Owning a successful clothing boutique in a college town takes extreme fashion know-how.

Diana Harbour, owner of The Red Dress Boutique (1059 Baxter St.), found the perfect mix of her zesty nature and outgoing personality with trend-spotting capabilities that yields a Mecca for fashion lovers in Athens.

Harbour’s professional boutique-owning experience and her hours spent picking out lines for her store make her the perfect expert to predict and outline this summer’s most sizzling styles.

Harbour breaks down summer’s top five must-have items:

1) a knockout dress – preferably a mini

2) wedge (cork) heels in a stand-out color

3) tailored shorts that can take you from day to night

4) a cropped jacket (best pick is a cropped trench jacket)

5) brightly colored accessories

In addition to these crave-worthy picks, Harbour said there are many other “it” styles for summer 2007.

The most notable is the “futuristic look, which mixes a space odyssey feel with a 1960s retro theme and can be expressed through satins, patent leather, plastic and rubber clothing and accessories,” she said.

A metallic pallet combines “gold, silver, shimmer, shine, gleam, luster and sparkle” into wearable fashions.

For those more conservative, the “romantic look blends soft layers and colors, floral ensembles, bows, delicacy and lace,” Harbour said.

There are many places to pick up these looks.

“For those who love the local boutiques, it’s not hard to find these styles prevalent, but for the price-conscious shopper, Target, Forever 21 and H&M are phenomenal places to pick up affordable and extremely trendy pieces.”

Because fashion south of the Mason-Dixon line may not be as daring as some of the looks seen on the catwalks of Paris, Milan or New York City, University students may want to take a more relaxed approach to this summer’s trends.

For example, “the mini dress is perfect for Georgia girls because it allows for comfort and wearability while also achieving the number one trend of the season,” said Harbour.

Whether you dress up this look with tights, go for a longer hemline or add a splash of color to incorporate the mood-lifting nature of the season’s hottest trends, Harbour suggests confidence for the best look possible.

- Emily Samuels is a columnist for The Red & Black