#4 - Sunday, March 8, 1992 - North Shore News

FASHION

Fitness focuses on fashion

Carol
Crenna

FASHION STATEMENTS

SPRING FASHIONS will
quickly be upon us, but if
you are still in winter shape,
get some fitness gear and
get out there. It’s time to
whittle away those profile
pitfails, especially for the
fashion sezson’s promise of
midriff- and leg-baring
styles.

Less is best in fitness wear,
whether you are into aerobics,
dance, trimtone fitness, calisthen-
ics or weight training. Body
moulding and revealing styles will
give you motivation to work hard
to Iook your best.

Why? Because the shape they’re
in is the shape you're in, and
there is little you can do to hide
it.

Now is not the time to be
hiding behind thick layers, track
pants, sweats, heavily covered legs
and low-lying shirts. Now is not
the time for anything oversized or
over-accessorized. Keep it clean
and simple, with more emphasis
on fabric cut and pattern than on
addition details or accents.

Spandex blends and Supplex
nylon separates and jersey war-
mups have become hot fashion
news, especially since fitness gear
has taken to the streets.

Brights such as purple, orange
and fuchsia are top contenders for
the workout floor. They are
featured in loud graphic designs,
driobled effects,- florals and fish
prints, classic primary solids,
stripes and polka dots, er anti-
fashion dark muted tones.

New Lycra layered looks add
interest by combing different
fabrics and textures.

Capri and ankle-length leggings
get new exposure, rivalling popu-
lar cycling shorts which are cut in
two different lengths.

Fuil one-piece unitards,
rompers (which. are cycling short-
length unitards) and triathion
cross training suits are popular.
Bra shapes, T-bavck tops, skimpy
turtleneck tops, tank tops,
midriff-revealing cropped tops
and stirrup leggings are worn.

T-back G-strings are slipped
over top of tights, and short
shorts, jersey shorts worn over top
of cycling shorts and body suits
also equip the fashicnably fit, or
those who are working on it.

You can flatter yourself in ac-
tive wear that is designed to hide
your less-than-perfect parts and
emphasize your assets with
strategic placement of cuts, seams
and colors. Try on several styles,
remembering the basic dressing
rules that black and very dark
colors, V-cuts, blocks of color on
@ garment and vertical stripes are
the most slimming.

Get comfortably clothed in the
right active wear. Don’t go over-
board on super skimpy cuts and
trendy designs that you may tire
of too easily. Keep in mind that
the more styles you see in the

BODY-CONSCIOUS fitness gear trom North Shore manufacturers.

same print, the more women will
be wearing a very similar look to
your own.

Choose a quality label which is
weil constructed in breathable
fabrics, which either absorb or
wick away perspiration. Make
sure bottoms don’t ride up the
crotch, tops don’t rise up the
midriff, and seams den’t bind or
cut.

When you are working out, the
last thing you want to worry
about is feeling self-conscious.
Quality brands will also last
fonger, through more washings,
without allowing the color to
bleed or the seams to come apart.

It’s a good idea to seek expert
advice on the proper shoes for
your exercise. and your foot. The
proper length, arch support and
weight distribution are imperative
to avoid injury.

There are several ways to buy
fitness gear, from speciality stores

to home parties to custom-design-
ed merchandise sold through a
gym.

Three firms on the North Shore
specialize in jack chic for women,
creating styles that will suit every
taste, and every shape.

If you prefer the classics, and
would rather make a statement
with your physique than with your
fashion apparel, perhaps DUCK
FEET is the right label for you.

Duck Feet is a seven-year-old
North Vancouver design company,
owned by Janice Burnett. She
states that her philosophy is to
Stay with the basics, and that it
has always worked for her.

Burnett, who designs the line,
has established the firm as a top
Vancouver active wear manufac-
turer, now selling to approximate-
ly 1,100 retailers across Canada
and in Washington State. The
label is represented by an agency
in Vancouver and Toronto. It is

sold by Burnett’s daughter
Kristina McKenzie, at her agency,
The Show Mart.

