This summer we’re trying a little something new when it comes to our throwback leotard rankings. Rather than looking at single meets, we’ve decided to take a trip down memory lane for specific teams, taking into account a wide range of leos from different eras and finding our all-time favorites from a single program, as well as illustrating how designs have changed over the years.
Here’s how it’ll work: Our judges for the week will choose their top 10 and rank them based on their personal preferences. Plus, you’ll get a chance to tell us your thoughts! Did we leave out your all-time fave from the team? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
This week, we’re taking on Missouri with Senior Editor Katherine and Christina joining Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth for the rundown.
Elizabeth
No. 1: I love this. Not only is it classy, using mostly black and white ombre but also incorporates yellow. But I love the back the most. So unique with the combo of straps and logo bringing them all together.
No. 2: I LOVE how this design incorporates tigers stripes and sparkle all in one. Plus, it’s not just one dimensional, using those yellow sparkles to make the stripes pop even more. So great.
No. 3: Another great mostly black look that uses a pop of yellow as it’s defining factor. Add on the reverse sparkle Missouri ont he back along the thick V, and it’s a winner.
No. 4: Yellow is great when done right, and it’s done right here with the ombre and additional of yellow.
No. 5: Give me ALL the neon yellow tiger stripes, and give them to me now.
No. 6: The amount of sparkles is great, as well as the sparkle tiger stripes on the sleeves. I just wish the side logo was a bit smaller.
No. 7: Now gold tiger stripes. Are you catching on to what I like in a Missouri leo? You can’t fault it for school spirit.
No. 8: I like how the yellow and white design on the sides isn’t specifically tiger stripes but still gives the impression. It’s subtle, and I’m here for it.
No. 9: You guys know I love a good white leo. Make it shiny, add black and include some yellow, and I’m sold.
No. 10: More black, white and yellow, so you know I like it. It’s a design other teams have used, but it works for Missouri.
Katherine
No. 1: Maybe it’s cheating to rank such a recent leo as No. 1 in a throwback post, but this one is just too pretty. I always love a lot of sparkle, and this is a great way to present the logo. Also, those sleeves!
No. 2: More gorgeous sparkle and ombre, so of course it’s a win from me. I like Mizzou’s more recent leos because of their more neon take on yellow, which is evident here.
No. 3: I actually love the use of “Tigers” here, mostly because it’s the focal point of the leo. I’d have loved to see this worn at a meet versus LSU or Auburn, just to see gauge fan reactions.
No. 4: This is simple but really cool. I love the classiness of the gold material, so much that it forgives the plainness of the rest of the body. I can see this leo used in elite.
No. 5: At first I saw absolutely nothing “Mizzou” about this leo, and then I noticed the subtle coloring of the sequins on the neck; yellow AND white. That kind of trickery makes me love it.
No. 6: ALL THE GOLD! I’ll forgive the slightly awkward neckline just for this reason.
No. 7: A slightly less perfect use of the word “Tigers,” mostly because I don’t love the claw marks on the side of it. They have a slightly 3D look to them, which isn’t my cup of tea. But points for originality.
No. 8: I mostly like this for the sleeves because that sort of pattern is really unique and cheeky. The smallness of “Tigers” is just a little awkward, though, hence its ranking here.
No. 9: I like the transparency of this leo and that it doesn’t go too far. I’m also lowkey a sucker for the light sparkles on leos that seemed to define this era.
No. 10: I don’t have a lot to say about this one. I inexplicably liked it but thought about not including it because of the weird silver stripes; it looks like a wrapped present. But I went for it anyway.
Christina
No. 1: When I found out I was ranking the Missouri leos, I didn’t need to think twice as I already knew this would be my No. 1. I love everything about this look: the grey ombré, the tiger claws marks, the yellow Tigers across the front and the straps on the back with the Mizzou logo. A win for me.
No. 2: It took me a while to like this one, but now it’s one of my favorites. The grey tiger stripes with the gold sparkles, the logo on the chest, the overall design on the front and the band across the back with “Mizzou” in sequins—yes please!
No. 3: This one is simple, but it’s so elegant and I love the overall look. The interesting neckline with the gold, the super sparkly logo on the front, the sparkly “Missouri” down the side on the back and just all the sparkles everywhere make for a beautiful leo.
No. 4: Another simple but elegant and super sparkly leo I’m fond of. The tiger stripes on the sleeves are my favorite thing, but I also quite like the gigantic logo on the side and the neckline with the mix of mesh and solid black.
No. 5: I am really digging this throwback look. The black and gold tiger stripes are again so well done, and the simple “Tigers” on the front works really well.
No. 6: Neon yellow is not easy to deal with, but I thought this ombre was beautiful. I also like the deep V neckline and the faux-straps on the back, but the ombre is really my favorite part here.
No. 7: I am so here for the golden shimmery sleeves, and now that I’ve seen this I wish the team would bring it back.
No. 8: This is such a clean look, but I quite like it. The font used and this shade of yellow/gold is really successful.
No. 9: This is a nice leo, and I like to see some white used with the black and gold. My favorite part of it is the back and how the Mizzou logo is incorporated so nicely to the whole look.
No. 10: Another mainly black leo, but the touches of gold really add to the look here. I particularly like the square neckline, which is not something we see every day—and the small straps on the back to go with it.
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Katherine Weaver and Christina Marmet
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