Debut of The Shopping Fix Webisode, Plus "Summer Essentials"

Editor's Note: Today we're excited to launch our first "webisode" (brief online TV show) of The Shopping Fix. The webisode is a chance for us to bring to life shopping and fashion in the Triangle. After you’ve watched the show, feel free to send us an e-mail and let us know your thoughts. Enjoy the show!

Summer is upon us and this time of year, everything changes! The clothes, the shoes, hair care, skin essentials – the list goes on and on. Who better to go to for your basic fashion 411 than Tim Gunn, star of the hit Bravo television series "Project Runway" and "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style." Tim is also the chief creative officer for Liz Claiborne and author of "A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style." We sat down with Tim and he let us in on a few of his affordable fashion secrets. With so many products to choose from, we decided to track down the hottest trends for the season, and here's what we came up with:

Shoes:

Toe ring sandals are the "it" shoe this summer. Hugo Boss has made the toe ring sandal so sleek that you could almost get away with wearing it to work! If your boss would rather you keep your toes enclosed, sling backs are a sexy, comfortable alternative. I've never worn a Charles David shoe that was uncomfortable, and I would highly recommend his line of summer sling back shoes available at Kristen's Shoes in Cary.

Sunglasses:

Tom Ford Whitney UV-protected shades: They start at $320, but you can find less expensive look-a-likes just about anywhere (just make sure they are UV protected!)

Hair Care:

Keeping hair soft and silky is one thing, but with all of the pool parties, it can be difficult to keep your hair from turning chlorine green. Here are a few tips to help prevent "pool hair"

• Use a sun-safe conditioner. Frederic Fekkai, Kerastase, Aveda, Redken and Biolage all have products, from sprays to gels, that contain a UV shield that will protect your hair from root to end. My favorite is Aveda's Deep Penetrating Hair Revitalizer available at the Hair & Face Lounge in Cary.
• Also, do not completely rinse out all of your conditioner. According to stylists everywhere, leaving a little conditioner plumps up the hair shaft, which makes it virtually impossible for chlorinated water to turn your hair green.
• If you are going to the pool and forgot to condition your hair, take bottled or tap water and drench your hair before hitting the pool. Good water in keeps bad water out!

Skin Care:

Skin is in! In this day and time, it's more important than ever to keep your skin protected from the sun. Murad Energizing Pomegranate Moisturizer SPF 15, $30, combines natural ingredients with moisturizers and SPF 15 to keep your skin safe, smooth and smelling sweet.

There are so many sunless tanning products out on the market today: creams, gels, foams, wipes and more! Tanning creams can make you go from bad to worse unless you want to look like an orange with legs. Here are a few suggestions: A good one to try is Neutrogena's Sunless Tanner, which comes in a foam. Neutrogena even has a video on its Web site that tells you how to apply it properly at neutrogena.com.

If you have really oily skin (like I do) try Loréal's Sublime Bronze self-tanning cream (for the face). I have yet to break out from this product, and it lasts forever!

We have given Tim a list of items that were, at one time, very hot. To keep you on the fashion forefront, we asked Tim to tell us what is still "hot" and what is "not."