There was a time when tracksuits (or as they are more affectionately known “trackies”) were the exclusive preserve of the football thug elite and American rappers. Today the poor old trackie has fallen from grace as a fashion accessory, not because they ain’t cool but because of the chavs and neds that adopted them as a quick and useful item of clothing catering perfectly to their social needs. Let’s face it, if you live on the scheme, you can be out of bed, dressed and signing on in under half an hour with a trackie. Trackies can be also be washed and dried in next to no time, very handy if it’s your only item of clothing! Let’s go back though, way back…Back to the days when British football teams were making headway in Europe and young working class lads had a bit more dough in their back pockets. Trips to far off exotic countries in the past such as Italy, Holland and Germany had previously cost a month’s wages for the flight alone but by the mid 70’s everybody was going continental. Here in Britain the height of fashion was Fruit Of The Loom jeans, a pair of Kickers and a Star jumper but those trips abroad were about to open young thugs eyes to a new luxury item, European sportswear. After smashing up cosmopolitan shopping malls and parades in Europe the lads would return with armfuls of Kappa, Fila, Le Coq Sportif, Sergio Tacchini and Ellesse. Everybody loves to own an item of clothing that others admire but could never hope to own and these boys were swaggering about in the best of threads. Other sportswear influences came through the hip hop scene, Adidas and Nike were prized items of clothing for the snappier dressers of the 80’s and then there was Troop. Troop trackies were the holy grail of tracksuits and if you wanted the couture, crème de la crème of tracksuits you hopped on a flight to New York -as I did to Dapper Dan in Harlem for a tailor made leather tracksuit. Dapper Dan was tailor to the black stars, LL Cool J, Run DMC and Mike Tyson all wore Dapper Dan’s leather tracksuits and jackets. I had to wait in the queue behind Scot La Rock to be measured up for my “Gucci” leather tracksuit made in Dapper Dan’s Spartan sweatshop by illegal immigrants.
Adidas AC Vest £70 (11617)
£45 (11418)
Some sportswear items have remained cool, while others such as Kappa and Le Coq Sportif have fallen by the wayside a little as the cooler dressers opt for fashion house brands. Today the Fila, Ellesse and Adidas badges are still worn with honour and pride across the country. My wardrobe will always have space for the right trackie, not for training purposes though you understand! Yogi wears: Ellesse polo
Adidas Trainer £60 (11624)
Yogi wears: Fila gillet £95 (12016), Fila Polo £40 (12266)
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Yogi‘s rant
Ellesse TrackTop £65 (11422)
Adidas AC Holdall £55 (11588)
Yogi‘sswear sport
Yogi
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