Tired of Tees? Try a Polo Instead

Three times this week, I have worn a polo shirt: once with a skirt, and twice with jeans (skinny jeans on Thursday and boot cut jeans today). I've paired my polos with a silk rep tie belt and ribbon flip flops, ballet flats and a cardigan, and loafers and a raincoat.

The polo is a great alternative to a basic tee; it's a little dressier, but not as dressed up as a blouse. And like a tee, you can wear a polo with virtually everything.


Old Navy polos

Old Navy's polos are the best deal price-wise, at $14.50 each or two for $20.00. These shirts have a slightly longer length, best for low rise jeans and shorts. The online selection is better just now than what's in store.

Gap is offering a shrunken pique polo, for a slimmer, shorter silhouette (more colors in store). Great with slightly higher waisted pants and skirts.

And if you want a wee little crab or pineapple or martini glass on your polo, J. Crew's got you covered. $39.50, or two for $50.00; monogramming will run you an extra $10.00 per shirt. Available in fourteen colors, with eighteen different critter options and two monogramming options. Very Preppy.

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Some Days, I Just Love the Internet

Actual unedited e-mail:

Susan,

I truly enjoy your website. Thank you for sharing. Hints and tips are always appreciated.

Now, onto socks. I know your socks are suppose to match your hemline. I've known this for more years than I would like to admit, but I cannot adhere to this rule. I just love to wear orange or red socks with and all black outfit. Today is a grey and black number with pink socks.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thank you,
Poptart

Actual unedited reply:

Poptart, I think I love you. Your e-mail made me smile.

Yes, the rule is usually to match socks or tights to your hemline, or to your shoe. The idea is that this creates a long, coherent leg line which slims your lower half and draws attention either up to your face or down to your cool shoes, whichever you choose.

HOWEVER.

Rules are really made to be broken (except for the one about not letting your underwear creep out of the back of your pants. That is the Unbreakable Rule). Basic black (or brown or gray) is an ideal background for color--a scarf or necklace or bag . . . or socks.

Style is all about wearing what makes you happy. If a pop of bright colored sock makes you smile, then that absolutely SHOULD be your personal signature. Rules are a useful shorthand for navigating the myriad of choices in every closet, but they should never stand in the way of creating an individual look.

Wear those pink socks proudly. And then send me a picture of them. Pretty please.

~S.

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Not Your Mom's Jeans

Oh, jeans. We're all always looking for jeans. Here's one more suggestion: Paige Premium Denim has a fantastic selection of jeans, in various cuts and styles, including some really hott maternity jeans.


Robertson Maternity, $189.00


Laurel Canyon, $169.00

These jeans are on the splurge side, particularly the maternity styles, but if you are someone who wears jeans to work, it may be worth the investment. They are beautifully made and are the denim equivalent of a great pair of wool trousers. And of course, these are jeans you want to take good care of: machine wash inside out and hang to dry, to prolong the life.

Because at that price, you really DO want them to last forever.

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Gap Inc. to Close Forth & Towne

Oh, I am so very sad about this: Gap Inc. has announced that it will close Forth & Towne in June of this year.

In many ways, Forth & Towne was doomed from the very beginning. Like the Gap's eponymous flagship chain, Fourth & Towne was trying to cover too much ground all at once. Their clothes targeted women over 35, women who wanted better quality pieces than what was being offered at Old Navy with more sophistication than what was found in Banana Republic or Gap itself. In the fall of 2005, Julia Turner put together a fascinating video essay, in which she argued that it's biggest problem would be demographics:

As a business idea, then, Forth & Towne makes sense. As a fashion concept, though, it raises a few questions. For starters: Who are these "women 35 and over"? It's a group both enormous and diverse. It includes Sarah Jessica Parker and Madeleine Albright, Anna Wintour and Oprah Winfrey, Mrs. Robinson and Miss Havisham. It includes both my elegant 59-year-old mother, who scours department stores and discount chains like Loehmann's for classic suits, and her chic 44-year-old sister, who recently devised a way to wear an Hermès scarf as a shirt.

In the end, it seems that Turner was right.

I love Fourth & Towne, although only from afar; we don't have a store here in Oklahoma City, but I often look longingly at their web site and wish I could find pieces like theirs around here. I am tired of trying to look my age while shopping at stores that cater to much younger or much older women. I am tired of feeling like being in my late thirties means that I either have to dress like someone twenty years older or twenty years younger.

I will miss Forth & Towne.

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Picture Perfect

Hi Susan,

I was wondering if you have any advice for outfits that photograph well over the course of a day. Every year we have a slew of office events where there is some amateur taking photos that will eventual wind up in annual reports or in posters advertising how fun a career with us would be and it would be nice to look thin and ready for action versus weighted and returning from battle.

