Designers like Carolina Herrera looked to the Far East for their summer lines, incorporating Chinese and Japanese detailing such as embroidery, tassels and obi belts into designs. The Asian silhouette allows for cool comfort on the beach, by the pool or on vacation.

And what screams summer better than Hawaiian prints? Large floral prints are showing up for skirts, shirts, handbags, bangle bracelets and hats and hair accessories. What are the owners of chic fashion boutiques in the metro seeing flying off the shelves?

Jayme Hale, owner of Ten14 Boutique, 14201 N. May in Quail Village, is seeing both hippie chic and preppy looks for summer.

“It’s great because no matter what your personal style is, you’ll be able to find it,” Hale said. Natural-hued shoes and handbags are popular, as well. “We’re still seeing sparkly and happy going forward, such as sequins on shirts and handbags,” she added. Even for daytime.

Personally, she’s loving the Seychelles footwear line her store carries. “They are comfortable, have great structure and you can wear these heels all day long and do fine,” she said.

Mary Ann High, the owner at The Lime Leopard, 12204 N. May in Northpark Mall, said you can definitely see hints of the Asian and Hawaiian, which can pair well with another summer staple: white denim.

High said that denim shorts, such as Citizens of Humanity and Paige Premium, are big sellers at her store. While short shorts are popular, The Lime Leopard also will carry the just-above-the-knee length shorts, as well.

Espadrilles, like the 4-inchers from Dolce Vita, are the big shoe of the summer, and High said 405ers love it in “petal,” which is a soft neutral.

Belts are the big accessory item to cinch the waist of cute dresses in fun prints, such as the popular dresses by Charlie Jade at The Lime Leopard.

Back over at Quail Village in another fashion boutique, Lush Fashion Lounge, 14101 N. May, owner Carrie Boevers said maxi skirts are a huge trend — especially full maxis — for resort wear and paired with oversized tops.

“We’re also seeing jumpers and rompers making a comeback again,” she said.

Another
popular print shop owners are seeing is stripes and lots of color, with
coral and salmon taking the top spot. For evening wear, The Lime
Leopard is carrying Bebe couture dresses and Tracy Reese, many of which
can be worn with flats during the day and with heels at night. Just in
time for summer, Trichology Salon, 14101 N. May in Quail Village, is the
exclusive retailer for Becca, the cosmetic line worn by many
celebrities, including Kate Winslet, Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The brand’s philosophy to create “a natural, flawless look” is a perfect
complement to summer’s easy style. Becca’s Beach Tint product was an
Allure Best of Beauty winner in 2006. It’s a blendable cream stain for
cheeks and lips that comes in six colors.

Finishing
off your summer style with accessories means belts to cinch off those
oversized shirts, handbags, such as the Oriano line at The Lime Leopard,
and bracelets, which go from chunky to very delicate to the
still-popular leather wrap variety.

If
your flip-flops look so last summer, Pink Sugar Shoe Boutique, 1389 E.
15th in Edmond, carries Tkees flip-flops in five colors and Girl Two
Doors Down flip-flops with embellishments.

Owner
Kelsie Petree said the most popular shoe is an entire line: “Anything
Kate Spade has been flying out the door,” she said. “It’s fun and
colorful and unique and different. No one has copied it. Spade has
anything from wedges to heels, very whimsical, bows.”

And,
guys, don’t think we’re letting you get by with that college tee and
ripped khaki shorts you call your summer wardrobe. In terms of trends,
it’s just the opposite for guys: not oversized, but slimmer.

According
to David Ooley, co-owner of Mr. Ooley’s, 1901 Northwest Expressway in
Penn Square Mall, men’s fashion is continuing the evolution of trimmer
clothing, such as flat front trousers and shorter blazers.

“We’re
seeing a trend in unconstructed jackets,” Ooley said. “They’re like a
tailored sports jacket but don’t have interior canvassing and lining, so
they are well-mated with denim and khakis, to throw on over a shirt.
It’s a nice way to upgrade dress when dressing casually.”

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