RUNWAY TO REALITY : Body-Grippers in Black

Bodywear is a basic element of a spring wardrobe, whether it is worn to the gym or on the street. Ferragamo of Italy showed the look for spring and summer; the ready-to-wear is sold--along with the famous shoe collection--at the Ferragamo store on Rodeo Drive.

This one-piece Ferragamo bodysuit in a black cotton and silk knit has a scoop neck, cap sleeves and a price tag of $410. The matching black knit cardigan tied casually around the waist is $450. The total is $860. The geometric earrings and matching bracelets of electroplated gold are also by Ferragamo.

Besides the prestige factor, the Ferragamo bodysuit is pricey because it’s made of Italian cotton-silk knit--a fabric much more durable than the cotton-spandex knit found in some American bodywear. But do you really need an outfit like this to last forever?

A black bodysuit from Clothestime is $12. The bicycle shorts by Gilda Marx sell for $21. Finishing the look is a $32 black cotton sweat shirt by Cotton Colors. The shorts and sweat shirt are from the Sporting Club in West Hollywood. The geometric enameled jewelry by Hera Lee is available at Emmeline in Pasadena. Total cost for this thrifty body-conscious look, not including jewelry, is $65.