The comparably-priced Duck
Feet fine includes aerobic wear
and casual separates. The fabrics,
which are all Canadian, include
nylon/Lycra and polyester/
cotton/Lycra knits in the aerobic
wear and 100% cotton jersey knits
in the casual wear.

The active wear colors include
21 different shades in solid and
Stripes, with 10 new prints in-
troduced each year. Currently, the
line features lots of primary
brights and purple in abstract pat-
terns and more subdued heather
grey and black prints.

The basic shapes created are
stirrup leggings, cycling shorts,
bike pants, capri leggings, bra
tops, short tanks and long tank
tops that are full-fitting with long
sleeves.

These longer tops are often

shown with handpainting. Any
and all of the styles can be hand-
painted by the firm if the retailer
has ordered them. :

Casual cotton shorts, perfect
for wearing in the popular look
over cycling shorts, and jersey
tops are also made here. Sizes are
small, medium, large and extra
large. .

Duck Feet is available at Alpine
Meadows, Act I, AllStar Sport-
swear, Off-The-Wall and The

that likes to stay*‘a; few’: pac
ahead of the. trends,“-BERESKINS
is a label you should be flaunting.
Bereskins is 2 North Vancouver
firm owned by Mary Berezowsky,
who has designed the line for 4%
years. Berezowsky- says. that: very
high quality... contruction’. and
unusual design: featur 2: char-
acteristic of her'line.*:..
Berezowsky’s- husband_;« Craig,
who has his PhD in molecular bi-
ology, works with the designer: :.
All of her fabrics are from’ New
York, and include the new Sup-_.
plex nylon which looks very much
like combed cotton, yet it is'much =
stronger, more durable,: and: it °
wicks your perspiration: along the ..
fabric and into. the air, ieaving
you dry. DEES,
It also is available in bold
bright colors which*do not fade =
like cotton. The firm also uses -
Lycra moleskin, a heavy-weight
fabric, and cotton/Lycra in -.its
designs. cae
The fabrics are. carried ‘in -:
unique prints including ~ florals, .
Aztec looks and -fish prints, and
other patterns which Berezowsky “
calls ‘everything from the conser- —
vative to the ridiculous.” )
The two best-selling colors cur-" °

t' to’
the same outfit especially. wien
they are exercising, becatise at this
time, they are concentrating ‘on.
their appearance and gaining con-
fidence in their own individuality. -:
The attention to construction is

shown in the clothing’s double-.:'g

stitching, performed - by: top-of-
the-line industrial machines, . with

_ additional panels in: the front and -

back to ensure that the: garments

- do not ride up or grab.

. The stitching is guaranteed for —

’ as long as the fabric stays intact. -

The Bereskins label is shown on

‘ unitards, T-bar tops, fashionable -.

high-collared tops that button at
the top and remain open :in the.
back, shaped crop tops, leggings, -
and cycling shorts in a. variety of
lengths.which are folded and stit-.-
ched at the hem. The sizes are -
small, medium and large with -
longer or shorter torses.

Berezowsky sells her fine as
custom-iit active wear. She sews
all of the clothing herself and = |
allows the customer to iry on each
item and have measurements
taken if the.item does not fit, with
any alterations free of charge. °.

ll styles can- be: mixed and .

matched for the customer. .

Bereskins is sold exclusively at _
Gold’s Women Only in Capilano
Mall. It is also sold through .
Berezowsky’s home, and you can
view the line by calling 983-2343.

CAMEL DANCE DESIGNS,
which began as a dance wear
manufacturer 10 years ago, has
expanded to include active wear
and separates for extra-large
women.

Owner Diane Correia designs -#

the lihes, which are designed and *
cut in North Vancouver and con-
tracted out to be sewn. The. com-
pany wholesales to specialty stores

See Manufacturer page 17