a skirts, dresses, and shoes person, especially regarding my catwalk-inspired shopping lists. Yet the sporty outerwear at Tory Burch, Proenza Schouler, and The Row was what landed at the top of my to-buy checklist.
At Tory Burch, a matte-gray, waist-length jacket with a drawstring hood and a cinched waistband and wrist cuffs was styled surprisingly effortlessly alongside a silk-jersey draped miniskirt in silver and white Mary-Jane flats. In a sporty fashion, the look was complete with blue-tinted shield sunglasses. Proenza Schouler’s show also featured a rain-ready coat with an oversize adjustable hood, drawstring waistband, and snap-up funnel neck with unexpected bottoms: a knee-length black skirt, tights, and thong-style heeled sandals. Finally, at The Row, a few models displayed elevated takes on athletic gear, with one, in particular, sporting an off-white anorak paired with silky trousers and ballet flats. Other versions in black, red, and white in various lengths and silhouettes were also featured, all with similarly practical details like belly pouches, pullover designs, zip-up necks, and more.
ON THE RUNWAY
I was smitten and completely willing to wait until all of the above pieces were released to determine which one I wanted to invest in. Then, I remembered their prices. Don’t get me wrong—for a runway item that doubles as a smart, utility-focused wardrobe staple, I would pay top dollar if I could. It’s just that at the start of spring when everything from the S/S 24 runways was arriving in stores, I couldn’t do it.
Fortunately, I stumbled across a video on TikTok that introduced me to a far more cost-effective solution. “Another Row alternative for you,” Shay June starts off a TikTok posted in late June. “This isn’t a dupe—I don’t like dupes—but sometimes The Row is insane. I love the Tamari top, but it is wildly expensive.” In the video, June is sporting a black, quarter-zip pullover with cinched edges at the wrists and waist, accompanied by poplin, barrel-leg black pants, a crossbody leather bag, and cord sandals. “I found a really good alternative, because girls who like nice things also spend their money wisely,” June continues, identifying her jacket as a Beyond Yoga original. “It’s a 1/4th zip, exactly like the Tamari, and it has the funnel collar which I love. It’s such a chic silhouette.”
ON TIKTOK
If The Row, Tory Burch, and Proenza Schouler made me fall in love with sporty outerwear despite my proclivity toward more elegant, dressier styles, June’s TikTok was what convinced me to actually buy it.
“Sporty pieces have been trending across brands like The Row and Miu Miu, and for good reason,” she told me via email. “Sporty accents are a great tool for balancing outfits. They act as a playful foil to more sober silhouettes like those from The Row and add an edge when paired with sweeter designs like the Dôen nightdresses and broderie anglaise that have been trending.”
