SHADES OF SUMMER SANDALS, SUNGLASSES MAKE A BOLD FASHION STATEMENT.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Fashion Editor

Walkin' the dogs and seeking shade are two summertime pastimes that require killer fashion instincts.

In L.A., where stars start the styles and every wanna-be follows, the wrong accessories could ruin a career. Or at least a fashion stance.

This summer, the sandal to slip into is the thong. After a couple of years taking a back seat to slides and strappy types like those worn by Marilyn Monroe, the thong, based on the original Japanese zori, is stepping forward.

You can find a variety of new flip flop styles with extra-thick cushioned rubber soles, decorated with bright contrasting straps, often accented with fake flowers, feathers or plastic beads in numerous stores including Old Navy and Target.

For a stronger statement, consider Kenneth Cole's wooden style with a denim thong, or see-through rubber high-heeled thong in shades of lime, periwinkle and pink by Unisa at Robinsons-May.

For a contemporary take on flip-flops, Banana Republic carries a marbled purple clear acrylic style that features a square platform with a turned-up toe box, while Birkenstock debuts its new red iridescent snake skin thong on a cork and rubber sole with the company's trademark scoop design that allows toes to grip while exercising muscles.

Prefer a preppy stance?

Talbots has soft leather thongs with a large wedge of soft leather in tan as well as red or turquoise, while Banana Republic offers several Ivy League looks, including a '60s pink-and-green combo with top-stitch detailing.

For cocktail soirees and movie premieres, Stuart Weitzman has a dazzling new thong with a Swarovski crystal-studded ball (choice of red, gold or silver) poised over your first two toes. It's the latest look from Weitzman, who's a favorite on Oscar's red carpet. You can find them at his Rodeo Drive boutique as well as Nordstrom and Macy's.

As with any sandal, your toes are exposed. So do consider a pedicure before you hang 10.

Although ankle bracelets and toe rings aren't as fresh as they were a few seasons ago, decorative nail polish is in again. In addition to eye-candy colors, there are local salons such as Aroma-listic in Agoura Hills, where you can get your nails painted to match an outfit or a holiday theme. According to this salon, the most popular requests are camouflage and leopard prints, which they do by hand.

For do-it-your-selfers, check out the latest nail design kits with rhinestones, glue and decals available at most drugstores. Or use craft-quality water-based paints and paint on your own designs over a clear base coat and then seal with a topcoat.

Regardless of how cool your shoes (or nail decor), they should never take away from your eyes. Or compete with your shades.

Sunglasses were created as early as 1885, according to Georgina O'Hara in ``The Encyclopedia of Fashion'' and they were used by World War I flyboys. But they didn't become a fashion accessory until the '30s, when Hollywood actors wore them to avoid the glare of the studio lights.

By the '40s, the paparazzi had caught numerous stars hiding behind dark shades, including Joan Crawford, who reflected the popular trend to the frame with small oval lenses that remains a classic favorite with the Armani crowd.

But it's the cat's-eye shape that's making a big comeback.

Take a look at old movie mags and you'll see numerous stars wearing that '50s fave, particularly Natalie Wood in a basic black style.

This summer the black plastic cat's-eye has been updated with tinted lenses in pastel hues and rhinestone trim. Or square-cut Swarovski crystals like Escada's new movie-star style. But it's not just for celebs, as numerous mainstream companies like Liz Claiborne and Nine West are offering selections.

Also staging a comeback is the aviator style.

Designed for World War I flyboys, the original Ray-Ban style returns on the face of Ben Affleck and others in the current World War II film ``Pearl Harbor.'' Although Ray-Ban is the original design, numerous variations can be found, including OP's brass-trimmed model.

And the stars most associated with the newer rimless style - last seen in the late '70s - are Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears.

Both wear the graduated color lenses with rhinestone-encrusted words in the corner created by celebrity eyewear designers Karina Klishtein and Simone Smith, wife of LL Cool J. The signature shades flash monikers such as ``J Lo'' and ``LUV'' and sell for $350, but if you're willing to settle for a heart or a star or other accents, check the cheap-chic styles at Nine West and Claire's Accessories.

Whether they're oval or square, the close-fitting light brown rimless lense shape can indicate almost as much status as a handbag and can be found at the same fashion boutiques, including Bulgari and Cartier, but stay tuned.

Come fall, designers are thinking big and bold. Chanel and Michael Kors' newest collections will include shades as oversized as the style Brigitte Bardot hid behind and as bug-eyed as those immortalized by Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

What's hot

Ah, the scents of summer. Night-blooming jasmine, the neighbor's barbecue ... and fake tanning lotion.