Thanks,

EM

Oooh, good question. I don't know what exactly Erin does or how formal her office is, but I have a FANTASTIC, reader-submitted example of what to wear to work.

A while back, Regan e-mailed to ask about spiffing up her Casual Friday wardrobe. Recently, she checked back in to update me about her look.


From the Flickr group Because Susan Asked, which you should ALL be posting to. Please.

I love this outfit; it is casual and pulled together and functional. But it's also professional and presentable, and looks terrific in pictures. The combination of a great jacket and a terrific pair of pants is a good way to go for a day of photos. Erin could dress this look up or down, depending on her workplace dress code, but what Regan has done so well here is to keep it simple. She is wearing ONE stand-out piece of jewelry (a Superhero necklace), but her shirt and jacket add visual interest without being overwhelming. Erin could also trade the pants for a skirt, if that's more comfortable or more appropriate, although again she wants to stick with something streamlined and simple (an A-line or pencil skirt, for example, and with a hemline that covers everything if she happens to be sitting in the photos).

When you're dressing for anything that will involve candid photos, particularly in the workplace, be wary of tops that have the potential to show too much of what's underneath; double check that stomach and backside are covered ALL THE TIME, just in case that photographer happens to be behind you when he's shooting, and keep your boobs under wraps. Make sure that your underwear is really UNDER there.

Don't wear anything that requires constant readjustment; go with an outfit that moves with you and stays where it's supposed to. Wear something you can forget about and be your best, most comfortable self in. And THEN, send ME pictures of what you wore to work! Please.

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Because We're All Hokies This Week

This Friday, wear orange and maroon in support of the Virginia Tech community. (Full post, as well as a wealth of other truly remarkable posts about the Virginia Tech shootings, at BlogHer.)

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Color Coded

I talk all the time about building a wardrobe of basic pieces, essentials that you can fall back on in a pinch and that will work for you for years to come. But a wardrobe of basics doesn't mean a closet full of black and white and khaki; color is an easy way to add variety and interest to your wardrobe.

When my sons build Lego towers, we talk about starting with a good foundation, to hold the whole thing up. Your wardrobe works the same way; begin with essential pieces (a great A line or pencil skirt, a pair of tailored trousers, a perfectly fitted jacket) in the neutral of your choice. Basic neutral pieces (black, gray, brown, camel, navy blue, white) are the building blocks for any wardrobe.

Black is the ultimate basic; black goes with virtually everything. HOWEVER there are some combinations that you may want to steer clear of. Black and white will make you look like a waitress; black and yellow says bumblebee. Black and navy blue is possible to pull off, but difficult; if you don't pair pieces carefully, you just wind up looking like you got dressed in the dark. Black and black can be tricky, too; if the pieces are too dramatically different in color or sheen, one will wind up looking faded. Don't assume that you can throw on just any old thing with your black skirt; think carefully about your choices.

Charcoal grey is actually more functional than black. Wear it with black and navy for a simple, almost monochromatic look, or with color for a lighter, brighter look. Think as well about light gray, something more flannel than charcoal; I have a pair of light gray cropped wool trousers that I wear with everything. They're my stand-in for jeans, in fact.

Brown is also incredibly versatile. Pair a nice chocolate brown with blue or violet or pink for a tailored but feminine look. Think about choosing a brown suit rather than a black suit; brown can be warmer than black, and less likely to make you look washed out and wan. Think also about brown for evening, rather than the little black dress. Brown taffeta is elegant and classic but still edgy and current.

Camel works well with red or green; it is also a good foil for pastels. Camel is the more dressed up cousin of khaki, and is equally versatile. Wear warm tones--greens and purples--with camel for a chic, sophisticated look.

Navy blue is the new black (I love that idea, that anything is the "new" something else). Wear navy with pretty much anything, but unless it's July 4, think twice about the red white and blue combo. And even then, just don't. Please.

White goes with everything. Of course. But white is tricky (white pants, for example, are not the best look for everyone) and of all the neutrals, it is the least practical.

Pastels vs. Primary Colors

How do you know when to chose a pastel, or lighter shade, and when to choose a primary color, or richer tone? Pastels are a younger, lighter look; if you're feeling tired and wan, a nice pastel near your face is a good way to wake your skin up. A more saturated color, however, is more sophisticated.

Which is my way of saying, it's up to you.

So let's talk strategies: how do you coordinate colors?

Think about the color wheel.


Color Wheel: Use and Definition

You have four options for combining color with a color wheel. You can stick with a monochromatic, or all-one-color palate, which is safe but can be dull. You can chose complimentary colors (two colors occurring on opposite sides of the color wheel, say violet and yellow), which is a little livelier but may not always give you the look you're searching for (because really, violet and yellow? Hmmm).

