Bismarck, North Dakota - News

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- It's 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, and Doug Melroe is dressed for a glam night out. The aerobics instructor struts into a crowded studio at the Firm, wearing a sheer black Calvin Klein tank, black sequined pants, black derby, white Nikes and wraparound shades. After a heart-pumping warm-up, he changes into a mustard-yellow Jean Paul Gaultier sleeveless shirt.

His students chuckle, as they self-consciously tug at their sports bras. Melroe may be the only one sweating in couture, but his weekly performance is a sure sign of the blurring line between fitness and fashion.

Look around: Juicy Couture velour jogging suits are hotter than denim -- even style icons like Madonna and Sarah Jessica Parker have been spotted wearing them on the streets. Yoga pants are as common as khakis. Pumas are more popular than pumps. High-heel sneakers are even enjoying their moment.

With such high-style athletic wear available, it's easy to look sporty. But what if you actually intend to be sporty?

"I always work out in yoga pants, and they have to have a flare leg," says 25-year-old Krissy Swearingen, a regular at Lifetme Fitness in Woodbury, Minn. "It's a fashion thing." With Minnesota's weather, Swearingen's stretchy, slim-fitting, black cotton pants are practical for trips to the gym and more flattering than shorts or the old bulge-revealing spandex.

For Jim Carroll, a River Falls, Wis., Realtor who also works out at Lifetime, Nike Dry-Fit shirts are de rigueur. The fabric moves sweat away from skin, which is a plus, but not the reason Carroll dropped $40 on a form-fitting, bright yellow shirt. "I like to look presentable," he says.

Even athletic shoes have become more colorful, stylish and streamlined. Owning several pairs is no longer unusual. You couldn't get by with one pair of dress shoes, so how could one pair of running shoes possibly be enough? There are limits. Nike's slipperlike $55 yoga shoes aren't selling in Burnsville, Minn., even marked down 30 percent at the Northwest Athletic Club Pro Shop, assistant manager Carole Moeller says. "No one is going to pay that much for a shoe you only wear to and from class."

Health club managers say they notice members putting more thought into their entire workout wardrobe: capris paired with colorful sports bras for women, sleek track pants and sleeveless shirts for men. Grubby T-shirts are all but taboo. The emphasis is on clothes that look good on the Stairmaster and on the street.

"People want to be able to exercise, feel good about themselves and then immediately go from the gym to the grocery store," says Dori B. Hurwitz, co-creator of the Scout Performance chic active-wear line.

Even if fashionistas tire of running errands in designer tracksuits, Hurwitz is convinced upscale athletic clothes are here to stay. "Our clothes are functional. They just happen to look good."

Julie Gilbert, a Best Buy strategist who boasts three drawers full of the latest Adidas, Puma and Juicy Couture gear, says $60 isn't too much to pay for a cute tank top. "I'd rather spend money on gym clothes than work outfits," says the 32-year-old devotee of the Firm. "You want to stand out in class."

That takes some extra effort when half the club shows up in the same Mossimo athletic pants. To stand out, you've got to pay attention to the details. DeFeet socks, which come in unexpected prints like carrots or coffee cups, are hot sellers at Northwest clubs, says regional merchandising director Patti Lloyd. At other clubs, wearing black socks with black workout shorts is a way of making a statement.

Knit hats are fashion-forward, particularly for jocks desperate to channel Enrique Iglesias while pumping iron. A slightly less itchy option: a scarf tied around the head, preferably something more modern than a bandana -- solid black will do. Wearing bracelets around toned biceps, anything from rubber bands to gold, is another fresh look. And wrist sweatbands are retro cool, thanks to rebel pop star Avril Lavigne.

Meanwhile, Melroe's aerobics class is heating up. He unsnaps his black sequined pants to reveal matching sequined shorts. "It's a lot easier these days to look cool and feel comfortable," he says, leading the class in their first set of squats.

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