PARIS pour le sport

The big news out of Paris this season is news for the sportswoman—and it does not come from the haute couture. It is the Paris boutiques that have scooped the fashion world. These little shops, usually located on the main floor of the large and lovely maisons, blossomed forth the week of the big openings with fall collections that were as exciting to American shoppers as the presentations upstairs. For the first lime eight members of the couture (Lanvin, Desses, Carven, De Rauch, Heim, Ricci, Rouff and Griffe) have banded together to make boutique clothes "pret-a-porter" (ready-to-wear) and are exporting them to U.S. stores.

Fuzzy Poncho of while wool, lined with red, is one of the show-stopping suggestions for ski wear at Hermès, the most elegant leather and sportswear house in Paris.

Giant knit wool coat (above), photographed in front of the Christian Dior boutique, is made like a sweater, with push-up sleeves. It is typical of the bulky coat silhouette favored in Dior's haute couture collection.

Classic leather shirt coat of mustard yellow German calf (left) is also shown by the Dior boutique. This is one of an extensive collection of leathers in sports silhouettes that are popular with American shoppers.

Washable leather shirt of softly styled sheepskin (right) is shown by the Maggy Rouff boutique. Photographed with slacks at the Swiss Market in Paris, it is typical of sports styles tailored for American customers.

Woolly sports jacket from Hermès (far right) is made of sheepskin with its own wool still attached. Although water-repellent for skiing, hunting and general heavy-weather use, it is still stylish enough for town wear.

Silk sweater is from a new boutique supplier—Bettina, the famous French model who is the fiancée of Aly Khan. Sweater is available in the U.S. at Henri Bendel ($50).

Spectator skirt of blue wool tweed and flowered cotton matelassé overblouse from Pierre Cardin boutique are at Henri Bendel, New York (skirt, $50; overblouse $65).

Chemise dress, the talk of the Paris collections, is shown in a casual version of wool jersey by Jacques Griffe for his boutique collection. Also at Henri Bendel ($135).

EIGHT PHOTOS

CHRISTA; MODELED BY CANDY MARIAS