I prefer to go with analogous colors, meaning two or three shades that are grouped together on the color wheel, or with the triadic approach (three shades that form a triangle). This gives more texture and interest.

In the end, though, wear colors that you like in combinations that appeal to you. Because honestly, if violet and yellow float your boat, go for it. If color scares you, start small, with perhaps ONE boldly colored piece, and go from there.

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How Green is My Closet?

Last week I wrote about the difference between casual and sloppy, and it got Catherine thinking:

With all due respect (which is a lot because I love Friday Style), some of this advice seems not very "green" (in reference to your earlier post about environment-friendly habits). I'm not sure that clothes need to be thrown out because they're faded or worn. And I don't think everyone really *needs* new underwear every 3 months. There must be a way to be stylish without being wasteful.

Catherine, there absolutely is.

I think there are three basic strategies for being both stylish and eco-friendly. The first is to buy fewer things; instead, choose pieces that are really well-made and care for them properly. Don't be seduced by disposable fashion, by pieces that cost next to nothing specifically because they're only made to last for a few months. For your basics--pants and sweaters and blouses and dresses and skirts--make the commitment to buy quality clothes that you will wear and wear and wear.

The second is to think about how you care for those clothes. Skip dry cleaning, if it is at all possible (dry cleaning is hard on the environment AND hard on your clothes). Hand wash and line dry whatever you can (this saves energy AND limits wear and tear on clothes, most of which comes from laundering, not wearing). Store garments properly between seasons (fold, don't hang, sweaters; use cedar blocks and plastic bins). Mend tears and treat stains right away.

The third strategy is to think carefully about how you dispose of garments that are no longer wearable. Donate pieces that are in good condition but no longer fit your body or your style (Goodwill has convenient drop-off points in many cities, while the Salvation Army and other groups will often come right to your door for pick up). Repurpose pieces (like tee shirts) that are too stained or faded or pilled to wear any more; we put old tees in a "rag bag" and use them for cleaning or as art smocks for the kids, and I have crafty friends who make various things out of worn tees.

So how do you extend the life of pieces that will, inevitably, become worn and stained WHILE saving the environment? Let's think about t-shirts. Tees, even very high-end versions, have only a limited life span; because you wear them close to your skin, they soak up perspiration and oils and eventually will stain. Treat stains immediately and wash in cold water (more eco-friendly than warm water). Machine wash tees inside out, to prevent pilling on the outside of the fabric, or hand wash. Dry on the lowest possible setting, or air dry (lie tees flat to dry, to prevent stretching).

White tees will show wear the fastest; if you're wearing your white tees a lot, especially in the summer when it's hot and you're sweating, they will last about three or four months (essentially one season). But don't toss them yet! As long as the collar and hem are still in good condition, you can use them as layering pieces through the colder months. Eventually, though, even the most meticulously cared for tees will be too sad to wear around, and you will need to part with them.

Catherine also asked if everyone really needs new underwear every three months. I think yes and no. It's not the every-three-months timetable that is important here; it's the please-don't-wear-old-panties-with-holes issue. I think most women, particularly those of us who are trying to watch what we spend on our wardrobes, are prone to overlooking the state of our undies. Because I could buy new underwear OR I could buy new shoes! No one sees my underwear, right? Right! Shoes it is!

Over time, with washing and wearing, your underwear will wear out, just like your tees do. And eventually, the elastic gets less elastic and the fabric wears through and the seams start to fray and the undies don't fit properly any more, and then your pants and skirts don't hang properly and you look sloppy. OR you lose or gain a few pounds, and again, underwear doesn't fit properly.

So please, replace your panties when they start to wear. Again, you can hand wash for longer life (and you SHOULD hand wash and line dry expensive bras) or you can wash in the gentle cycle, ideally in a lingerie bag, but eventually, and sooner than you might think, it will be time for new underwear.

I think that the smart way to shop is to buy as few disposable things as possible, and to focus your wardrobe on pieces that will wear and last. Make the effort to take care of EVERYTHING, and then think carefully about when to replace various pieces. But don't hesitate to replace things that are worn or stained, and don't wear anything until it is falling to bits.

Ready to hand wash and line dry? Yesterday's New York Times ran a wonderful piece by Kathleen Hughes about reviving the clothesline.

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Mix It Up: Prints

A while ago, Pamela e-mailed me to ask about mixing patterns and colors. And then I lost control of my e-mail and lost track of her message. But now! I've got it together again! Sort of. Anyway, here's her question:

Could you talk a bit about patterns? What are the guidelines for mixing patterns? Particularly size/scale of patterns and how to coordinate colors. I have a pair of gunmetal pants with tiny white and blue pinstripes and I always wear a solid top because I don't know what else to do with them.

