Fashion Synopsis

When the Three’s Company gang won money at the horse races, Jack splurged his winnings on a fancy new velour jogging suit. When Run DMC walked this way, it was in super-slick nylon adidas tracksuits. And when Kid Rock wanted to be a cowboy, baby, he did it in an oversized pair of tracksuit bottoms. Such was the lunacy, luxury, and desire behind the athleticwear obsession of running suits.

Before they were tracksuits in the 80’s, they were jogging suits in the 70’s. America’s passion for jogging parlayed into the super stylish, super casual 2-piece jog wardrobe. The first traditional jogging suit, the sweatsuit, was nothing more than a fleece pair of sweatpants and a hooded fleece sweatshirt. But the need for a flashier jog wardrobe evolved into the two-piece jog suit that featured a zip-front jacket and an elastic-waist pant, for the ultimate in ease and comfort. The super-soft feel of velour mixed luxury with leisure and was a preferred fabric for the early jogging suits of the 70's.

The cushy velour jogging suits evolved into the sleek nylon tracksuit of the 80’s and 90’s. Rap trio Run DMC and the rise of breakdancing popularized the return of the jog suit as part of street style. The new suit became sleeker with technologically advanced materials, more streamlined in style, and one company, adidas, led the pack. Tracksuits of the 80’s were synonymous with the three-stripe trim down the sleeves and pant legs that marked adidas wear.

Ladies embraced their own bold, colored-blocked style tracksuit, produced in bright and noisy nylon and silk. Hip-hop companies like Enyce and Fubu turned the tracksuit into a national street uniform, and fleece became the material of the 90's.

Everyone from little old ladies is supple silk suits to BabyGap young ‘uns in furry fleece has snuggled up to the comfort of the tracksuit. It isn't just for exercise anymore—the jogging/track suit has proven itself a long-distance winner.

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