NEWS

Ladies' Golf Gloves to Sponsor Pinehurst Event

Fairway Skins Co. will serve as a sponsor of the "Go Red for Women" charity event on June 10 at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C. The tournament is part of Pinehurst Women's Golf Week.



FEATURE

Shopping Tip

By Janice Ferguson
GPA Fashion Correspondent

For female readers who have been looking for an alternative place to shop for active wear, including golf, and have not heard of this Internet and catalog company yet, Athleta is your goldmine.

Based in Northern California, Athleta is a one-stop shopping source for golf, tennis, running, fitness, yoga and swimming -- and even ski/snowboard clothing in winter -- and offers a great selection of under gear, footwear and accessories. Whether you are a serious athlete, fitness buff, casually active or just want to look good walking the dog, Athleta is a great source when it comes to lifestyle products and advice.

If you visited its corporate headquarters, you would find a large clothing rack smack in the middle of the customer service center that is stuffed full of shorts, tights, tops, sports bras, jackets and jerseys -- they say it is almost as if their catalog exploded in the lobby. But the rack plays a critical role in the advice and help they offer when you call. The product and customer service teams test every product the company carries, so you get a perspective that's based on personal experience.

On Friday afternoons, a bit of frenzy breaks out around the rack as employees select and sign out products to use for whatever activity they've got going that weekend, be it a trail run, a mountain bike ride, a snowboarding lesson or a round of golf.
If you are shopping via Internet, go to www.athleta.com and view its somewhat small, but versatile, collection of performance polos, sweaters, capris, shorts, skorts and dresses. Various patterns and color ways allow you to mix and match almost all the pieces to create an array of outfits.

Athleta's golf apparel line is not overly athletic in structure, yet still performance based, but not too cutesy either, which makes it a nice middle-of-the-road casual look that's stylish. Features such as hidden tee holsters on the shorts and moisture-managing fabrics add to the practical appeal. Athleta also offers Coolmax socks, ECCO shoes and Keri golf bags.

Almost forgot the best part -- prices. They are reasonable, very reasonable for the quality, styling and details.
In addition to offering products from companies like Patagonia, Marmot and Adidas, Athleta also designs its own technical outdoor and running apparel, as well as a fitness line. This evolved from listening to customers who were requesting items, colors and styles that just weren't being made. The comment heard most often was how difficult it is to find athletic pants in tall and petite sizes, so the Athleta label includes both longer and shorter inseam options in addition to the standard length.

The Athleta team members come in as many different shapes, ages and sizes as the general public, with varying attitudes and abilities. So don't think that when you call for assistance with size guidance, that you're getting a stick-figured, teen-aged, blonde surfer girl with dreadlocks, chomping on Bazooka bubble gum, bearing her tan stomach etched with a belly ring and tattoo. If you do, it's OK, she'll know what she's talking about and how to help you.

And if you're still one of those shoppers who has to touch, feel and try it on before you buy? Athleta stands behind everything it sells, 100 percent guaranteed. If you don't like it, send it back. No questions. It's that simple.

If you're lucky enough to live in northern California, don't miss Athleta's huge annual warehouse sale, June 2-4 for up to 80 percent savings off retail.

For information, call 888.322.5515 for information or to request a catalog, and visit www.athleta.com to see the entire selection of active wear for women.