Can Fashion mingle with Athletics?

Come one, come all. Hot topic off the press (I was meaning to write this the day I saw it but alas I was lazy, hence it coming out a week later), but anyways, let's talk about Naomi Osaka's outfit for her tennis match that took the fashion community (me) by storm.

As I am sure we are all familiar with, many athletes are known in present times to dress up pre match/game/meet/etc. Whether it is a confidence builder or just an opportunity to dress up, one will never know, as it is player dependent. However, as times have gone on, we have seen the arise of player stylists and almost like a competition of who wore it best like we used to see in magazines as kids. Honestly, I am like, is this dress to impress IRL because its funny watching some of the athletes find their style at first, yet moral of the story is that fashion has become entangled with athletics pre-game, more tenfold with the introduction of pro women's athletics to media with women like Angel Reese and Cameron Brink.

However, in recent news, 2 time US Open Champion, Naomi Osaka, POPPED OUT in one of the most interesting and beautiful outfits FOR her match, not just pregame. Now something I want to stress as an athlete myself is that uniformity is integral in many sports as it really does tell you the difference between team members; HOWEVER, tennis, especially pro not collegiate, provides the opportunity to uniquely customize your apparel as it is not a team sport (obviously). Naomi's outfit was in collaboration with Yoon Ahn. Backstory is that Yoon is the co-founder and co-creative director of Japanese brand Ambush. Prior, she was the Dior Men's jewelry design director and now is the Nike Global Women's curator. So cool right.

Naomi was covered in these beautiful green and black bows on both outfits ranging from the bows on the back of her shoes to custom Beats by Dre. Even the sketches of the garment are just stunning, you can see the potential just oozing out of it. Supposedly the garment was inspired by Japanese Lolita goth community which is such interesting inspiration for a tennis outfit, but wow it was awesome. Ruffles on ruffles and a tulle over laying skirt are just so appealing to the eye truly capturing the lacey, anime style they were trying to achieve (as an anime lover this is so cool). I mean in the time of the bow era with constant Sandy Liang collabs like the recent Salomon one, it is no surprise that this caused an uproar in the fashion community.

The question really is, why did this never happen before. I understand functionality purposes, but as a female athletes, WE LOVE TO LOOK GOOD. The line is always "look good, feel good, play good." As softball players, we hate baggy pants or ill fitting uniforms, so let me say if I got to pop out in some cool ish like this, I'd have the game of my life. I feel like if we had the opportunity to make our own uniforms take some fashionable influence, I would be enamored. However, i know in my sport this would be quiteeeee difficult you may say (I basically roll in dirt).

In the end, I thought this was so interesting as someone who loves sports and fashion, and to see both my worlds collide was so transfixing as it literally lived in my mind for like three days straight. Thank you Naomi Osaka for really altering fashion history.

Proportions

Hello ladies, I think it is time we talked about proportions. With low rise jeans holding a front in the high rise assault, there is no need to fret! However, I think it brings to conversation the topic of knowing your body's proportions. Myself, I know low rise actually works better for me than high rise. However, I know some of my ladies do not feel the same. With body image issues taking up so much mental space in a woman's mind, it is no wonder women often feel the need to reach for a high rise jean or pant to "hide a gut" but really it is doing quite the opposite at times, maybe even accentuating it. Now, do not fear, I will explain further to try and help you all.

On the right (if you are on a computer), you will find a diagram of body shapes. Now keep in mind this does not include torso length or let's be blunt, where you booty sits in the mix. Those are the huge variables in this mix. First, I think identifying your body type can really help you to make outfits that feel cohesive and also make you feel confident. Let's take for example the inverted triangle type that many female athletes have. First thing we are going to steer away from, halter neck tops. Many feel the shoulders and arms look big (I feel you all as a muscular woman). Now, if you are confident, all to you! Sometimes I can get away with it, but if I feel insecure of my arms/shoulders, I will steer away from this top as it really draws attention to those areas. Instead, I may opt for a thicker strap tank that maybe for example exposes the back or has a nice sweet heart neckline to expose some cleavage.

