In honor of 'Glee,' a salute to the warm-up suit
Jane Lynch won an Emmy in August for her portrayal of Sue Sylvester, "Glee's" saber-toothed cheerleading coach, who returns this season with more of her signature tracksuits. Credit: Fox
When cheer dictator Sue Sylvester, of TV's "Glee," says "Drop and give me 20," she may mean push-ups. Or track suits. Because if there's one thing she's made clear, you can never have too many.
The cult hit, which began its second season this week, is like a runway show for Adidas, Nike and other brands. Costume designer Lou Eyrich has about two dozen suits in stock, and Lynch wears five to nine suits per episode. A purple and orange suit, or burgundy with baby blue, are faves, Eyrich says.
"We have her suits custom made, and we also get great ones from Adidas," Eyrich adds.
The popularity of Sylvester, played by Jane Lynch, may partly explain how tracksuits, sweatsuits-whatever you call them-are poised for a comeback.
"It's like slipping into your pajamas when you go to work - I love it," Lynch said on National Public Radio last year.
Of course, that's the problem. Anyone who lived through the '80s recalls sweats of old. On a vintage episode of "Seinfeld," Jerry himself chastised George for wearing sweatpants.
"You're telling the world 'I give up,' " Seinfeld said. " 'I can't compete in normal society. I'm miserable, so I might as well be comfortable.' "
Today's sweats are sleeker and easily worn as separates. Like Stella McCartney's track jacket, with sculpted shoulders. Or Alice + Olivia's cardigan with Adidas-like leather strips down the sleeve.
Menswear designer Simon Spurr paired tailored sweatpants with a blazer in his fall runway show. And Alexander Wang, Michael Kors and Rag & Bone have all offered women sweatpants - in luxe fabrics, paired with spike heels.
"You don't feel out of place if you style it properly," says Afshin Haghani, owner of Gallery Couture and Loop, in Manhasset. "The pant should have some drape," he advises. Top it with a bomber jacket, a nipped blazer - something structured.
MUSEUM QUALITY
There aren't many brands that can say their sweatsuit is in London's Victoria and Albert Museum. Curators requested the item - in pink velour - from Juicy Couture after the brand's phenomenal reinvention of mundane workout wear in the '90s. Sweatsuits turned sexy (with the "J" word splashed across the butt). And pricey (around $200). Juicy's founders recently left the company, but designer Erin Fetherston now helms; her first collection hits later this year. Till then, consider their Bow-Print Velour Tracksuit, with hoodie, $138, and pants, $118; at Juicy Couture stores and juicycouture.com. - Joseph V. Amodio
