London-based designer Lydia Bolton has taken the concept of the tracksuit to artful levels with a collection titled “The Girl Who Wore Tracksuits to Prom.” Shown as her graduate presentation for Kingston University, the collection is a celebration of the much-loved tracksuit and an examination of what appropriate attire is for a woman attending a right-of-passage, formal event. The result is an item that artfully reflects on changing paradigms for women, celebrity their femminess while at the same time giving them room to stretch their legs.
“My collection was inspired by the fact I love tracksuits and wearing tracksuits, and I wanted to see how fun and far away from sportswear tracksuits could be pushed. Like how far they could be turned into something not worn for sport, but worn for parties,” said Bolton in an interview with The Fashion Conversation.
Bolton explained that the looks were constructed from tracksuits and prom dresses she purchased on Ebay. Explained Bolton, “I added all the really sporty details at the end. A tracksuit is a tracksuit because of the inherent details, the embroidered panels down the side of the legs and zippers with my logo.”
