Tracksuit
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A tracksuit is an article of clothing consisting of two parts: trousers and a jacket usually with front zipper. It was originally intended for use in sports, mainly as what athletes wore over competition clothing (such as running shirt and shorts or a swimsuit) and would take off before competition. In modern times, it has become commonly worn in other contexts. The tracksuit was one of the earliest uses of synthetic fibers in sportswear.[1]
A descendent of the tracksuit, the shell suit, which arrived in the late 1980s, was popular with the hip hop and breakdancing scene of the era [2] They were manufactured from a mix of triacetate and polyester making them shiny on the outside, with distinctive combinations of colours.
Most tracksuits have a mesh interior which allows the user to wear them without any undergarment such as underwear. This is much like a bathing suit. Many people wear it for workout sessions.
[edit] History
Tracksuit tops have now almost completely disappeared as sportswear.[citation needed] Tracksuit trousers remain popular, although in contrast to the bright colours characteristic of shell suits in the 1980s (which are often cited as a faux pas of 1980s fashion),[3] they are commonly worn in muted colours such as grey, black or navy blue.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Craik, Jennifer (2005). Uniforms Exposed (Dress, Body, Culture). Oxford, UK: Berg Publishers. pp. 171. ISBN 1-85973-804-4.
- ^ {{cite web site |http://www.iloveshellsuits.com/history.htm |
- ^ "www.fashion-era.com". http://www.fashion-era.com/fitness_fashion_after_1960.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
