Jester White & Pablo Otero in Latex

Originally featured in Grit Magazine for the “Pocky Game” issue from Spring 2013, the “Jester & Pablo” editorial stars male models, Jester White and Pablo Otero, in latex activewear.

Photographed by Niclas Heikkinen, sportswear has been on the rise lately, with a plethora of designers sending athletic-inspired outfits down the runway season after season. According to the NPD Group, a company who tracks market research trends, found that the increase in apparel, footwear and accessories sales in 2014 as compared to 2013 was “driven primarily by growth in sales of activewear, athletic performance footwear and bags.”

From Alexander Wang to Kanye West, the idea of “athleisure” or performance-ready, athletic items with an elevated, luxe feel, is becoming increasingly popular throughout the fashion industry.

In a dreamy, normcore alt-reality, photographer Niclas Heikkinen creates a set of striking images. Playing with unexpected patterns and textures, stylist Larissa De Filippo opted for unusual polka dots, stripes and translucent materials.

Reminiscent of several minimalist Marc by Marc Jacobs campaigns, the photographs are simple, with an unbusy background and a clear focus on models in unusual settings, like an overturned office chair or amidst an electronic cable. An evocative shot features a model wearing a high neck, latex top in black, paired with athletic trousers in a gritty, futuristic-meets-grunge backdrop.

Another straight-forward, black and white image, shows a model in a contemplative pose in an irreverent, polka dot vest layered over a graffiti patterned top. Several other stand-out pieces include a transparent, hooded rain jacket, in clear and gray latex, a sheer mesh jersey and a white patterned jacket with war planes.

Filippo creates intriguing looks with a slight devil-may-care attitude with an interesting mix of layers, such as draping an oversized mesh jersey over a high neck latex top. As most of us “spring ahead” for the upcoming weekend, let’s set our sights on new ways to wear our favorite pieces in and fresh spring trends in the coming weeks.