Steve & Barry's: What To Buy

Before the store goes away, try and get some of these:













As you can see, Wonderwall by Laird Hamilton is a men's line for the surfer/skate dudes in your acquaintance. Although my man threatens me all the time with a skateboard purchase, I think I've convinced him he's too old to start (I'm not an ageist, this is for the safety of the general public). But the clothes he can wear, particularly when they're cute, very inexpensive, and well-made. The Wonderwall line has soft cottons and nice design elements, like pull strings on the inside of the cargo shorts and lining in the board shorts. The graphics are cute and the prints are stylish. I've got my eye on a palm tree T-shirt for myself.

This is, unfortunately, not me and my husband.

The flip flops (above, also come in tan) got a big thumbs up, as the soles are fabric. Important for those who have sweaty feet in the summer. I didn't know I was married to a foot-sweater until this Fourth of July holiday; he wore his cheap rubber flip-flops and was sliding out of them during a long walk. Finally he had to take them off and go barefoot. Ewww, barefoot in Brooklyn.

So load up on Wonderwall before it disappears, and maybe resurfaces elsewhere. But if Mr. Hamilton's line is (hopefully) picked up, everything will not be $8.98. We've learned that doesn't quite work.

I'll end with a little love letter to the great surfer:

Dear Mr. Laird Hamilton,

If you're great line survives, can you please convince your lovely wife [Gabrielle Reece, pictured above] to design one for the ladies? Thanks,

Fashion Herald

Steve & Barry's, Manhattan Mall, level 2, 33rd & 6th Ave.