Athleticism Is Trending

New York Fashion Week is underway, and fashion designers are betting big on sporty fits. From new-age tracksuits to sporty sunglasses—here, a crib list of the trends to know.

If 2025 has taught us anything so far, it’s that women’s sports is currently on what could only be described as an intergalactic trajectory. There have been sold-out stadiums at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Europe and record-breaking attendance at the WNBA. In soccer, Grace Geyoro netted the highest known women’s transfer fee, worth $1.9 million, while tennis star Coco Gauff earned a cool $21 million in endorsements, making her the current most-sponsored female star athlete.

Fashion designers have their eyes on the prize, too. Sport-inspired trends are everywhere. New York Fashion Week kicked off this week, with the collections in London, Milan, and Paris to follow, and Spring/Summer 2026 is already shaping up to continue the mood for all things active. Coach turned long-sleeved basketball jerseys into draped shawls, while the buzzy new brand Area New York turned on-court tanks into sparkly mini dresses.

Sport and fashion have long-been intertwined, and certain codes have become ubiquitous parts of our wardrobes—cricket sweaters and bike shorts among them. As the season is now in play, here, a cheat sheet of the trends to wear now, and a wager on what’s to come. Place your bets.

No matter the decade or season, a tracksuit is timeless. Loose cut joggers and matching zip-up jackets are having a 2025 moment. The trend has been building since the 2024 Olympics—all eyes were on the athletes’ fits. France won gold for the best off-duty garb, having enlisted streetwear designer Stephane Ashpool, founder of Pigalle, to do the honors. Tracksuits have been on the ascendant ever since. For resort 2026, Chanel offered a burgundy and hot pink tracksuit that mixed a preppy undertone with Upper East Side polish, while Miu Miu showcased shrunken zip-up jackets worn with pleated woollen kilts. It’s proof that sporty separates don’t have to be worn casually.

What to expect next season? For SS26, the tracksuit will become a modern equivalent of the two-piece suit, as ease and comfort remain a sartorial pre-requisite. Blazers are out, and zip-up jackets are in. Next season, they’ll be more refined than ever for office-ready glamor that channels the WNBA tunnel fits in mood. This NYFW, look to The Row and Tibi for direction; both are known for their smart takes on sport-inflected pieces that are perfect for entrepreneurial wardrobes. Anticipate oversized track fits at The Row worn with exquisitely expensive cotton T-shirts, while Tibi’s signature is pairing gender-neutral pieces with feminine silhouettes—think zip-up collarless jackets with a flowy midi skirt. It’s a great styling trick to employ this fall. 

Summer 2025 was the season of the white tank top. It became a fashion focal point after it appeared on the SS25 runways at Bottega Veneta, Khaite, and Prada. Suddenly, everyone was in pursuit of the perfect white ribbed tank top to buy now and love forever—and a tank top remains the easiest way to look chic in the gym. Originally inspired by the US military and adopted by gymnasts, the tank top has become a ubiquitous part of modern wardrobes over the years thanks to its ease, comfort, and versatility of styling, worn with sweatpants, jeans, leather skirts… et cetera.

What to expect next season? Tank tops still reign supreme, but luxury designers will propose them as a day-to-dark top by utilizing elegant fabrics such as lightweight crepes, drapey jerseys, and statement colors. Proenza Schouler showcased a sunset red tank embellished with sequins and feathers—definitely not one to throw in the washing machine after deadlifts—and paired it with feather-print trousers. It’s a smart new take on office dressing.

Phoebe Philo is renowned for creating agenda-setting moments in women’s fashion, and her spring 2026 collection showed fluffy, Swan Lake-worthy bodysuits accessorized with a dumbbell. Philo’s center-stage take on balletcore was dramatic for after-hours, while Ferragamo offered rehearsal fits, such as ballet tights, color-blocked crossover cardigans, and ribbon-trimmed stilettos that leaned into the popularity of the pilates girl aesthetic. Dior showed slinky black leotards worn with leg warmers, while New York designer Kim Shui went further—she enlisted Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles to walk in her Spring/Summer 2025 show wearing a floral silk leotard with sneakers.

What to expect next season? The ballet iterations will continue—this time in sensual fabrics. Rachel Scott’s debut for Proenza Schouler in New York this week set the agenda with tiny, leotard-length pants in an upholstery texture that riff on the racing briefs worn by athletics stars such as Chiles. With Athlos, the all-new women’s track and field league event happening in New York next month, is set to  further popularize women’s athletics. So there’s no doubt we’ll see more track and field on designer moodboards moving forwards. If ever there was a time for glute-focused workouts, it’s now.

Varsity looks are as synonymous with Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren as the tricolor, but for SS26, it rings especially true. Tommy Hilfiger showcased preppy collegiate jackets that could have belonged on a ‘50s college campus or be found in a vintage store; this year, the brand also launched a sailing-inspired collection that followed the same mood. Polo Ralph Lauren showcased waspy looks that riffed on ‘50s sporting codes, too, while Lacoste’s SS25 collection gave a nod to where this trend might be heading with its relaxed-fit tennis suit in signature sporty colors.

What to expect next season? For SS26, look for silhouettes that are a refreshed take on the signatures. Imagine if the WNBA stars in their tunnel fits turned up to Princeton—that’s the urban preppy mood. Varsity jackets with smaller decorative patches are more refined than those emblazoned with huge lettering. Look to Sporty & Rich’s current collaboration with the New York Yankees, or Prada’s camel-colored iteration, which comes embossed with a singular P, as inspiration. 

Wraparound frames have been a popular accessory in sport for years, made cool again in the past few thanks to the independent running and cycling brands such as District Vision, Satisfy, and Rapha, which offer a design-led take on distancewear. Those labels changed the entire aesthetic of their sport, and sports sunglasses became a de facto accessory for every amateur athlete. Fashion designers are forever altering eyewear silhouettes, and this season, it’s apparent that running has been on the moodboard.

What to expect next season? Brandon Maxwell kickstarted the trend in New York, showing sleek, wraparound sunglasses and pairing them with pastel-toned evening dresses. There’s a styling trick at play here—it’s about mixing the hyper-futuristic sporty frames with softer, more tactile textures and unexpected silhouettes. Ready to wear yours now? Pair your Oakley frames with boardroom-ready suits or leather trousers for after dark. The sports look is for life, not just working out.