Last summer, the skirted swimsuit made its big splash back into fashion. This spring, athletic skirts with built-in shorts and briefs are grabbing the what’s-hot spotlight. The newest skirts are designed for women who want to look stylish while they run, hit the gym or even camp out at Starbucks.
New Balance spokeswoman Jennifer Hamel says that the Bonita Run Skirt ranks No. 1 out of all New Balance women’s apparel in dollar volume for 2007. At Luke’s Locker in Ft. Worth, manager Vance Bates reports that sales of Nike skirts and colorful mesh versions from Zoot are moving fast. And the twin marathon-running sisters who started the California-based company RunningSkirts.com say that their customers range from teenagers to women in their 70s and that recently sales have been doubling almost every month.
What can these skirts do for you that athletic shorts can’t?
– They provide more coverage over the upper thigh, covering what might be a jiggly area with a swingy swath of fabric.
– Slap on a pair of trendy flat shoes and wear them for your summer traveling. They look more sophisticated than shorts and pack easily without a lot of wrinkling. They also are made from quick-dry fabrics.
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– They are the hot-weather equivalent of the yoga pant: comfy and versatile. Put them on for your morning power walk and wear them through the entire day’s activities of car-pool lines, grocery-store runs and casual lunches.
– They’re stretchy, generally sit low on the waist and are great for expanding, pregnant waistlines.
– Even if you never wear them to exercise in, they’ll make you look cute.