Sport's Turned Into One Big Fashion Show!

Lets face it, sometimes in the media it seems that sport today is as much about what you look like as it is about winning.  Do people come to watch the image or the player? Taking tennis as an example we frequently hear the comments of how fabulous some players for example Maria Sharapova look on court.  The trend in fashion can be focused on by the commentators as much as the game itself.  E.g. these players have an influence on those around them  such as what is the the next big thing to wear, whether it is a new colour or new design.

As I look frantically round the badminton hall trying to jot down ideas on what we all wear, I found it hard to come up with one fashion style within badminton. As I turned to look in my wardrobe I was astonished to realize that the clothes I go for in my local sports store, is tennis gear.   The short skirts and shorts fitting tops, matching outfits and flattering out there colours, seem to take up most of the part of the women's section in our sports stores, Nike, Adidas for example all put out this type of gear.   It's hard to find the traditional baggy shirt and old stubbies anymore, in bland, and un flattering styles.

Over the past 8-10 years however we have noticed a change in women's clothing especially in badminton, the juniors never wore a skirt, as you would be considered "un cool" and shorts down to your knees were all in, That has now changed and its hard now to find a girl that doesn't own a skirt in badminton, if they are not wearing a skirt they are wearing short shorts that are tight fighting and showing off those fabulous curves of an athletic body we all hope we have. Going further back, you didn't wear much past white, looking like a ghost 20-30 years ago was all in, to add a bit of colour to the mix was un thought of. You see this as quite a bit of a change from today's look around the hall.

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There are some great places to check out the latest players and badminton gear - e.g. the Badzine site has the latest news and pictures of players in tournaments from around the world - http://www.badzine.info  

Designer gear is also all the range, don't even think about coming out on court if your not wearing a top label, like Nike, Adidas, Puma etc. Girls have also stepped away from doing themselves up like there going to a ball, they've finally realised that makeup runs when sweat forms so the heavy eye shadow and mascara have returned back to the bottom of the badminton bag.  The same goes with jewelry, a simple bangle seems to be all you need to play in now, and a necklace. Men also like to wear a simple necklace now, so leave the bling in the bag next time you go out on court. Finally as hard as I looked I couldn't find one big trend to let you all know what to wear when we play badminton, so just stick with what you think looks good, what looks good on you, and what you feel comfortable in.  However ask your self why Anna Kournikova was more famous than any no. 1 player in the world and perhaps when it comes down to it, international sport can not only be about playing but there is an element of walking down the catwalk as well.

Picture References:

(1) http://cornedbeefhash.wordpress.com/