Shop-laden Brattle St. shows some of the most interesting apparel in the area. Beginning at the Loeb Theatre end is Design Research, selling the famous Marimokko dresses in brightly colored cotton prints for $24-$38. Today or early next week they expect a new shipment of bikinis from Finland which, at $21, have been selling like hotcakes.

The Window Shop, 56 Brattle, known for its lovely garden terrace restaurant, includes a sizable section for gifts and dresses. Their own creations (designed and sewed there) as well as those by Lanz and other better makers, are now marked down to $5-45 for summer clearance.

Buffaloes and Bolts

Kitty Haas, the eccentric designer behind the Coop, must be visited to be believed. You may find it difficult to resist her water buffalo sandals. Those with a do-it-yourself inclination will enjoy fitting these Indian sandals to their feet, a task which involves wearing them in the bathtub or any other convenient body of water for 15 minutes. Kitty's excellent selection of imported earrings for pierced ears begins at $1.50.

Her specialty, however, is custom-made dresses. She will draw what you describe, take your measurements, and show you her fantastic collection of imported fabrics. Among bolts from Spain to Siam you may select a hand-screened or blocked cotton or silk. One fitting, two weeks, and $25 (and up) later, you will be the proud owner of a Kitty Haas original.

With these notes the summer clothes-horse is left to the steeplechase with only his sartorial judgment at the reins.