How to wear the new sport

Let this season's clean lines and air-light fabrics and high tech details put spring in your step as we take you through how to wear the new sport

  Marni The new sports-inspired collections that are being championed by several linchpin designers are as refreshing as splashing cold water onto a bleary-eyed face. Sharp lines, shiny sports fabrics, bright colours, and classic active-wear design details (like zips, drawstrings, straps, elastication and piping) make you want to jump up and sprint to the shops right this minute.

Dries Van Noten, Marni, MaxMara and Donna Karan - among others - have laid the foundations for a sports-casual, new-season look that still riffs on the 'volume' elements of winter, but relaxes them into easy-to-wear pieces via big, billowing parkas, tunics and pinafore dresses, boxy tops, belted shifts and jackets layered over vests.

The shape of things to come
Dresses are more important than skirts, with anti-fit (baggy, puffed, straight or loosely pleated) styling, and exhibit a total lack of embellishment apart from the odd pocket or a pull-string: it's all in the cut, you see.

Diane von Furstenberg's off-the-shoulder sweatshirt dress perfectly encapsulates the boiled-down dressing that sportswear celebrates; and its simplicity of manner will give the wearer a sexy insouciance. (Don't fret if you can't skip a mortgage payment to buy the £500 original; every retailer on the high street will offer its own version.)

  BelstaffParka dresses, as well as parkas, are making a splash this season, and will imbue those inside one with an air of purpose or 'can-do', even if you're only nipping out to buy crisps. Shorts, all-in-ones and the omnipresent leggings, all outstrip trousers on the fashionometer, and will be welcomed with open arms after being trussed up in proper tailoring all winter long. Legs loom large this season, so you might want to consider getting active as well as looking the part.

Know the score
Designers have dipped into an '80s palette of black, neon pink, lime green, bright yellow and electric blue, heavily punctuated with grey, white and all-important metallics. Now delivered in shiny, coated, gauzy or fluid fabrics, the look is more future than past. This is not a return to the era of the busy bling velour tracksuit - the 'new sport' is about luxury and must be worn with up-town polish. So you won't be needing more than one 'feature' colour at a time, or be piling on the jewellery. Keep it clean. Limit accessories to a clear plastic belt or watch, an oversized satchel or sling bag and a pair of heeled plimsolls (thank you Mr Van Noten).

For those who prefer things less squeaky, there are a few nicely subversive options in the form of transparent shirts and jumpsuits (Belstaff's cheeky version is for those who definitely want to score but you could wear MaxMara's top to the office with a vest underneath). Racy version or not, team your new togs with a scraped-back ponytail and you're all set for the sporting life.