Cycling Accessories are Fashion's New Hottest Trend
You heard it here first, dressing like a sporty cyclist head-to-toe is in, and Bella Hadid approves.
The resemblance is truly uncanny. Just last month, Bella Hadid was spotted leaving sister Gigi’s New York apartment wearing biker shorts, a colorful striped jacket and a black headband — a street style adaptation of a true 90s cyclist. Although biker shorts have been around for a while, there are other elements of cyclist fashion that have been appearing in It Girl wardrobes this summer. From polarized sunglasses to hyper-functional footwear, it seems that cycling style is here to stay.
L’OFFICIEL takes a look into the history of cycling fashion and the accessories to look out for when shopping this summer. So grab your helmet and get ready. This trend is one we predict celebrities and influencers will soon adopt. We don't make the rules, Bella Hadid does.
Princess Diana in the 1990s
The People’s Princess, an ultimate style icon and the original It Girl, Princess Diana was an incredibly sincere role model and inspiring activist with impeccable style. Her go-to choice of activewear was biker shorts and a big sweatshirt—an outfit now spotted every few weeks on Kim Kardashian’s Instagram.
Kim Kardashian for Yeezy in 2018
In 2018, it was the year of the biker short comeback. Kim Kardashian debuted head-to-toe Yeezy that closely resembled the retro 80s look that Diana once wore. Yeezy, a fashion label created by Kim's then-husband Kanye West was extremely successful, and the skin-tight athleisure look was popular among celebrities for an everyday street style look. From Emily Ratajkowski to Jordyn Woods, papparazzi photographed celebrities rocking this look whether they were headed to the gym or out for lunch.
The Polarized Biker Shades Microtrend in 2022
A very recent micro-trend for summer 2022 is the polarized biker sunglasses. In a matter of months, celebrities including Iris Law, Kylie Jenner and Amelia Gray Hamlin were all spotted wearing variations of this style. These reflective sunglasses have a distinct futuristic look to them and are suddenly all over our instagram feeds. Bottega Veneta and Vetements are just two designer brands that have recently released eyewear closely resembling cycling shades.
Recent Resurgence of the Biker Short One-piece
If you are on fashion TikTok, you’ll know that the Aritzia Divinity Romper is a current must-have item. Google Trends data indicates that searches for 'romper' are at an all-time high and steadily increasing. A garment that originated in the 1980s, stemming from cyclist designs, it has been seen on fashion influencers as well as Kendall Jenner, Lizzo, and Alessandra Ambrosio. There is no doubt that this form-fitting one piece gets its inspiration from tight cycling attire.
Bella Hadid and Hyper-Functional Sneakers
Bella Hadid excels in the footwear department, wearing everything from heels to boots to sneakers. However, she has recently ditched the Nike Swoosh for other labels including Adidas, Salomon and New Balance. It looks like her Nike Jordans have been replaced with a more funtional, utilitarian look — a style that has made its appearance on a myriad of runways this season. In the image on the left, Bella is wearing the Prada x Adidas Luna Rossa in the black colorway, a shoe style that mimics the 1997 Prada America's Cup boat shoe.
Hyper-functional footwear calls for a bold and indestructible activity. For a generation fighting fast fashion, the utilitarian look highlights a distinct durability that goes against the transitory and unethical nature of mass clothing production. While boat shoes, trail-running shoes, and hiking shoes have all made their appearances, we believe that next up is the velcro-strapped cycling shoes.
What's Next?
Cycling Fashion is on the rise, and the stamp of approval is this outfit worn by Bella Hadid—head-to-toe cyclist wear translated into a perfect streetstyle moment.
