As the summer heat intensifies, area retailers have stocked their shelves to accommodate the rising temperatures. The hangers and displays are full of bright colors, bold patterns and new shapes perfect for the dog days of summer that are just around the corner.

Katie McCarstle, owner of Katie’s Ladies, said the market is full of color solids and bold patterns but adds that she has also seen quite a bit of black and white leaving her store.

“The No. 1 one combination people are buying right now is black and white,” McCarstle said. “I have ladies who come in saying they aren’t buying anything else in black or white but walk out with a black and white outfit.”

The reason?

“It is slenderizing and sophisticated. Just throw a little color in and you have a cute outfit.”

Karen Linton, manager of The Pampered Sole in downtown Natchez, said she agrees with McCarstle on the popular colors of the season.

“The hot colors this season have been anything bright, especially citrus colors like yellow and orange,” Linton said. “I’ve also been surprised by the royal blue and fuchsia we’ve seen come into the store this year.”

A quick walk through both stores reveals that the bold color palette is popular in all articles of clothing. From tops and pants to skirts and dresses, everything is bright and bold for summer.

Mary Flach, manager of Belk Department Store, said she has seen an influx of color in fashion for summer but new cuts and shapes are what caught her eye.

“Cropped jackets, the type that are made to let the shirt underneath show at the bottom, are a new cut that everyone seems to like. Our swimwear for this season also has a new cut to it. It is more figure enhancing.”

The teen and younger adult crowd that frequents The Pampered Sole has really liked the longer length tops and anything with a balloon hem according to Linton.

“The young girls are crazy about the little dresses and longer length tops. They like to wear the tops with shorter shorts for a summer outfit,” Linton said. “Skinny jeans and leggings have been really big this season too. We’ve sold a lot of those.”

Flach agrees that flirty looks like the baby doll top are popular in her store. And not with just the younger crowd but in every age group her store serves.

“Flirty tops are a must have this season, and not just in our junior section. I have these styles in every department of ladies apparel.”

For McCarstle’s customers, longer tops in a tunic style have been popular and eyelet is making a comeback. But what excites McCarstle the most is the resurgence dresses seem to be making.

“When I first opened, this whole area was for dresses,” McCarstle said pointing at a back wall in the store. “We haven’t had a large selection of them in years. Dresses have been mostly strapless for the last few summers but now they seem to working their way back to a cut and style for a missy woman.”

Flach contributes the rebirth of the dress to a new shape for this season. The shift cut dress popular this season is a “new-old” style that reminds her of Jackie Kennedy. A shift dress is typically a short dress that hangs straight from the shoulders with little definition in the waist are.

“There isn’t as much emphasis on the waist in this cut of dress. It is very similar to styles seen in the 1960s and 70s,” Flach said. “People can really date themselves by not having this style dress because is really is the big thing this spring and summer.”

But you can’t stop with a great outfit or dress. It is well known that an outfit isn’t complete without accessories and shoes. Choosing the perfect accessories is just as important as the clothes, McCarstle said.

“A necklace or other piece of jewelry really makes an outfit,” she said. “If someone is wearing a great necklace you notice that first and almost more than the clothes.”

And those all-important accessories seem to be following the same trends as the popular clothes – big, bold and colorful. Chunky jewelry in colors that match the bright colors of summer fashion is once again filling the jewelry cases at area stores.

“The patent leather look have been really popular in accessories this season. And we are seeing the patent in bright colors and on everything from shoes to handbags to jewelry,” Flach said.

But accessories don’t stop there. According to McCarstle, flower pins and hair clips are popular with her customers and sassy reading glasses are leaving the store at a record pace.

“I think people are thinking ‘if we have to wear (glasses), they might as well be sassy, fun and cute.”

Variety is what is popular in the shoe department at Belk for the summer. Strappy flat sandals and sandals in a “gladiator” style will be showing up on feet everywhere along with cork heels in wedge styles and the ever popular flip flop.

“The Yellow Box brand has been phenomenal. We can’t keep the flip flops in stock,” Flach said.

Summer shoes have been a preferred purchase for the customers at The Pampered Sole as well. Linton said the style and preferences among her customers is changing from high heels to flat sandals and ballet flats.

“Girls really like the flats now. We are selling a lot of flip flops and ballet flats this year.” That is a change from when the girls couldn’t get a heel high enough.”