Summer's Hottest Fashion Trends

(CBS)  Many people love warm weather, but it's not always easy to look polished when it's hot outside.

In The Early Show's Chic On A Shoestring segment, Cheryl Kramer from Redbook magazine shows us how to look cool in hot weather without spending a lot.

She put The Early Show co-anchors Rene Syler, Harry Smith and Julie Chen to the test.

Watch the video and see if you can tell which is the splurge and which is the steal.

Fun summer night out

Trend: Floral halter dress with canvas bag, jeweled sandals

Steal:
Massimo dress from Target $19.99
Bright blue canvas bag from The Gap $19.99
Jeweled sandals from Spiegel $59

Total: $98.98

Splurge:
Lilly Pulitzer dress $168
Bright blue bag from Dooney and Bourke $170
Jeweled sandals from Stuart Weitzman $200

Total: $538

What accounts for the difference?

• The Lilly dress is 100 percent cotton; the Massimo dress is 100 percent polyester.
  
  
• The Gap bag is trimmed in canvas while the Dooney bag is trimmed in leather. The Dooney bag is also more durable because it's made of a heavier canvas.
  
  
• The Spiegel shoes have a rubber sole while the Stuart Weitzman shoes are all leather. The jewels on the Weitzman pair are real coral.

Drinks by the beach

Trend: You can wear a bathing suit and still look chic for drinks by the water. Cover-ups shouldn't be just old T-shirts.

Steal:
Animal print bathing suit from Old Navy $22.50
Gold metallic shoes from Seychelles $39
Linen tunic from Tommy Hilfiger $50
Straw hat from H&M $12.50
Macrame belt from Banana Republic $42
Straw bag with leather trim from Spiegel $49

Total: $215

Splurge:
Animal print bathing suit from Dolce and Gabbana $172
Gold metallic shoes from Walter Steiger $425
Linen tunic from Michael Kors $525
Straw hat from Helen Kaminsky $145
Macrame belt from Henri Bendel $78
Straw bag with leather trim from Coach $228

Total: $1,573

What accounts for the difference?

• The Michael Kors shirt is in finer linen. The equivalent of 200-thread-count sheets. It's been pre-treated for softness. It also has a beautiful hem-stitched finish.
  
  
• The Helen Kaminsky hat is handmade raffia while the H&M is straw. The more expensive hat is likely to hold its shape better.
  
  
• The macrame belt from Banana Republic is a shell fastened to wood while the Bendel belt buckle is real horn. It's also hand woven.
  
  
• The Dolce & Gabbana suit has the trendy cut-out back; it's a better fabric.
  
  
• The cheaper shoes have rubber soles while the Steiger pair is all leather.
  
  
• The Spiegel bag's leather trim is really faux-leather with painted-on hardware; the Coach bag has real leather trim and plated hardware.

Daytime BBQ outfit

Trend: Preppy chic

Steal:
Light blue polo shirt from The Gap $25
Striped Capri pants from Tommy Hilfiger $58
Canvas bag from Tommy Hilfiger $45
White leather flats from Seychelles $69

Total: $197

Splurge:
Polo shirt from Kors $358
Striped Capri pants from Tocca $194
Canvas bag from Kazuyo Nakano $73
White leather flats from Walter Steiger $295

Total: $920

What accounts for the difference?

• The Tocca pants are lined and are lighter-weight.
  
  
• The Kors shirt is a rayon/poly blend, which breathes -- will keep you cooler; the cut really skims your body beautifully; the collar is trimmed in cotton broadcloth. The Gap shirt is your basic cotton shirt.
  
  
• The Kuzuyo bag is trimmed in leather; the Tommy bag is all canvas.
  
  
• The Steiger shoes are softer leather; and have a more feminine shape.
  

In this contest, Julie and Harry did very well picking the right outfit every time. Not so Rene. Sorry, maybe next time!