Summer, those lazy, crazy days or not. Summer is the time to become active, to take part in all those sports and activities you don’t have time for or don’t feel like doing during the winter months. Summer 2007 has some killer outfits for you to wear. In fact, you have your choice of clothing designed as activewear or activewear designs incorporated into designer fashion

Consider track pants. They have made their way onto this year’s runway, as have hoodies, anoraks, and T-shirts. Designers have adapted active sports wear concepts into their collections. In Paris, for example, Dries Van Noten combines sequined tank tops with track pants and creamy polo shirts with pencil thin skirts. Even Chanel and L.A. based Mike & Chris are incorporating hoodies into their fashion. As a result, you can dress for a sport and be in style.

There are collaborations between designers and sportswear labels. Y-3’s and Stella McCartney’s collections for Adidas and Nike last year are cases in point. In some instances, the emphasis is on eco friendly outfits. Green consciousness and activewear inspired Eco sportswear and Rogan Gregory’s Edun line. It is a case of rocker T-shirts and jeans inspired by nature. Meanwhile, Levi’s cuffed capri pants aim to attract the active and environmentally conscious crowd.

Activewear is everywhere. L.L. Bean continues to combine style with sense. This year, they feature the French sailor shirt. You can purchase it in six different colors and in three different cuts: Henley style, classic crew net and in the popular quarter-zip pullover. The ever reliable Bette and Court continue their practical line of microfiber capris, shorts and skorts. They offer a wide selection of shirts to suit all your active needs – striped, colored or white, sleeveless or short sleeve. Quality defining Leon Levin is ready for this summer with their line of fashionable capris, polo shirts, cardigan sweaters, and comfortable casual collection.

There is also the specialty activewear. REI has developed an extensive and colorful yoga line. Champion continues to produce their own unique style of yoga clothing. Casall offers workout clothing for power Pilates. Lucy prides itself on activewear for anytime, any place. Royal Robbins offers Zenon Stripe Strappy Tank tops made from moisture stretch jersey. Swami has some amazingly comfortable Shilo Capris perfect for golf and afterwards. Coldwater Creek calls their offering crop pants.

Overall, activewear styles vary widely. The basics, however, remain the same. You will need a hoody, shorts, polo or golf shirts, a skirt, skorts, shorts and pants. The major buzz, in this year’s fashion world, is the ongoing love affair with Capri pants. Capris are a piece of clothing blending different sports and sectors of your life into one. They are comfortable, stylish and oh so practical. Almost any sports store and an amazingly broad sector of low and high-end stores stock them. It is an example of women blending their real life interests with their clothing choices.

Materials vary as much as the clothing does. There are drawstrings, mesh fabrics, spandex and jersey. Jersey is always popular. It stretches and can adapt to so-many different uses. It is versatile, tough and soft. Lululemon prefers a silverescent fabric. Its selling point – it does not stink. This is something to keep in mind if you are a very active woman. Lacoste has a new stretch polo with a two-inch longer hemline – perfect for tucking it in without worries of riding up and out during a crucial shot or moment.

Cotton is still the norm, particularly organic cotton. Old Navy sells popular cotton blend shorts. Levi’s Eco line is 100 per cent organic cotton washed in natural dyes. Linen is still a trendy material in some circles. They provide swimsuit shorts with a crisp, fresh look.

Overall, the textures of activewear fabrics for Summer 2007 are clean, the lines simple and the colors, traditional. There are the usual pastels, subdued prints and darker tones. The only exception is in swimwear. Here the palette is a dazzling one ranging from rocker to romantic, Hawaiian tropics to California surfer culture, retro ‘50s to East Coast nautical.

The only common trend, beyond capris and eco consciousness, is a simple one. Women’s active wear for 2007 doubles as casual wear.