Mr Porter has opened a new sports-dedicated platform for customers to peruse. And while Mr Porter Sport may not be what you’ve come to expect from the luxury online retailer, it follows increasing trend in fashion that blurs the line between couture and calisthenics.
If you’ve been anywhere in public recently, this new trend will hardly come as a surprise. Clothing once reserved exclusively for sweaty gym bags has become socially accepted in most every scenario. Brands like Lorna Jane and Lululemon are consistently at the top of many women’s must-visit shopping destinations. Even the high fashion houses have caught wind of the shift: luxury brands like Gucci and Givenchy have begun to incorporate sportswear into their collections, blending exercise aesthetics with detailed couture design.
The burgeoning trend has even been tagged with a nifty buzzword: athleisure, the symbiotic marriage of athletic wear and, well, leisure. Duh.
Now, the reigning kings of online luxury in menswear are taking aim at the athletics market. Mr Porter Sport offers an “edited selection of the best and most stylish in performance gear.” The range is tailored to nine different disciplines, from everyman events such as running, swimming and cycling to the more elite sports of sailing and golf. No word on whether dressage will be included down the line, but horse-dancers everywhere remain hopeful.
The website will have 15 new brands on offer to coincide with the release of their new platform, including APL, Connor and Oakley, in addition to the 10 existing brands on site offering their own unique range of athletics gear. It follows in the footsteps of big-sister site Net-a-Porter, who released their sportswear platform Net-a-Sporter last year to great success.
While there’s something distinctly less enjoyable about shopping for a quick-dry pair of running shorts in lieu of a silk-blend jacket from Armani, Mr Porter Sport still offers a welcome addition to the luxury menswear site. Like everything the online retailer does, the new athletics platform is cleanly displayed and a joy to browse. And unlike the Armani jacket, the athletics wear available is unlikely to break the budget.
Me, though? I’m perfectly content to ogle the newest collection from Burburry and curse all who can afford every item. But if I ever do decide, God forbid, to go for a jog, at least I know where to find my outfit. But no Spanks. I don’t care if they’re the male equivalent of yoga pants; no man should be wearing Spanks in public.
You can check out Mr Porter Sport here. And for why the luxury retailer should be bookmarked amongst your favourite online shopping destinations, be sure to read our article on the top e-tailers for men.
