Winter sports go into colours

THE ski in Europe this year again will be lit up by colour. Skiers and snowboarders wearing the latest fashion will be sporting bright colours and their outfits will include elements borrowed from street clothing.

In addition to striking, ski suits in uniform solid colours, patterns in plaid, comic strip design and photographs that dot the snow scene colourfully are set to hit stores this season. The designers seem to be looking back; for some, they are reminiscent of the 1980s.

That's not just by chance. The ski suit, which has gradually declined in popularity, is making a comeback. Until now, the suits could be seen in ski resorts on people who had not invested recently in new ski attire.

Now they are returning, particularly among snowboarders. Comfortable new stretch fabrics give the garment the flexibility needed for a snowboarder's sensational movements and keep the snow out where it belongs.

Some jackets and trousers can be combined into an outfit that is partially one-piece, officials with Munich's winter sport trade show Ispo said of the current trends. They are typically worn with a belt, sometimes studded, said Helmut Buchheimer, senior buyer at a Munich-based sports clothing retailer.

"It's currently a trendy item, but you'll see very few people wearing them," said Buchheimer, as the suit is still something for people with a bold fashion sense. Customers will overwhelmingly select other designs, he said.

Ispo organisers are summing up the trend as an attempt to balance urbane style and street wear looks with styles that appeal to skaters and surfers.

Alongside catchy patterns for snowboarders, skiers will set off down the slopes in stylishly tight-fitting and linear ski clothing.

"The main focus is on designs that are tapered and plain," said Buchheimer. Thus, expensive ski or snowboard jackets can be seen on city streets.

The ski suits, however, are being pepped up with contrasting colours on the zippers or seams, said Buchheimer. Black and white are dominant in the collection. In addition there are fresh blue tones, such as bright royal blue, and earth tones such as red and orange.

The latest collections have various greens, from poisonous green to apple green, according to Ispo.

The Swiss company Kjus has come out with sporty, fresh colours and a linear design.

Patches of material in solid colours are broken up by swatches or zippers in brightly contrasting colours. Or, the lining of the hood is a contrast colour, turning it into an eye-catching feature.

The Toni Sailer Sports collection report highlights the colours dark fuchsia, brilliant blue, khaki and dark blue.

DPA