A model wears denim shorts and top from casual brand Thursday Island.

/ Courtesy of Thursday Island



By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Temperatures are already soaring early this summer, but the heat is not limited to the weather. Fashionistas everywhere are sizzling up the streets with the hottest fashion trends.

From short pants to feminine floral dresses to gladiator sandals, women can cherry pick among the season's many trends to find a style that suits them. Here's a guide to the summer's stylish fashion essentials:



Flower Power

Flowers are everywhere, and it's not in the parks or gardens around the city. Floral prints are popping up in one-piece dresses, shirts, voluminous tops, swimsuits, bags and even jewelry.

Designer Nicolas Ghesquiere used vibrant floral prints for Balenciaga's summer dresses and handbags. The results are a stunning bouquet of exotic hand-painted flower designs in red, orange, pink, green and blue on Balenciaga dresses.

Romantic florals can also be found in Prada, Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs' summer collections. Some of the season's best floral dresses feature hand-painted cabbage roses, daisies, orchids and Oriental blooms. Zooc, a Korean brand, offers flirty dresses printed with lavender, blue and green blossoms.

To get in on the bohemian trend, get either a short one-piece mini-dress or a floor-length maxi dress in a fantastic floral print. Anyone can carry off the mini-dress, which can double as a cover-up for the beach.

Hollywood fashionistas Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie have been spotted wearing the voluminous maxi dresses, but choose a maxi dress with the right cut for your body type.

Florals are also spotted on this season's handbags. Louis Quatorze, a popular brand in Korea, introduced a line of sweet floral printed handbags with white leather piping.



Keep Cool in Hot Shorts

Largely in part to sexy Korean stars like Lee Hyo-ri and Seo In-young wearing skimpy short pants, shorts are the most popular item this summer. Department stores and online shops have reported sales of shorts have even exceeded sales of the perennial summer favorite: miniskirts.

Celebrities can look good on TV wearing skimpy and tight hot pants, but it can be too revealing for everyday wear. There are a variety of styles and lengths to choose from, such as Bermuda shorts, casual cargo shorts, as well as printed, striped and denim shorts.

Korean brand Thursday Island has some cute denim shorts that are best paired with lightweight cotton tops and striped shirts. Codes Combine, known for its minimalist style, offers deconstructed versions of shorts in gray and beige.

Shorts can be tricky to wear. Knee-length tailored shorts are sophisticated, and almost universally flattering. Petite women should choose shorts with a higher hemline, and pair them with heels to create the illusion of length. Straight cut shorts are perfect for women with larger hips. Wear loose bohemian-style tops and tunics with shorts to hide trouble areas around the midriff.

Most companies generally frown on shorts as office wear, but some are more lenient with their dress code during the summer months. Remember to leave the hot pants at home, and opt for tailored styles that are cut above the knee, and pair it with a crisp top or jacket.



Go Wild With Animal Prints

Blame all-girl pop group Wonder Girls (check out their music video for ``So Hot'') for making animal prints ``cool'' this summer. Leopard and cheetah spots, as well as tiger and zebra stripes are showing up in miniskirts, tank tops and dresses worn by young girls.

Caution should be used when wearing animal prints, because the wrong styling will have you looking more like ajumma than a Wonder Girl. Keep the animal prints at a minimum.

Take a cue from the tasteful brown and white giraffe print halter dress that appeared on Banana Republic's catwalk. The dress was styled with a matching sun hat, white leather tote bag and chocolate brown strappy sandals.

Animal prints look best when you're trying to go for a simple safari look. For example, pair a leopard print top with a classic-cut skirt in a neutral color like khaki, white or dark brown. Resist the urge to pile on different kinds of animal prints, or you'll end up looking like a jungle disaster.

Walk Like a Gladiator

Gladiator sandals, platform wedges, peep toe shoes and strappy heeled shoes are the perfect complement to the summer clothes.

Gladiator sandals first came out last year, but after being spotted on the feet of celebrities like Nicky Hilton and Gwyneth Paltrow, its popularity exploded.

Now everyone is wearing these sandals, inspired by the ones worn by ancient Roman gladiators. Choose from a variety of styles from classic flats to platform heels. The most popular sandals come in brown and black leather and metallic shades.

Gladiator sandals look perfect with loose floral frocks and shorts, since the straps are tied around the ankles. Usually there are two or three straps, but Balenciaga has come out with gladiator sandals with straps going all the way to the knees. Givenchy's version of gladiator boots also feature thicker and knee-high leather straps.

Peep toes and sandals are perennial summer shoe favorites of Korean women. ``Sarah's Cabinet," located in Samcheongdong, has a selection of pretty jeweled heeled sandals. Latest styles for this summer include T-strap sandals in fresh pink, white and yellow colors.

Poolside Style

Hit the beach wearing any of this season's chic swimsuits from classic bikinis to embellished swimsuits to halter-top swimwear.

Retro-cut swimsuits are also coming back in style. Transform yourself into a 40s pinup girl with romper-style suits in Pop Art-prints and candy colors.

Don't forget to bring stylish cover-ups, wide-brimmed hats and flip-flops to the beach. Raffia sunhats, plastic bangles and ethnic-inspired accessories are the popular ways to add some spice to your beachwear. Converse introduced comfortable flip-flops in different colors, including a girly polka-dot pair with ribbons.

Get the Bronzed Look

Complete your summer look with light and pretty make-up. With the unbearable summer heat and humidity, women are also concerned about how to keep their makeup from melting.

Clinique introduced Long Last Bronze, a makeup collection for the woman who hates to re-apply but loves to look her best. The make-up is long-lasting and water-resistant, so you don't have to worry about smudging your eye shadow or eyeliner while you're swimming.

Quick Eyes Cream Shadow comes in water-resistant summery shades like Cocoa Shimmer and Sunlit Palm. Long Last Glosswear with SPF 15 protects lips from harmful ultraviolet rays, while the Brush-on Cream Liner has a silicone technology that prevents the eyeliner from smudging and allows it to stay on for hours.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr