Stay in style in Surf City

Angelique Flores

From colors to cut, Main Street merchants know what the flow of fashion

is this summer.

Browns, blacks and grays are being replaced by aquas, yellows, baby blues

and reds this summer.

Anything that ties in the back is in. Popular bikini styles are the

halter or triangles that “let it hang loose,” said Debbie Ramirez from

the Beach Store.

For the bottoms, girls prefer the bikini styles with ties on the sides to

make legs look longer. Sarongs, long or short, are the perfect leg

cover-up. For fuller coverage, throw-on sundresses. And sheer slip

dresses are also in style, Ramirez said.

Sarongs and tie-bikinis are definitely hot, confirmed Nuch Banta of

Sunshine Suit Co. Of course, the classic Hawaiian prints remain in vogue.

Denim is dark blue for both men and women, said Paul Rodriguez of the

Closet. Bright solid colors are hip, and so are animal prints, Ramirez

said. The preference, however, has moved from cheetah and leopard prints

to zebra and snake.

Glitter is still hanging on, and the sparkles are getting bigger, with

gems that stick on the body. Merchants said gems, rhinestones and beads

add chic details to solid print clothing.

Outside the water, it’s all about frills and femininity for the ladies.

“This is the perfect time for being a girl,” Ramirez said.

Skirts and dresses stop at midcalf. The straps, either on blouses or

dresses, are spaghetti.

Capri pants, which are very hot, said Nancy Duran of Clothes Minded, can

be worn with a basic tank top, a T-shirt with cap sleeves, a tube top or

an open apron top.The best shoes for the beach are the platform thong

sandals or slip-ons, said Jackie Prewitt of Jack’s. Platforms are still

in, but not as bulky. The styles are a little more streamlined with thin

straps.

Slip-on sandals by Sanuk are also a hit, said Ian Dodge of Huntington

Surf and Sport. This label makes them in different materials, from

crushed velvet and leather to AstroTurf.To top things off, bright hair is

needed to match the bright bikinis, said Chelsea Cook of the Beach Store.

Solid colors and thick streaks are in. To keep the locks in place, forget

about last year’s butterfly clips. Try a thin, glittery headband,

bandanna or scarf.

Of course, the perfect ensemble needs the perfect accessories. Duran said

the perfect beach bag is a straw one, small or large.

Choker necklaces with beads have taken over the fake tattoo-style

chokers, Cook said. Silver is always in style, whether on a toe ring,

belly button ring or earrings.

For those who don’t want to get the real piercings, fake ones are just as

cool. These are the easiest options to enhance a body in a bathing suit.

Certainly, the guys want to look good, too. They will be in style with

Hawaiian prints and solid colors, Rodriguez said. The button-down,

collared shirts are must-have items, whether it’s solid colors or simple

plaids. Some get a little more funky with shimmery materials.

Cargo shorts and board shorts are still in, Rodriguez said. And so are

puffy tennis shoes.

Guys are keeping their hair short and spiky. To cover it up, baseball

caps and visors are still popular, said Justin Malpica of Huntington Surf

and Sport.

As for the sunglasses, both guys and girls are wearing big, wide, square

shaped sunglasses.

“It’s not so much cat-style or wraparound,” Dodge said.