Guest blogger Christine Eddy never lets a fashion opportunity get away. She shared her latest fashion find:

“Who says you can’t look fashionable while working out?  As a fitness fashionista, I was on the prowl to find some “fun” workout gloves that weren’t masculine looking.  I came across these divaish animal print gloves, which will take your workout to another level and unleash your inner beast.

Femmefitalefitness.com offers the gloves for $24.99 a pair.  They come in leopard or zebra print.  They are fierce and are perfect for lifting weights or kickboxing. Show up to class wearing these gloves to be spotted immediately. Go after your prey to keeping them running for miles.

If animal print isn’t your thing, there is some good news…they are also available in an array of bright colors with Swarovski crystals embellished on them.  One thing is certain…they will put some sparkle in your fitness routine. Femme Fitale Fitness gloves will have you training like an animal and earning your stripes while adding “bling to your swing.” – Christine Eddy

Christine got me looking for gloves, and I found that Femme Fitale also has golf gloves, and to take the Swarovski crystal bling up a notch, I found helmets for motorcycling, cycling, horseback riding, and skiing at Extravaganzi.com. Want more? Sparkle on with a $375 helmet at bling4divas.com (far left below) or check out the discoball helmet on sale for $999 at bikersblingonline.com.

 Pam Parker is the mom of three, stepmom of three, GramPam to one and editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

Not just for sport or court, colorful shoes are hot topics!

It’s back to school and when that kid of yours picks up the chartreuse must-have high tops, don’t freak. Color is big. Last week, I posted my new lime-green kicks. They’re not just for the court. Yellow, pink and bright blue sneakers, flats and sandals are trendy and the cute leopard ballet flats are still in fashion. The photo at left is from TLC. Check out more colorful footwear at Seventeen Magazine.

Skinny jeans are staying — and in colorful patterns, leopard prints, paisleys and much more.

The 80s are back. I’m not sure if I’m glad or scared, but slightly puffed shoulders are returning for the younger set, and so are ruffles. In a fashion shoot for our September issue of Her Times, we dressed a model in a striped and ruffled blouse from The Limited. I had one just like it in the 80s. Tops are also sporting polka dots, prints, plaids and patchworks. It looks like someone raided my 1980s closet! Check out a cute jean jackets with puffed sleeves at Seventeen Magazine.

This utility jacket from Forever 21 is one of the hot trends — $24.80, and some fashionistas claim sleeveless blazers are in. In my day, we called those vests, and it’s nice to see them back. So are bomber jackets.

And houndstooth is still here – so hang on to your black and whites.

In other fashion news:

Penn State is putting names on the backs of their football uniforms breaking with a long-term tradition. I bring this up because I am a Penn State grad.

The Olympics featured some awesome clothing styles (but it would have been nice if they had all been made in the USA) for our athletes. Seeing Gabby Douglas in sparkling pink and Serena Williams in a sharp gray jacket was a surprise. Our red, white and blue was kind of hard to find among some of the U.S. team uniforms on occasion. But then again, it seemed all the international athletes wore a lot of color — not just their own country’s flag hues. There’s nothing wrong with color, but I had trouble picking out the Americans at times. My hubby pointed out tiny flags on sleeves and above the heart on some uniforms.

Enjoy you week in style!

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.