Athletic Gear: Bottoms
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It's difficult to determine whether the nuances of constructing garments for the upper portion of the body is more complicated than that of the lower body. As we have learned in the previous section, athletic wear has taken on so many different forms in terms of so many different aspects that it's hard to see how each piece is even related to one another! Regardless of this, though, we know that there will always be a basic silhouette that laid the foundation for the stitches, weaves, dyes, and prints of these garments.
So let's move on: bottoms are just as "unassuming" as the word tops, and similarly, the word refers to all garments that are worn from the waist down. They usually are made with a particular top in mind so that they work in sync more effectively.
Shorts are just as unassuming and are named so because, well, they're short and do not cover the whole length of a person's legs the way pants do. Athletic shorts are especially important in sports like volleyball, track, walking, swimming, swimming and cycling. Shorts for these particular activities are characteristically tight, fit, and very short, but are extremely flexible to permit full range of leg movement. They must also provide protection for the crotch area and are at times accompanied by special lubricants or additional fabrics that minimize chafing. In water sports, they must be able to retain shape and flexibility even after long periods in or underwater, and even dry quickly and help develop a better tan. Variations of these tightly-fitting shorts include: hot pants (short shorts), "bun huggers" ("racing briefs"), trunks and briefs/Speedos and jammers and sunga (for swimming, water polo, and other water sports), and cycling shorts.
Most pairs of shorts, however, are not as tight as those in the previously mentioned activities. Board shorts, while of the same material as swimming trunks and other bathing suits, they are a bit more loose and appeal to the relatively laid-back demands of surfing, wakeboarding, and skimming.
Skirts, as well as dresses, have been synonymous with feminine wear even in ancient times, but they have never been comfortable enough to wear in strenuous activities to be considered actual athletic attire. This has changed dramatically in the 20th century; a notable event was in 1922 when Suzanne Lenglen first for a very short skirt to tennis at Wimbledon. Sports such as tennis, badminton, ice skating/figure skating, roller skating, inline skating, ice hockey, golf, lacrosse, and even horse riding/equestrianism are just some of the activities that have embraced more feminine lines in the form of skirts. Sometimes skirts offer a different level of comfort shorts or pants cannot provide.
Despite being associated with women's wear for the longest time, skirts are also worn by men. Kilts are special types of skirts used by Scots and Celts on occasions like Highland games as well as non-athletic formal events. Aside from being half of a formal suit, kilts also look good with t-shirts or golf shirts.
Skorts are a fusion of skirts and shorts: they actually shorts which have an extra piece of cloth at the front side (only) so that it looks like a skirt as well.
Pants (an abbreviation of "pantaloon" and comes from the French word "pantalon") are bifurcated clothing items, unlike skirts but like shorts, which have two holes for two legs. Like shorts, too, athletic pants vary in length, fit, and fabric depending on the demands of the sport they are used for.
Knickers (abbreviation knickerbockers) have a stylized variation used in baseball, as well as in horse riding/equestrianism. These pairs, as well as plus fours are also popular in golf, aside from wearing casual or work trousers. Hakama are very loose, skirt-like pants used in activities such as kendo, aikido, and kyudo.
Leggings and tights are just about as tight as knickers but are made in a different type of stretch fabric, often a blend of nylon, cotton, and/or Lycra. Leggings are tight pants that reach the ankles, while tights are referred to as "opaque pantyhoses" that can be also worn on their own. Aside from being used in gymnastics, ballet, dancing and cycling, they are also popular in similarly athletic activities such as aerobics and other workouts. Legskins resemble leggings and are used in competitive water sports; they are specially made to increase speed and reduce resistance in the water.
Sweatpants are baggy, loose, and extremely comfortable athletic apparel made out of cotton fleece. They often have an elastic or gartered waistband, and at times a drawstring cord for a better fit. Variations of this type of athletic wear include: (1) windpants/windbreakers, which act more as shields rather than insulators (from low temperatures), are usually made out of nylon or polyester and may be worn over shorts; (2) tearaway pants/breakaway pants/rip-off pants/popper pants have snaps running from top to bottom on both legs of the pants so that they can be easily removed; (3) muscle pants, also true to their name, are made especially for bodybuilders' muscles during workouts.
Even thicker and sturdier pants are required with extreme sports and winter sports.
We've had tops, we've had bottoms, but what about putting 'em together? Head over to the next article, Athletic Gear: Full Body Apparel.
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