Fashion at the Crossroads of Function and Style

In May we prepared another in our series of fashion installations for you at the Galéria shopping centre. Its creators – fashion coach Ľubica Kmeť Jakušová and fashion editor Jana Bíziková – once again chose a theme that is currently stirring the fashion world. This time they traced the journey of sportswear and sports accessories into our everyday wardrobe. Discover with us how comfort and practicality have merged with urban style to create pieces that don’t just protect us, but inspire us too.

1. The windbreaker: When the wind carries style

This lightweight jacket, originally designed to protect athletes from wind and rain, found its way into urban fashion in the 1990s. In neon colours and geometric patterns, it became a symbol of comfort and youthful style. It was often worn with jeans and trainers. Its unforgettable rustle now awakens our nostalgia for a carefree childhood.

In 2025 the windbreaker appears in sophisticated versions – a minimalist, often oversized cut, high-quality technical materials and functional details such as zips and reflective elements. On the runways we see luxury versions of this jacket in contrasting combinations with elegant pieces, from skirts to court shoes.

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2. The polo shirt: A symbol of status and rebellion

The polo shirt was born in 1926, when French tennis player René Lacoste, unhappy with traditional tennis shirts, created something new from a breathable fabric (cotton piqué) with short sleeves and a formal collar. It quickly became popular among tennis players and gradually found its way off the tennis courts too – especially as part of the preppy style at American universities.

Later, in Britain, the polo shirt enjoyed a renaissance in subcultures such as punk and new wave, where it became a symbol of provocation and rebellion. Today, in the collections of brands such as Prada, Miu Miu, Lacoste, Thom Browne and Chanel, the polo shirt is more than a practical piece. It has become a symbol of the balance between sport and intellect, control and rebellion.

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3. Leggings: A little miracle of movement

At the turn of the 1950s and 1960s, chemist Joseph Shivers was behind a revolution in fabrics – he invented Lycra (Spandex), which made the first stretch leggings possible. Their fame truly blossomed in the 1980s with the arrival of the aerobics and fitness era. Although they seem innocent, they became a fashion controversy. They balance between comfort and the question of what we actually consider “real” trousers. Their power, however, lies not in having the courage to put them on, but in how we wear them and what we communicate by doing so.

Today leggings are re-emerging as a symbol of softness and freedom in the Balletcore trend. The ballet aesthetic (tulle, satin, ballet flats and airy silhouettes) brings lightness of movement, fragile beauty and the strength of personal expression into everyday life.

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4. Trainers: When sport walks hand in hand with fashion

Trainers were born at the end of the 19th century as simple sports shoes with a rubber sole. In 1917 the iconic Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star saw the light of day, originally designed for basketball. With the emergence of brands such as Adidas and Puma, trainers began to specialise in different sports. From the 1960s onwards, trainers also found their way beyond sports grounds, especially in America, where they became a symbol of comfort and practicality.

Today trainers are an inseparable part of global fashion. Collaborations between sports brands and fashion houses such as Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton and Prada have brought trainers onto the runway. 2025 belongs to bold designs that are becoming a means of expressing personality.

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5. Cargo trousers: From combat to the catwalk

Cargo trousers with large side pockets were created in the first half of the 20th century for the army – practical, durable and ready for anything. Later they were embraced by hikers and outdoor lovers. In the 1990s cargo trousers became a fashion hit thanks to hip-hop culture and icons such as TLC and Destiny’s Child.

In spring 2025 cargo trousers are back in the spotlight – in a more elegant and refined form in the collections of brands such as Burberry, Elie Saab, Sacai and Zimmermann. Today they are becoming a versatile piece that goes with a silk blouse as well as a crop top and chunky trainers – flexibly balancing between sophisticated and urban style.

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6. Sports sunglasses: When protection meets style

The first sports glasses were created in the 1930s, when Edward Land, the founder of Polaroid, invented polarised lenses to reduce glare. This invention had a fundamental impact on outdoor sports and laid the foundations for a future aesthetic. In the 1990s cycling glasses became a symbol of technological innovation and also made their way into urban fashion.

Today, in 2025, sports sunglasses are a striking fashion accessory, popular in the Y2K aesthetic and in contrasting combinations with formal pieces or romantic dresses. They have travelled from cycle tracks to the catwalks and streets of the world’s capitals as a manifesto of the union of functionality and futuristic beauty.

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7. Bowling bags: Functionality with a story

At the beginning of the 20th century, bowling bags were created as a practical way to carry heavy balls and shoes. Their design was simple, robust and entirely focused on function. They were usually made of leather or canvas, with sturdy handles and a reinforced base. In the 1950s and 1960s, when bowling became a popular social sport in the USA, the bags also gained a stylish dimension, and players often personalised them with their names or club logos.

During the Y2K era (2000–2005), bowling bags enjoyed a fashion boom when brands such as Prada and Louis Vuitton included them in their collections. Today, materials such as leather, suede and nylon dominate, with a colour palette ranging from neutral tones to striking retro combinations. This mix of tradition and modernity makes the bowling bag a versatile accessory – wearable with everything from streetwear to minimalist elegance.

prepared by: Jana Bíziková and Ľubica Kmeť Jakušová

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