Next, we look at torso length and where your little booty sits. Let's, for example, look at myself. I'd say, one, I am around a pear or neat hour glass body type. I have a slightly smaller torso, short legs, and a fuller behind that sits a little lower on my body. When I wear high rise things, first it often goes so high it almost sits under my cleavage, and second, my legs look like stubs. I end up looking way shorter than I am, and honestly, my proportions can get f**** up if I am not wearing the right shirt to match. Example being a short crop top with that would heavily draw attention to my upper body/larger shoulders, and my one asset, my behind, looks like a long exaggerated back (not plump because of the height of the jean in the back sitting so high, see picture 2). However, when I wear a low rise pant whether baggy or not, I can expose more torso making me look taller. The jean hugs the correct part of my behind to only hug the cheeks. Not my upper back, really separating the lower half of me and upper in proportions. I can go for a tighter tank/t-shirt that exposes a little midriff or even full length, which further extends the torso area (picture 4 and 6). A micro crop can be good or bad depending on fit or length. (I am going to try to show you two examples of me right now with good and bad proportions) Like look at these first two pictures, I am exposing myself for you all you're welcome. Both high rise pants that make me, one, either look like a stub or two, make my butt look abnormally long and flat when we know it is not. Flash forward to pic three, a low rise pant sits perfectly on me giving the "shelf" look and more hour glass figure. Fourth and sixth pic really highlights the torso scenario when I wear a low rise/ cropish situation.

If you have a longer torso, you truly can opt for a high rise jean because often times your tush sits a little higher up, but are your legs long? Maybe you want to opt for a low rise jean to accentuate that torso length. This brings into question heavily where your booty sits. Because long torso high booty equals high rise jean however long torso low booty, low rise/mid rise could be better. Therefore, really playing around with both and trying on the CORRECT SIZE is important when analyzing your body type. Do not let your fear of having a gut scare you because, one, everyone does, and two, a lot of people look better once they find the right proportions, and once you know, picking outfits or buying pieces becomes a lot easier. Lastly, I think once you figure these two things out you can create a lot of outfits that relate to proportions as you can see in picture five. I know where I like my oversized shirts to end and I know that having a jacket that same length creates the perfect proportion to where i have my jean sitting (this more high level s*** I'll make another post on) rather than making me look oddly narrow or stumpy.

Long story short, do not let a low rise jean scare you because it actually might be perfect for you. If you require consulting on this dilemma please bang my line I will try to help as much as I can. And remember all bodies are beautiful but what can make you feel beautiful often really relies on knowing your proportions well.

Mini Skirts to Micro Shorts

My ladies, as someone notoriously having a, let's say, larger lower body, this micro short trend may be the end of me. BECAUSE I WANT TO WEAR THEM, but I fear a little cheek action would arise. I have been seeing micro shorts arising in outfits of creators I like or see, and I feel this will be a huge trend we may see in fashion in general but also the going out uniform in college. I know we see the bloomer short often during Halloween, but I have seen people going out in New York or to raves in these cute little micro mini shorts. Ashtin Earle, a prime example, a leather micro short with a knee-high boot MEOWWWWW I need that now. However, the question is, would those shorts look the same on my body type as I am not as tall and slender as her. Yet, you best believe I am bouta buy a pair. I am sure you're thinking Julia, wtf is a micro short, if you are not familiar. Well, let me show you.

I came to this conclusion when scrolling through edikted, as one would, and seeing a gazillion pairs of micro shorts, denim, camo, cotton, plaid, anything. Think of Zoi Lerma, my other Libra queen, who is always rocking a mini skirt or micro short. I mean, Addison Rae has BEEN on this grind. I remember when those paparazzi pictures came out of her in them and everyone was like, "WTF is she wearing?" and now we're like, "BRAT SUMMER LET'S GO, SHE'S SO ICONIC." I mean, genuinely, with the grungy, brat, raving, party aesthetic so in, this makes so much sense. It's funny because I have been dying to grab a long jort, but dang, I really want some micro shorts.