Though she has twice represented the U.S. at the World Championships, middle-distance runner Maggie Vessey hasn’t yet made it to the Olympics, nor become a household name. But the 32-year-old 800-meter champ from Soquel, California, has a very real shot at becoming a fashion-world favorite.
During her most recent season (track, not fashion industry), she ditched the standard singlet-and-brief combo for a host of standout looks that sample from the runway in unprecedented ways. In an interview with Runner's World last month, Vessey explained that, after losing a sponsorship with New Balance earlier this year, she began collaborating with L.A. designer Merlin Castell to create chicer gear. "I do want to draw attention to the sport and maybe give people who aren’t necessarily interested in track and field a reason to be interested," Vessey told Runner's World. "But it is a very authentic expression of who I am, and I now have this opportunity to be able to put that out there, be bold, and take a risk."
Compared to sponsored pro runners and team athletes, unsponsored runners enjoy a good amount of fashion leeway. Even so, the last track-and-field star to make a style statement that resonated in the culture at large was Florence Griffith Joyner in the '80s. Flo-Jo’s L.A.-chic acrylic nails and asymmetrical/one-legged running ensembles helped define workout and nightclub trends for years after she earned the title of "Fastest Woman of All Time" in 1988.(.NBC)MORE PICS HERE.....
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