Whether you are following your favourites in the Masters, enjoying some leisurely practice or networking heavily on the links, you’ll be looking to prioritise your functional golf clothing and make sure that you look good. Here’s how you can achieve that:
Mix Style with Function
The latest golf fashions allow you to do both. Sports designers have cottoned on to the fact that golfing clothing can work in exactly the same way as a ‘regular’ wardrobe and cross over between sport and lifestyle wear.
Changing Golf Fashions over the Years
The golfing world has certainly seen some style changes over the years. From slacks, collared shirts, sweaters and ties, to flat caps teamed smart clothing. Slacks, golfing shoes and polo shirts became popular in the sixties, and patterned trousers started to be seen everywhere in the eighties.
By the nineties, branded clothing became a common feature, and shorts started to be seen at clubs. At this time, clothing designers focused their energies on making stylish clothes that offered excellent functionality and performance, with sweat-wicking fabrics and thermal, lightweight and waterproof features to respond to challenging weather conditions.
The Basic Rule
The trick to getting golf style right today is to ask yourself whether you would wear an item off the course as well as on it.
Look at specialist golf clothing brands for guidance, and remember broader fashion rules about colours and fabrics. If you’re going plainer with the your clothing, you can express individuality with some innovative footwear. Footjoy golf shoes and the Ecco Biom Hybrid range are good choices.
The Tailored Look
Avoid the heavy and oversized belt buckles favoured by some big golf personalities. They tend to drag down your trousers and make you look larger around your midsection than you really are.
Side buckle or ribbon belts are a good alternative and come in bright colours as well as neutrals. As a general rule, choose well-tailored clothes that are cut for your shape rather than billowing styles which will swamp you.
Building Your Wardrobe
Here are a few general rules that will ensure you can’t go wrong on or off the course:
- Self collar polo shirts are big news this season, especially in classic stripe designs and a range of colours.
- Pique polos are great if you’ve been working on your arms in the gym. Choose slim-fitting chinos with a bit of stretch in them. They will help you to look sleek and well put together and will work well in and out of the club.
- Avoid pleats at all cost – they are unflattering and old-fashioned.
- Don’t forget the classic merino wool v-neck jumper. You can choose a few of these in colours and classics such as black, grey and navy.
Invest in a great pair of shades - And finally, think carefully before choosing your headwear. A baseball cap is fresh and contemporary.
It’s worth checking out the offerings from some of the sports designers producing golf clothing today, including mainstream sports brands such as Nike and Adidas that are investing heavily in their golf ranges. Look out too for updated classics from Lyle and Scott, advanced functionality from Under Armour and high style credentials from Calvin Klein, all on offer at Function 18.