Fashion meets function for the woman on the go

When exercise boredom strikes, many people look for fun distractions to keep up the enthusiasm. For some, it’s a new class; for others, the latest fitness video. And then there are those who look to new clothes for a pick-me-up. Fitness-conscious fashionistas might consider the latest from New Balance -- a running skirt.

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New Balance running skirt: This A-line skirt is an alternative to shorts, leggings and pants, and has a built-in seamless brief. The skirt is a polyester-Lycra blend, the brief a nylon-Lycra blend, and both are designed to keep moisture away from the skin. The idea of a short skirt to run in might not seem that bizarre when you consider that bike skorts have infiltrated the cycling world. Those skorts are part of what served as inspiration for New Balance, according to Erika Toner, the company’s apparel product development manager. Another factor was versatility. “People don’t look at clothes for just one purpose,” she says. “They don’t want a garment only to work out in, but also for going shopping and picking up the kids. Plus, the line between fitness and fashion is blending. Fitness clothes are inspired by fashion, and everyday apparel is pulling from fitness.”

Price: About $45. For stores, go to www.newbalance.com.

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-- Jeannine Stein