HOT TIPS : FIGURE-SKATING BOOM BOOSTING SPORT'S FASHION SENSE.

Byline: Barbara De Witt 

It's not just little girls who want to grow up to be the next Tara Lipinski. Middle-aged women are ice skating before work or on their lunch breaks, turning the Olympic sport into a fashion parade on ice.

And Miz Hot Tips wonders if many of those women are the same ones who stocked up on shiny leotards and wrap skirts back in the '70s when aerobic dance arrived on the scene. Apparently she's not alone, as Capezio (maker of dance fashions) is now making ice-skating dresses for girls and women.

To get the scoop, Miz Hot Tips called Mary Spencer, the buyer for Pickwick Ice Center in Burbank, where you might see up-and-coming Olympic champions practicing their routines.

According to Spencer, ``The popularity of ice skating has really increased, at least 100 percent up from 10 years ago. And it's become a dress-up thing, now that designers like Vera Wang are making skating clothes.'' So obviously Spencer is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new Capezio styles, which will include suede fabric practice dresses and a beaded dress with jacket. Colors are deep, like plum, brown and copper, says Spencer, who adds that pink isn't as popular with skaters as you'd think.

Fans of the petite Lipinski can get more fashion direction at 3 p.m. today at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. The youngest Olympic gold medalist will be there to sign autographs and introduce Donna Karan's new DKNY Kids back-to-school collection.

It's got a new spin: Remember when you were happy with a spinning top or yo-yo that didn't do anything special? Longing to share your childhood memories with your own kids but don't want them laughing at a top that merely spins?

Maui Toys of Youngstown, Ohio, has put a '90s spin on several old faves. In their newest collection are tops with flashing lights that play '60s hits like ``Wipe Out,'' ``California Girls'' and ``Tequila'' for $2.99; yo-yos with fake fur sides, musical yo-yos and a Lava Flo yo-yo that works sort of like a lava lamp when you're walkin' the dog, priced at $2.99 each.

Other bright ideas are Light-Up Shooters, a package of huge plastic marbles that sparkle when you roll them, for $4.99, and Sparkler Bow-Biters for shoes, a little fluff of pink or lavender feathers with fiber optics that sparkles and flashes with each footstep, priced at $7.99. Look for them at Kmart, Target and Toys R Us.

A fair trade: Got an old Pacific Bell phone book lying around? You can get a ticket to the IMAX Theatre at the California Science Center in Exposition Park for an old directory anytime between Sept. 14 and Oct. 11. Of course, there's a catch. You have to buy one adult ticket and you get the other one free. For more information about the recycling program, call [phone]. For IMAX ticket information, call [phone].

On mall patrol: You can learn all about the latest trends in decorating from Annie Kelly of House & Garden magazine and design experts from Nautica Home collection at 1 p.m. Sunday at Macy's at the Promenade Mall, Woodland Hills. The store will also unveil its new Nautica furniture collection for shoppers.

And beginning Thursday, all Robinsons-May stores are going to offer free jazz performances to kick off their exclusive launch of Yves St. Laurent's new men's fragrance Live Jazz. The not-for-sissies scent is a heady combination of bergamot, amber, vanilla and grapefruit; priced at $35 and up.

Oh, Diana: It's hard to believe Princess Diana has been gone almost a year, but her beauty and fashion style live on in two cocktail-table-worthy books.

To recall all those stylish ensembles that made us smile, check out ``Diana: The Secrets of Her Style'' by Diane Clehane (GT Publishing; $30) and ``Diana: Queen of Style'' by Jackie Modlinger (Courage Books; $19.98).

Both are written by fashion journalists with some insight into the royal closet and are packed with rarely seen photos.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO Maui Toys puts a '90s spin on favorite playthings.