Because Werner was running, Grippo, Lu, a bunch of friends and their kids, and I, were among the other spectators along Bedford Ave, a leg in the New York Marathon route as it makes its way through Brooklyn. As we stood in front of the nydesignroom showroom, Grippo and I could not help evaluating the fashion aspects of the race. The New York Marathon as a fashion show.
Although some competitors went for a purely utilitarian non-“look” and some defaulted to grunge, other runners definitely wanted to make a fashion statement as well as finish in good time. Here is a short list of the trends we spotted:
1. Color coordination. Evoking the teen fashion advice counseling of the Fifties, some matched headbands to jersey to racing stripes on running shorts and shoes, This compulsion was manifested primarily in turquoise and purple. Note to those seeking inspiration from this trend: Resist the urge to match your shoes to your oversize turquoise purse. Instead buy two pairs of sneakers in the same style but in different colors and mix rather than match. It’s the latest.
2, Neck warmers. With swine flu in the offing or perhaps as the next new thing, many runners wore “cowl-scarves.” In winter, scarves around the neck are truly functional. And those in the nydesignroom look great too. Let us hope by next summer, people will have tired of wrapping their throats up.
3. Arm warmers. Black arm warmers on women, especially those wearing racing back running tops gave off a dissonant evening wear vibe. You know, long black above the elbow gloves and bare shoulders. Where’s the diamond chocker and chandelier earrings? Runners please choose something more athletic like bright orange.
4. Red. Far and away the top choice for T-shirts.
5. Branding. This trend continues, from Sharpie hand-lettered T shirts bearing the runner’s name to the white noise of corporate signage to the usual athletic nationalism—does everybody have to be an Olympic contender? Those choosing not to be a running advertisement for anything get my vote for a classy understated look. For them the New York Marathon badge is enough. Does anyone besides me think that personal style loses an essential spontaneity not to mention mystery, when it becomes a “brand”? My advice:
Keep them guessing unless they provide you with proper identification.
6. Knee highs and legwarmers. Joining running tights and their ever-dowdy older sister, sweatpants, on the course, were knee-highs and legwarmers on both men and women. All those overdeveloped calf muscles probably helped keep the knee highs up—a perennial problem with them, but if it’s cold enough for knee highs, why the bare thighs?
7. Men in skirts. A much more culturally intriguing trend. Most noteworthy were the runner in a kilt (does this qualify?) and another in a grass skirt.
8. Women in tennis skirts. Tennis skirts are an anachronism on the courts. Let’s not bring this extraneous item into the marathon.
9. Caps and hats. Yep, for attention getting rather than for warmth or keeping hair out one’s face, caps and hats were in evidence. Adding this a week later, I can’t remember one.
10. Running shorts. Because they let the body move freely, running shorts remain the favorite for as long as the colder weather allows. Short shorts have definitely moved off athletic fields and into the street, maybe even into offices. Today, on Driggs, as I emerged from the Bedford Station of the L train, the grassroots futures laser eye spied a woman wearing tailored wool, pin-striped cuffed shorts—short shorts—worn with hose and high-heeled boots. I guess a day running from cubicle to cubicle is a kind of marathon, too.
Oh, Werner’s time was 3:56:01
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