"I invented the sports dress for myself; not because other women played sports, but because I did. I didn’t go out because I needed to design dresses, I designed dresses precisely because I went out, because I have lived the life of the century, and was the first to do so," said Gabrielle Chanel.
Being a horsewoman, golfer and skier herself, the French designer had an intuition for the sports’ influence on fashion. Since 1924, her designs were simple and easy-to-wear, which makes them perfect for physical exercises as much as they are for travelling and everyday life. Continuously celebrating the relation between the house of Chanel and the world of physical activity, Karl Lagerfeld never hesitates to follow his own rules and redefine sportswear, whether in his Ready-to-Wear or Haute Couture collections.
Two years after meeting horse enthusiast Etienne Balsan who introduced her to racecourse and riding in 1906, Coco Chanel met Arthur Capel – AKA Boy Capel – who was a dedicated horseman and a professional polo player. Her love for horses became deeper with the Duke of Westminster and designing comfortable riding trousers became a need. Opening a boutique in Deauville in 1913, the fishermen’s striped jersey tops caught Chanel’s attention and became a part of her following year’s collections.
The success of her sports clothes was great that in 1921, an atelier dedicated for sportswear was created within the house, producing coats, boat-necked tennis dresses, soft suits, golf and beach sweaters inspired by her own wardrobe. To complete these looks, the designer reinvented her famed two-toned shoes in 1966 with a sportier feel.
With Karl Lagerfeld, the importance of sportswear remained an integral part of Chanel woman’s wardrobe for both day and night, summer and winter. "We must intensify everything that revolves around sport! Today sport is an attitude and no longer necessarily a discipline," he explains.
This year, the house of Chanel celebrates the Rugby World Cup with a collection of masterfully developed sports accessories. From Rugby balls, basketballs, rackets and surfboards to headphones, jump ropes, bikes and skis, Chanel has got sports covered for all seasons.
Click through the photo gallery to view the collector’s pieces featured in this collection.
Mirella Haddad
