I believe in getting dressed once in the morning. That's about all the time and patience I have for that activity! I also believe in being practical and organized. Do you know that most American women only wear 25% of the clothes hanging in their closet? We will naturally gravitate to the clothes that work well, wear well and feel great. That's what clothes are supposed to do. However, as ice skaters, who also cross train during winter with skiing, snowshoeing, etc. our clothes really have to work-out.
Enter Athleta. This company is out of Petaluma California and has the theme of outdoor chic down pat. In fact, the clothing line works because of carefully selected fabrics and construction that take into account the activity the end user will engage in. By adding softness and stretch, Athleta takes comfort to a whole new level. One of the latest fabrics on the scene for this application is Tactel otherwise known as sueded supplex. This material has great wicking quality while feeling like soft suede against your skin. The first x-training set I tested in this material was by Athleta. We tested their Warm-up Hoodie made of 90% tactel nylon and 10% lycra. This cool weather topper allows your skin to breathe and I found that I didn't need to take it off as soon as I broke a sweat. I stayed quite cool and dry. When I was fully warmed up, I tied it around my waist. With the front zipper, it was easy to get over my bicycle helmet. It has two invisible zippered pockets in front which is great for stowing house keys. Very versatile, it is topper I use most. I teamed it with Althleta's Spaghetti Tank which color coordinates with their hoodie and is made of the same material. The built in shelf bra was comfortable but surprisingly supportive. Best of all, both pieces felt like butter against my skin. Team this duo with your favorite skating pants and you're ready to get on the ice after your morning walk. I am seen ice skating with Rene Syler of the CBS Early Show in Athleta's Hoodie which remains one of my favorite layering pieces. One more note on how well Athleta's pieces perform in the trenches. My daughter wore Athleta's Spagetti Tank and WON the 2005 Woodshollow Classic Mountain Bike Race in Holmdel NJ this past August! Despite the heat, she was able to keep cool in this amazingly breathable yet supportive top.
