What's fashion-forward for today's trendy woman? Jersey

By Allan Johnson
Chicago Tribune

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Women now have their jerseys, and can wear them, too — some quite form-fittingly.

Jersey dresses, often adorned with logos of NBA teams, have been spotted on many young women this year.

The dresses, retailing at about $75, look like the standard jersey, except the sides and fronts are cut higher to reveal less.

The fascination with them is grass-roots, merchandisers say.

"We started to see a lot of girls paying $200 (for) Nets jerseys, and spending another 150 bucks to have it cut up to fit like a lady's garments," said Carl Banks, vice president of licensing for GIII in New York, which manufactures jersey dresses.

Banks, who played for the New York Giants football team, said jersey dresses began popping up around February, but it took a certain songstress to elevate them.

"It didn't hurt that Mariah Carey performed in (one) at the NBA All-Star Game," Banks said, referring to her halftime show.

There are also dresses modeled on Major League Baseball and National Football League jerseys, Banks said.

Athletic wear company Stall & Dean has released a line of jerseys patterned on old Roller Derby teams, playing on how they're displayed in "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle."

Meanwhile, Banks' company plans on marketing a line fashioned on hockey jerseys.

Which is great news for guys who no longer have to worry about their girlfriends "borrowing" stuff, never to see it again.

The bad news is that guys who hate leaving the house with women who love to wear clothing matching their fellas' have one less article that saves them from that fate.

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