It's that time of year again for Dream Chaser's pick on practical training apparel for skater girls. As much I would like to gush, the selection this year just isn't all that exciting to me.
My long-standing favourite collection is adidas by Stella McCartney. However, their spring/summer 2010 line up just don't do it for me. The performance tennis dress is a very classic tank dress with an intricate print on the front. What is more interesting is that they've added a cycling line this season with jerseys and padded shorts. The ruching detail on the shoulder is really pretty. The three backpockets are thoughtfully designed as well. The two on each side have elastic opening while the one in the middle has zipper closure. If I'm not as much of a dress-devotee, I would totally get this jersey. I hope to see this line florish in upcoming seasons because cycling apparel are often very practical for skaters too.
Canadian brand Lululemon is another favourite of mine. They are better known for their yoga apparel but their running collection has been steadily growing in the last couple of years. I like their running skirts with built-in shorts in particular. Unfortunately, nothing really catch my eye either from their spring 2010 collection. Hopefully there'll be something more interesting as summer rolls around.
The surprising item for me this season comes from Nike. Compression shorts are my wardrobe standard because I do love to run around in mini skirts and dresses, training or not. For years, choices for this very practical item have been limited to the oh-so-boring black or white. "Choices" mean difference in length for the in-seam. Yawn. Well, not anymore! Last weekend I picked up a couple pairs of Nike Pro - Core Graphic Compression Women's Shorts. They come in cute colours such as turquoise+purple, black+grey, yellow+orange. Do I hear fabulous? Good looks is obviously important but better yet, these shorts are so comfortable with flat seams and moisture-wicking fabric that we've come to expect from training apparel.
Speaking of practical, the temperature in Toronto is still a bit chilly and I often find myself layering on the arm warmers and knee warmers. Most cycling apparel brands have them in their collection but my personal favourite definitely goes to Sugoi. The fleece-lined fabric is cosy and the elastic grips never slip. I don't know about you but my limbs tend to get colder than the core. That means when I layer for training, I want thicker material for arms and legs but not my body. I always keep a pair of SubZero arm warmers and MidZero knee warmers in my skate bag just in case.
I do hope that summer will bring more exciting choices for the fashion-conscious skaters. Until then, train hard and look good!
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