The Olympic Games in 1900 was the first time female athletes were able to compete. At the time, women made up just 2% of competing athletes and were limited to five sports, including tennis, sailing, croquet, golf, and horseback riding. The dress codes were strict and women had to compete in long skirts which covered their ankles, corsetry and long sleeved garments. Over the years, female athletes began to rebel against their uniforms and their sexist expectations. Women began to push the boundaries of what they were expected to wear and chose more comfortable and stylish options. This influence infiltrated into much more than just their sport, but to the street and office, where women are sporting much shorter attire. While this may be a positive for some, as women simultaneously gained more freedom and acceptability to choose their clothing, female athletes are still experiencing criticism and sexualization in athletics. Women are still experiencing fines for choosing not to wear bikini bottoms and instead more comfortable and longer shorts in sports such as beach volleyball and handball. There is a long way to go, but women are continuing to fight for their rights and stand up for the sexist expectations that they have to endure to compete in athletics equally to their counterparts. The collection, Dress Code, took inspiration from the history of women’s sportswear and the inherent sexism behind female athletes’ wardrobes. As mentioned, the sports clothing designed for women was not meant for them to excel, but was rather restrictive and ultimately affected performance and mobility. With women seen wearing long dresses, corsetry and hosier, the “feminine” look was incorporated into all sporting wear, and restricted womens performance. While this collection is not sportswear, I have taken inspiration from numerous sports and their coinciding 20th century clothing, and created a collection of garments that emphasizes the constriction and sexism that women have faced regarding their uniforms and contrasted this with elements of comfortability and self-expression - utilizing breathable fabrics and looser fitted volumes.
