SPORTSWEAR : Off the Slopes and Into the Fast Lane

Clothing designed for the ski slopes and ice-skating rinks is coming down off the mountain and onto the streets.

Skating dresses with matching floral-print leggings from Pat Hudson, a skatewear company; high-waisted velvet stirrup pants with matching bomber jackets from Bogner; brown satin motorcycle vests from Head Sportswear, and bright geometric print ski pants from Roffe look as good in an urban environment as they do above the timberline.

Many traditional skiwear looks have been picked up by sportswear designers: stretchy stirrup pants and oversize sweaters, for example, have become wardrobe basics.

Jef Wilke, owner of Vail West, a Beverly Hills sportswear shop, has found that his customers en route to winter resorts want a ski wardrobe that, like a cruise wardrobe, looks fashionable but is geared for temperature extremes.

He stocks catsuits in heavyweight stretch fabrics that provide warmth in subzero conditions, down-filled velvet bomber jackets, waterproof motorcycle jackets and anoraks that keep out Arctic blasts of wind.

This snow season has brought a new color palette to skiwear. The brilliant fluorescents introduced two years ago by snowboarders are passe. Dark purples, greens, browns and black are now the colors of choice; darker colors help the clothes make the crossover to streetwear.

“Most of my customers who don’t ski think the bright-colored skiwear is too loud,” says Seth Mellman, ski trainer for Oshman’s Sporting Goods. “They take one look at those bright colors and say, ‘I need something in black.’ ”

The fluorescent colors are also fading at ice-skating rinks, where Pucci-like prints and oversize florals are popular.

Skating dresses are making a comeback on the rinks, as they are in ready-to-wear. The short, flippy skirts from Danskin and Pat Hudson are not dresses in the traditional sense, but more like a 12-inch ruffle attached to a waistband.

The skating dress has an attached trunk, is made of a lightweight fabric with Lycra, and is often worn with matching tights.