Golf fashions return to classics, kind of like comfort food in hard times

Hard to believe women once played in long skirts anchored by belts. Talk about handicaps. Since those days in the late 1800s, fashions have happily eased up. Indeed for the pros,  ladies golf fashions may be even more comfortable than the men’s.

After all PGA players are required to wear long slacks while LPGA women can wear shorts and sexy little skorts as well as Bermuda-length pants and longer pants.

Looking into the future, after pounding the aisles at the massive PGA golf merchandize show in Orlando, one thing seems sure: the economic climate is bringing on a desire for the return to classics, kind of like comfort food.

Last year, “Going Green"  touted materials like bamboo, coconut and recycled plastics and the buzz was on hot tech fabrics like Cocona,  G-Flex,  and Coolmax which promised to keep you cool, keep you dry, keep the UV rays from getting through and knock pesky bugs senseless.

This year, environmental-friendly and high-tech fabrics shared the spotlight with more traditional materials like cotton, cashmere, silk and wool, albeit often laced with some tech materials for better performance.

Colors too reflected classic tastes: whites, browns and blacks along with red, white and blue. Sport Haley for example showed collections in red, white and black including argyle sweaters with coordinating skorts and shorts. 

Of course classics have always been good sellers and companies like Fairway & Greene, Izod G, and E.P. Pro continue to offer staples like polos and v-neck sweaters, especially appealing to pro shop merchandisers who tended to be more cautious and conservative this year in their buying.

That is not to say, there weren’t some real “wows” out there. Really knock-out updated classic collections were featured by Bobby Jones  Apparel, one very smart group honoring the 80th anniversary of the Grand Slam. 

In BJ’s Telluride collection ruffled v-neck sweater in 100% cashmere was a must-have staple, the ruffles lending the twist. In their Kennebunkport line, the full zip argyle sweater in 100% cotton was another winner. www.bobbyjones.com

Tehama celebrated classic with argyles, plaid patched fabrics, cable sweaters, and a series of tees with whimsical  golfing girls’ designs  at an attractive price of $48. Tehama’s Glory days line in browns, whites and blacks looked like colors lifted from old photos. Very classy. www.tehamainc.com

One of the most innovative lines on the show floor was introduced by a Swedish company, Abacus, who supplied the outfits for this past Solheim Cup players. I loved them when I saw them on TV, I loved them “in person.”

A first-time exhibitor this year, Abacus successfully managed to marry classic with knock-out design flair. Just take a look at their collar and cuff details on their rugger shirts — tiny flowers, stitching, cording. Very smart.

Sweaters are lined with a windproof fabric and a trendy trench coat which could go anywhere you want to make a statement, was drafted out of a metallic plaid fabric (Not designed for wanna-be spies). And loved the red, oh-so-soft waterproof rain pants. www.abacus-golf.com

Another line with a clean nostalgic look, Cleveland Classics, was not only the smallest line I found, it was hard to locate,  hidden behind some equipment displays in the Cleveland booth. What were those men thinking!

Talented designer Claudia Schwartz, has designed not only the apparel, but the fabrics as well including jacards and hounds tooth patterns in tans and browns with a touch of peach, and beautiful soft performance fabric shirts in light blues and corals. OK. These are mostly for men, but the fabrics and colors are so luscious, you’ll want them too.  www.clevelandclassicsapparel.com