As more of us are avoiding the sun, more companies are making overnight tanning products. Among the newest is Maybelline's Tinted Self Tanner that promises to make you look sun-kissed in just one hour, compared to the usual two. It and other products that produce a golden glow are priced between $4 and $9.50 at most drug stores.

While you're indoors working on your tan, consider golden highlights that don't require excessive sun or strong peroxide.

John Frieda's Beachblonde collection is so easy that all you need is a hair dryer and a bottle of Sun Streaks to create natural-looking sun-lightened highlights. Less dramatic is Lemon Lights, Frieda's new gel lightener with lemon juice. For fresh-from-the-sea goddess looks try Gold Rush for temporary streaks and Ocean Waves for water-wavy tendrils. The products are $6.50 each at drug stores and the John Frieda Salon in L.A.

More summer news is the Nude Beach cosmetic collection from the Chatsworth-based Sexy Hair Concepts company.

Among the novelty products are Aero Tan, an instant temporary tanning spray in an aerosol can. The formula has a sweet coconut scent, priced at $13.95.

And you can get shimmery sun-kissed cheeks with Nude Beach's Sun Burnt blusher. It's a large tube of orange stuff that turns a different shade on each person's cheeks. You'll find it for $15 at hair salons and at www.sexyhairconcepts.com.

Got the glow, but looking for fireworks?

Finish your summer look by painting your pout with Firecracker, a brilliant red shade of liquid lip gloss from Woodland Hills-based Sebastian International. It's one of 10 new summer vacation colors in the Divinyls collection of Sebastian's Trucco cosmetic line, priced at $9.50 each. Unlike other lip glosses, they don't feel too sticky when temperatures rise.

Perfume can also leave you feeling sticky. Not so with Jean Paul Gaultier's new alcohol-free fragrance that cools the body down as the weather warms up. His Classique summer fragrance comes in that curvy bottle he's famous for, decorated with pansies and tulips. It's available during summer months, only, priced at $48 at department stores such as Macy's and Bloomingdale's.

Asymetrical tops are hot this season, but they create an underwear dilemma. Luckily, several manufacturers have recognized and solved the problem.

At Lane Bryant stores there's a new five-way bra called Smooth Performance that adjusts so you can have support for all one-shouldered fashions - regardless of which shoulder is bared - for $29, and Frederick's of Hollywood has a similar style for $28. Lilyette has also addressed the problem with its new softly molded convertible style, priced at $26 at most department stores.

Show your toes, while compressing your saddlebags with Spanx, the new footless pantyhose. This $20 pair of pantyhose has a comfy waistband, built-in girdle and features leg bands that designer Sara Blakely says won't dig into your skin like knee-highs do. The result is a firm-looking body under your dress or capris and bare toes showing through your sandals. You can find Spanx in sizes small through extra-large at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue stores. For more information, call [phone].

For those who want to show off their waist, uniformly fashionable new military belts can be found at numerous consumer bases, including Nordstrom's Brass Plum department and those little accessory carts at the mall. Otherwise, order online at Bluefly.com, where you can find them with buckles covered in a choice of crystals, pearls or grommets, priced at $39.95 and $49.95. And start looking for what's next, which is a tooled leather cowboy belt accented with a big crystal-covered heart to wear with hip-rider jeans.

Miffed that your due date is in August and you can't wear those nifty new military belts?

Expectant moms can still pull off this edgy summer look with camouflage print pants that have a waistband that resembles the military belt. The fresh look is part of the latest collection at A Pea in the Pod maternity stores.

- Barbara De Witt

CAPTION(S):

16 photos, box

Photo:(1 -- 3 -- color) Shade the sun in Old Hollywood styles by Escada and Adrienne Vittadini, from top, and slip into preppy top-stitched thongs from Banana Republic, right and below.

(4 -- color) ``Pearl Harbor'' star Ben Afleck has helped bring back the original Ray-Ban aviator shades.

(5 -- color) Thongs have become so fashion-forward, they've been added to Birkenstock's summer line.

(6 -- 7 -- color) Transparent high-heeled thongs by Unisa, above and rimless rhinestone-accented sunglasses by Nine West, below, are among the season's newest trends.

(8 -- 9 -- color) Drug store flip-flops sparkle with plastic beads and playful nail art by Aroma-listic Spa in Agoura Hills, left, while Kate Spade's leather thongs, right, evoke a ladylike '60's mood.

(10 -- color) Cartier's new rimless collection of eyewear reflects understated elegance.

(11 -- color) Nine west reinterprets the '50's cat's-eye shape with a slightly squared-off design, but other designers are going totally retro with exaggerated shapes and rhinestone trim.

(12 -- 15 -- color) no caption (Fashion products)

(16) Chanel's new fall collection includes these oversize shades inspired by Jackie O.

Box: What's hot (see text)