What they wore to Karen Walker's sporty return to Fashion Week

​Karen Walker, making a return to New Zealand Fashion Week after a ten-year absence, brought joy to the packed house in her collaboration with Adidas.

Walker paired her typical mashup of boho elegance and masculine street style with the sports brand's famous three stripes, which popped up on every model who walked by.

​There were teeny knitted sport shorts with pussy bow blouses, velvet vests over a classic Adidas tracksuit top, furry collars, knee-high socks, and many pairs of massive sunglasses (a Karen Walker signature). Models giggled as they bounced over training hurdles and zigzagged through cones and over a tyre obstacle course, fitting with the runway show’s theme of Life with Obstacles. Adding to the beautiful chaos was an appearance by hobby horsing champion Ada Filppa (rather than me explaining what the sport is, here’s a story we prepared earlier).

​“No matter what we say, ultimately we want to be comfortable, but also to look great,” Walker told RNZ following the show.

​“We want to be elevated now every day, but be able to go about our business comfortably and look chic. That’s what it comes down to.”

​Walker’s brand has long had a relationship with Adidas, which is pushing further into the lifestyle clothing space.

​“We thought that it’s a really great thing to celebrate, but also we just want to show how people wear it every day: the street, the performance, the fashion, all mixed together.”

​Earlier in the afternoon, Auckland FC, the city’s new professional football team, showcased this season’s player uniforms with a presentation at the buzzy waterside establishment Soul Bar. The team has seen phenomenal success on the pitch in its first season by winning the A League’s Premier Plate.

It’s also seen an unexpected demand for its 1990s-inspired merchandise, with its blue and black colours becoming a common sight around the city. It doesn’t hurt that vintage football shirts are having a moment, and the more oversized the better.

​This coming season, the team will be playing their home games in a very on-trend pinstripe blue and black shirt, further evidence of fashion's influence on sport and vice versa. The presentation also featured jackets and scarves - like Walker’s show - plenty of knee high socks.

Here's how those going to the runways shows reflected a night of fashion and sport:

Aki and Andrew Curtis, content creator and broadcaster

​Andrew is wearing a Karen Walker jacket with Adidas pants.

Aki is wearing a COS suit with YSL boots and Adidas pants as a scarf (yes, pants as a scarf).

​Why does fashion love sport? Aki: Fashion gets boring. That's why you pair it with food or with sport.

Synthia Bahati, fashion photographer

​Wearing: Adidas head to toe.

​What do you love about sports in fashion? It’s comfortable and you can dress [sportswear] up or down.

​Favourite fashion/sport moments: Serena and Venus Williams wearing beads in their hair while on the tennis court.

​Johnny Chunn, Auckland FC social media manager

​Wearing: Burberry jacket, op-shop pants, and New Balance shoes.

​Why does fashion love sport? Football has always been a fashionable sport.

​Tyson Beckett, New Zealand Herald lifestyle journalist

​Wearing: New Balance shoes, Twenty-Seven Names pinafore, and Canterbury Ugly jersey

​Why does fashion love sport? There’s mana in it [putting on a team uniform], a sense of cohesion and national identity.

​Are long, tight leggings out? It doesn’t matter what you are wearing as long as it gets the best out of you.

Natalia Didovich from Fashion Quarterly

​Wearing: Ruby jacket and jeans with sneakers from Adidas and bag from Georgia Jay.

​What do you love about sports in fashion? I always want to be comfortable with what I’m wearing. I’m a tall girl so flats until I die. Comfort gives me confidence... Sport is such an integral part of our culture.

​Jan Cox, Auckland FC fan

​Wearing: Blazer and pants from Whistle, Auckland FC shirt, and Puma shoes

​Why does fashion love sport? I am all about comfort... I have teenagers and I love their fashion - oversized hoods and track pants. I’m reliving my teenage years through my kids.

​Fashion icon in sport? Serena Williams is very strong, very female, a really powerful woman.

​Bradley Marshall and Kezia Deavoll, Auckland FC fans

​Bradley is wearing an op-shop navy pinstripe suit, a shirt from Farmers, and New Balance shoes.

Kezia is wearing a Scotch and Soda suit and See by Chloe boots.

​Why does fashion love sport? Kezia: For a lot of people, so much of their identity is attached to their sports team or their sport of choice.

​Bradley: Nostalgia plays a big part. There are lots of oversized football shirts being worn by DJs and models.

Jordyn Steel from New Zealand Rugby

​Wearing: Blazer from Helen Cherry, shirt from Uniqlo, and Adidas shoes and pants.

​What do you love about sports and fashion? I feel like Adidas has stepped up its lifestyle clothing.

​Favorite sport for fashion? I always loved watching the tennis and seeing what colours [the players] were wearing.