The Evolution of Sports Shirts: Trends, Designs, and Styles for Women

The complete story of the most stylish item in women’s wardrobe. 

Sport shirts have become an essential part in every woman’s wardrobe. Nowadays one cannot imagine without several shirts which can be combined with any other everyday item. But few people realize that sports shirts have undergone a great change and transformation: the thing we are used to now is not the same as it was a century ago. Let us trace back the story of the sports shirts and see how they have been adapting to the society demands over time. 

As we start our story from the early 20th century, we should definitely mention that modesty and functionality were the key factors while choosing what to wear for a certain sports event. No one could even dare think about style, that is why sport shirts mostly looked like something long-sleeved and buttoned-up. As for materials, cotton and wool were in favor in the first decade of the 20th century. 

You can trace a certain shift in women’s participation in sport events in the 1920s and 1930s. Among the favorite sports were tennis, so some changes can best be seen here. For example women athletes began to wear shorter-sleeved shirts and lighter and more breathable fabrics came into fashion.

The 70s became a turning point in the sport. Thus surely led to some changes in clothes for workouts. Ladies started to think not only about how they exercise but also about what they wear during the training and how they feel in the clothes. So functionality, stylish design and comfort were at the front while choosing a new sportswear. 

An innovative breakthrough gave an opportunity to use synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and nylon in the production of sports shirts. These materials are lighter, more breathable, and moisture-wicking so it is sure to let you stay dry and feel comfortable during physical activities. The introduction of polyester and nylon gave the rise for further transformations of sportswear and established the basis for the athleisure, the style that would blur the lines between sports and casual clothes. 

Talking about the 80s we can say that major changes were more about design. It became more form-fitting with better support and with an eye on freedom of movement compared to the previous uncomfortable patterns. Sports shirts became more noticeable because of the splash of bright colors entering the era where your personality and individuality could be expressed through the clothes.

Thanks to the popularity of athleisure, sports shirts became the real must for women’s wardrobe. Once decided that sport shirts can be worn not just on the playing field, the idea was inherited by designers all around the globe and they became unstoppable. 

Same happened with technology: new materials and innovations appeared at that time. Moisture-wicking technology and fabrics with UV protection were ones of the most prominent as women took more care about what they wear. As for materials, spandex became the top on the list as it gave more freedom of movement. 

Changes came across and in terms of design. It became more versatile giving you lots of different options for mixing sportswear together and looking cool. Thus made it possible to use sports shirts not just for workout, but as a part of your daily outfits. And sport brands like Nike, Adidas, and Puma made a huge step in elevating the status of sportswear in the fashion world by collaborating with pop stars and influential celebrities.

The 2010s is the flourishing time for sustainability and inclusivity. Environmental issues became the top priority for those who think about their future so a lot of sports brands incorporated recycled materials in their collections. There has been a definite shift in people’s minds and they started taking more attention to what they buy and wear and not just the price of any goods. 

During the same time, the demand for universal silhouettes became more visible. Thus led to creating items that fit for any body type and sizes. The body positive trend has made great changes in the fashion industry shattering the accepted norms and making fashion suitable for everyone. 

Going deeper to the 2020s, we can say that the athleisure trend does not take a position in the market. Women got used to functional and versatile clothes that can be easily changed from sportswear to a night event. Brands continue creating multi-functional designs that are both performance-driven and stylish enough to wear as part of a casual outfit. As for technologies, it’s worth mentioning about smart fabrics like the one able to monitor your body temperature or a heart rate to make your workout more effective.

No one can deny that a sports shirt has become an integral part in our lives showing to the world who we really are. It has gone a long way of transformations and modifications to become an item filled with style and innovation. It has responded to all the possible changes in society and still does. And, to be honest, we are really glad it’s still happening.