The Hottest Trends in Summer Fashion Are Cool, Versatile and Going Fast

Summertime . . . and the livin' is breezy. At least that's the case if you're sporting some of the season's top fashion trends.

"Light, crinkly linens," says Kimberly Mattson Moster, owner of in West Hartford Center and Guilford.

"Light-weight, longer tops in crinkly cotton, solids and stripes. Tops are longer because of the legging thing," says Karen Herbert, co-owner of in West Hartford.

"I have a whole group of crinkle pieces. They're great because they don't show lumps and bumps, they travel well, and they're cool," says Marsha Davidson, owner of BodyTalk stores in Avon and Westport.

"The linens feel like pajamas," says Sharon Ettori, owner of Jeri James in Glastonbury, where wide-legged slouchy linen pants are walking out the door in big numbers. "The new linen is very soft and thinner, it's not wrinkly in the way that the old-fashioned linens are."

Crinkly linens and cottons also offer tremendous versatility. "One customer bought a black top, and she wore it with fancy jewelry to a wedding," says Moster. "Another had hers on over her bathing suit. She called me from the pool and ordered three more because she was going to wear them all summer."

What else is stylish this summer?

At BodyTalk, Kimberly Boutique and the new Ooh La La Boutique, which recently relocated from Avon to West Hartford's , it's the maxi dress. "We've had them for three years, but this year everybody is buying them," says Moster. "They're so easy."

The dresses "cover up the knees," she says. They also go anywhere. "Put on gold sandals, and you can go to a wedding," Moster says. "Slip on plastic flip-flops, and go to the beach."

Tonya Flores, owner of Ooh La La, agrees. "They're multi-functional," she says. "You can wear them in the evening or at the beach over a swimsuit."

At BK & Co., Herbert is selling a lot of statement pieces. "Something that has a twist to it, something that's a little different," she says. "No one is buying basics now. In this economy, you're not going to buy something you already have in your closet. You want something different, something that makes you feel like it's new."

Skipping out the door at Ooh La La are rompers, one-piece shorts-and-a-top outfits available in a variety of colors, patterns, and fabrics from silk to cotton. "Yesterday, we killed with these," Flores says.

At Jeri James, printed T-shirts and dresses have been super sellers. "You can wear them to the beach, or wear them out to dinner if you throw on a dressy sandal," says Ettori.

In the accessories department, scarves are big at BodyTalk. Affordability and versatility make them a perennial favorite. "You can use them as a shawl, tie them in your hair, or use them as pareos," Davidson says.

At Jeri James, it's the Swarovski crystal-studded flip-flops created by Lori Jack for Havaiana. "They come in a boatload of colors," says Ettori.

Another small item that is selling big at BodyTalk are one-size Coobie bras, which are designed to double as under-layering camisoles and come in 24 colors. "Customers buy one and then come back for all the colors," Davidson says. They wear them under sweaters, blouses and jackets for a layered look. 

When it comes to color trends, Herbert is seeing lots of teals, grays, pinks and whites. Moster has been selling neons — from lime to hot pink — and plenty of grays. Nautical navy is another summer fave that will be strong heading into fall. At Ooh La La, corals, purples, oranges and patterns from geometrics to leopard prints line the walls.

The best news?

In most stores, summer fashions are now on sale. Kimberly Boutique is in the midst of it summer sale with West Hartford Center Sale Days on the horizon July 14 through 16. That means sidewalk sale prices and bargains at both Kimberly and BK & Co. Jeri James will mark down what remains of its summer merchandise during the Somerset Square Summer Sale Days, which are scheduled for July 7, 8 and 9. And BodyTalk is in the midst of its own summer sale.