What’s Hot (Part 1 of a Series on Style)
Saturday, September 30, 2006 at 9:44PM Being that I have a scary knack for predicting trends well before they are picked up the masses, I owe it to you guys to share my mad skillz and let you know what to expect in our horribly style-deficient subculture of triathletes. We may be able to propel ourselves over 140 miles, but we need all the help we can get on what to expect in 2007 and beyond. Fear not and prepare your closets and bike racks for the envitable. When it's announced here, it's good as done.
Today, we'll start off with Coolmax and other related items. If you're saying "Texafornia, where have you been? I've been wearing Coolmax for years!", then I'm here to say "Jump back, Lorretta!" Sure, you may have been wearing this fabric that seems to be made right from the Golden Fleece, but what are you wearing it for? Tech fabrics just on training runs and race day is soooooo 2005. If you are really living the triathlete lifestyle, every moment is cooling inspired.
For example, take the average hot summer afternoon. Sure, you could throw on that cotton Buffalo Springs Lake Half IM shirt and try to cruise around Lowe's like you are a badass, but it seems like everybody has on some vintage tri or fun run shirt nowdays. They even sell them at Abercrombie, where the only thing as stylistically artificial and high priced as their clothing is the volume of that maddening BOM BOM BOM music that let's you know the store is somewhere within a square mile. And haven't we learned that cotton kills? You're sweating your ass off, looking for mulch or something, and you've got more body stains on that shirt than a newbie who's been smearing chocolate Clif Shot all over himself trying to find his own mouth on the last mile of his first race.
Real tri-geek-sheik is wearing tech fibers for everyday things. You might have caught a thread on triscoop.com where Drew and I are battling each other over who's more stylin' while wearing cycling socks to work. (Pictures included). I used to have stinky feet after wearing corporate-scum leathers all day, but no more! And why stop there? I've been wearing Coolmax and other knockoff brand shirts while running errands and going on road trips all summer here in Tex-ass and I have to say it's been a life saver! I'll never forget getting out of my car, wearing a yellow UnderArmour shirt in a parking lot that felt like it was on the surface of the Sun, and noticing another guy wearing the exact same thing. I said "Hey, my compliments on your selection of upper body attire." and he smiled and responded in kind. I'm going to the Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech football game this Saturday afternoon and you can bet dimes to doughnuts that this fan is wearing a white Coolmax shirt and maroon Freebirds sunvisor. A real triathlete needs to look like they can crank out 20 miles on foot while he or she is cooking dinner, refilling ink cartridges, or even sleeping. Ever put in a solid 8 hours of horizontal yoga (read: nap time) while decked out in UnderArmour Heat Gear? It is the definition of divine comfort.
So ditch the cotton for the next backyard BBQ! Get yourself down to Academy and drape yourself in the fabric of kings instead.
Opinions or stories about wearing tech fabrics in a non tech situation? Post them in the comments! Next entry: Can you guess what color is in your future?
Reader Comments (9)
Brett,
You crack us up!
Elizabeth sported dry-fit to a bbq this weekend. Stellar!
I, myself, enjoy both tech fabrics and natural fibers (esp. wool) to assist in de-stinking my life and surviving the heat here in Dal-ass.
Both our wardrobes are being overtaken by tech fabrics. Why can't we get the race directors to join the club and hook a sista up with dry-fit race shirts. I think we only have about 10% of 'em on the bandwagon. Dang it!
Peace,
Cara & Elizabeth
In Transit in a high-tech (i.e. fabric) world.
How funny. I very nearly donned my BSLT t-shirt to go to Lowes on Sunday, but I grabbed something else--not because I have issues with cotton, but because I have an issue with strutting triathletes. (I don't want to be one.)
Maybe with the passing of the next birthday, I will have sufficient coolmax in the closet to handle the workout schedule and my need for casual attire as well.
I actually wore a navy coolmax shirt to my first Buddhist meditation session. I was halfway to nirvana and feeling fresh!
Perhaps race directors who continue to hand out cotton finishers' shirts should be called out by name and held in open contempt on Triscoop and elsewhere. That'll teach 'em.
Sorry, my agression is very un-zen-like, but seriously. Races aren't cheap. Is it too much to ask for a shirt that is usable for something other than cleaning your bike?
I wear dri fits undercover. I wear button down shirts all the time at the office so, if you do too try a dri fit as an undershirt to go with those bike socks! It way comfortable.
Some of my heavier collegues don coolmax under their scrubs in the ER during a shift. They don't work out much.....at all that is..... maybe i should jump in on the fashion paradigm shift?
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