Three trends to try this summer: Bare a little skin in an off-the-shoulder tunic, dress or crop top. Pair your off-the-shoulder tunic with cropped pants and your crop top with a full A-line skirt. Culottes are summer's faved pant style this season - landing a few inches above your ankles, these pants are 'forgiving' and flattering. For a 70's daytime look, wear your high waisted culottes with wedges and t-shirt and for a modern night look don a pair of tailored culottes with with an off-the-shoulder tunic and strappy sandals. Soft fringe and fur embellished shoes are my favorite trend this season. I'm happy to report the furry shoe trend doesn't end with summer - we will see full-furred boots and poufs of fur on slides, mules and booties.

Pictured here: Tibi Off-the-Shoulder Tunic, Tibi Ophelie Fringe Mules and 7 For All Mankind Denim Culottes.

Charming prints, embellishments, tassels, ruching and ruffles are what make Agua Bendita a superior brand in swimwear. Ethnic Adventure and Loving the Earth are just two of the elaborate themes Agua Bendita swimwear showcases each season. This is my favorite swimwear brand! Of course I love the details and colors, but the fit is impeccable - the ruched bottoms accentuate your assets and my 'not so little and perfect' bottom looks better in Agua Bendita than any other swimwear brand. Tops and bottoms are sold separately, allowing for the perfect size and fit all around. There are often a few styles featuring the same print, so you can mix-and-match to meet your needs.

Agua Bendita sarongs, cover ups and scarves are as equally impressive and the perfect pairing to your bikini. Opt for a matching sarong folded and worn around your waist at the pool to enhance your bottom or full-size and wrapped around your bust for more coverage. For a modern poolside look, drape a scarf (much smaller than the sarongs) over your shoulders.

Agua Bendita swimwear is available at aguabendita.com and revolveclothing.com

Organize your suitcase with Bag-all travel bags. Choose from a variety of bags for shoes (even tall boots), cosmetics, gadgets, jewelry, undergarments, laundry and more.. With each bag donning a photo of contents within, these bags are cute and an efficient way to pack. A must have for avid travelers.

You can purchase these travel bags at bag-all.com and shopbop.com.

Of course, I wash my under garments, socks and tops after each use, but I avoid washing sweaters and bottoms if I can to preserve their original color and state. There's nothing worse than washing your new jeans and finding they're covered in micro white pilling and faded. I was introduced to The Laundress Denim Wash by a salesperson at the denim company, 7 For All Mankind. Tried, tested and true, my new blue denim jeans came out looking almost perfect. Now I use Denim Wash on all of my heavy, dark fabrics to maintain their color.

When I find a brand that is this impressive, I usually buy their other products as well - and so, my collection of clothing care products is starting to look like my hair products shelf! Among the vast variety of detergents in The Laundress clothing care line, I currently use the Signature Detergent, Delicates Detergent, Sport Detergent, Wool and Cashmere Shampoo, Denim Wash (I luv this product), Stain Solution (miracle product), Ironing Water and Stiffen Up (natural starch). Each product has a unique fresh scent and successfully treats your clothes in the manner intended. I know it may seem ridiculous to purchase a different detergent for each fabric, but clothes are expensive and I want mine to look good after 15+ washes. I assure you these products will keep your clothes looking great for an extended period of time.

Purchase these and other Laundress products at thelaundress.com

Before I go on a rant about minding your midriff, let me be clear - most women have midriff concerns and it is normal to have a slight bump or swelling in your abdomen area. Only models (whom are usually in their twenties) have a flat stomach and they work hard for it. Those of us who don't obsess over our physic during the winter, might have some regrets come that first summer heat-wave. Even if you bust your ass tryna get fit for summer vacation, after the first salt-rimmed margarita and poolside burger - your bloated! So don't fret, just dress appropriately and do your best to mask your shortcomings with the right attire. Here are some bikini options for those of us trying to cover our midriff while keeping fashionable and cool in tropical temperatures. Moderate to high rise bottoms are your best friend this summer. Side ruching (gathering of material) creates a diversion and makes the area appear smaller. Prints conceal, while solid colors tend to show your figure for what it is. Horizontal stripes will make your bust look larger and your hips wider, in turn your belly will appear flatter. A pair of high-waisted shorts atop your bikini is a cute 'cover up'. It's all about playing with proportions, texture, prints and styles to find your perfect poolside attire.

Pictured here: Dolce & Gabbana Floral-Print Bustier Bikini Top and High-Waisted Briefs, Norma Kamali One-Shoulder Top and and Moderate-Rise Bottoms, She Made Me Crocheted Bikini Top and Shorts, Dolce & Gabbana Striped Bikini Top and Ruched Briefs. Visit NET-A-PORTER for these and many other high-waisted bikini styles.

LOOKBOOK.com is a worldwide online demonstration of street fashion, personal style and trends. Peruse the library of bloggers, artists, and fashionable posts for inspiration and fashion education. There are so many different fashion perspectives - someone will definitely showcase a similar style to yours (or a style you strive for). There is a large population on LOOKBOOK with exceptional fashion sense that will motivate you to expand your personal style and give you insight into trends and how to wear them.

LOOKBOOK is a fashion site where anyone can post their looks - just create an account and load your images. You can 'hype' looks you like and fan your favorite profiles. It's addictive!