Text savvy designs for young fashionistas

Staying stylish and staying in touch may have more in common than you think. LOL Trends :), the fashion brainchild of Merrick mom Rebecca Braunstein, puts a sartorial slant on popular text message phrases.

Braunstein’s brand boasts tees, hoodies, yoga pants and other comfy clothing decorated with text terminology like “TTYL,” “JK,” “<3” “:-P” and, of course, “LOL.”

“I want all the girls, tweens and moms, to have fun with it,” said Braunstein, whose line was recently picked up by Denny’s Children’s Wear, which has a shop on Merrick Road in Bellmore.

Braunstein’s fashion inspiration comes from her own tween daughter, 10-year-old Melissa, a Camp Avenue Elementary School student who loves to don her LOL Trends “ILY” (I Love You) tank.

But texting as a fashion trend is something Braunstein said appeals to moms as well as daughters, and the prices, she said, are appealing too.

“I’m a mom and I want to keep the prices that moms would like,” Braunstein said of the line that ranges in price from $8 to $34.

Even though the prices are low, Braunstein donates $1 of every sale to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This business decision was also inspired by a family member, Braunstein’s 1-year-old morkie puppy, Bentley.

LOL Trends’ :) most popular items include a tie-dye tee that comes in green, pink and blue and says “OMG =D” on the back, and a hoodie with “<3” on the back. New styles in the works include expressions like “G2G,” “BRB” and “BFF,” as well as new twists such as glittered ink. All LOL Trends :) items are emblazoned somewhere with the slogan “you text it, you wear it.”

To shop LOL Trends :), visit www.LOLTrends.com or call 1-888-LOL-TRENDS.

Comments about this story? SZeidler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.