Let's start with some basic rules about prints. Choose prints that are proportionate for your size; if you are petite, stick with smaller prints, for example. A big floral print on a wee tiny woman will make her look like a little sofa. By the same token, bigger girls can wear bigger prints, although I would still be cautious about swathing yourself in printed fabric. If you REALLY want to wear a print--a floral or polka dot or stripe or whatever--think carefully about where you put it. Use a bold print to draw attention toward your assets. Great legs? Go for a print skirt. Nice shoulders? Put a print on top. But be careful about wrapping wide hips or a large chest in a big, dramatic print, unless you want that to be all that anyone sees.

Okay, what about Pamela's pants? It's fine to wear a print blouse or shirt with the striped pants, particularly since the striping is very small. Pamela wants to choose something that will pick up the color in the stripes--perhaps a blue argyle sweater, say, or a blouse with a dramatic blue stripe. She wants to keep accessories simple and let the patterns speak for themselves. And a good rule of thumb is no more than two patterns at a time. Please.

It is also possible mix more dramatic patterns, but again, stay in the same color family and be intentional in your choices. Forth & Towne is currently showing a beautiful plaid trench coat with a floral skirt (click the bottom left hand thumbnail in the Edition collection to see the outfit). It's a cool, fresh look; the floral print is big, but the plaid on the coat is fairly small, and both are a basic navy and white material. The outfit works because the patterns are the focus; there's not a lot of extra color or extra trimming going on there.

Finally, if you're nervous about overwhelming yourself with pattern, take Stacy London's advice: wear one piece with a pattern, and then choose any color from that pattern and play it up in the rest of your outfit. Sometimes a patterned bag can be a good starting place, or a piece like Pamela's pants, with a subtle pattern. In fact, I'll bet Pamela's pants would look great with that plaid trench from Forth & Town. Don't you think?

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Shut UP! It's Stacy London

9:00

I hate--HATE--to say this, right off the bat, but I do NOT like that dress. It's like maternity lingerie.

Sigh.

9:04

Maybe we need a Friday Style Send Me Your Worst Outfit Feature. Anyone?

I could nominate myself about ten times for that. Just this week.

9:06

Where are Nick and Carmindy? And who are those scary people?

And did Stacy just GIVE that woman a bracelet? Duuude.

9:08

I don't know about this whole Test the Trends thing--did anyone REALLY think that metallic leggings were a GOOD thing?

And the high waisted jeans make me want to sob.

9:11 commercial break

I miss Clinton. I miss the people who come on the show to be made over (what do they call them? contributors?).

I wish I had missed that nice woman's ass. The one in the leggings.

9:15

slw [9:13:33 PM]: okay stacy without clinton isn't doing it for me
slw [9:13:37 PM]: I MISS CLINTON
mir [9:13:59 PM]: agreed
mir [9:14:02 PM]: she's all... perky
mir [9:14:03 PM]: it's weird
slw [9:14:18 PM]: she's trying too hard. and that DRESS
mir [9:14:29 PM]: yeah

9:20

Pubic hair dye. Seriously. PUBIC HAIR DYE.

Anyone? Anyone?

9:22 commercial break

Okay, the pubic hair dye is not sitting well with me. I'm all about looking nice, but that's just silly. Recently, Suzanne wrote a BlogHer post about women using the Benefit BeneTint to tint their nipples, and I had the same reaction: no. NO. NO!

Being beautiful isn't about shaving or dying your pubic hair, or tinting your nipples; it's about being confident with who you are.

9:28

Prints! Listen to Stacy: when you wear a print, EVERY color in the print is fair game for accent pieces.

Stacy is at her best as a stylist; she's confident and relazed and charming. As a talk show host? Not so much.

Or maybe I'm still irked by the pubic dye.

9:31

I like that Stacy wears the same pieces more than once; the burgundy sleeveless sweater is something I've seen before.

And if even ONE of you suggests that I'm watching too much WNTW . . . well, my husband beat you to it.

9:43

I love Jane Krakowski, but WHAT is with the light skirt/dark hose combo? Don't do that, girls. It's just not a good look.

And Stacy is right: steer clear of the short, pleated skirt. In fact, steer clear of most of what you've seen here tonight.

Sadly.

9:55

Oh, you all. I don't even know what to say. I love Stacy London, I really do, and I would TOTALLY trust her to come into my home (which is EXTRA SUPER CLEAN right now) and tell me what to wear. But I give this show a month.

She's a stylist, not a talk show host. In the intro to their book, there's a funny bit about what Clinton and Stacy had to drink before they got in front of the full-length mirror in their undies. Clinton had a G&T, while Stacy went for scotch rocks (which my husband LOVED).

She needs a stiff drink before this show. As do I.

Okay, that was fun! But this whole liveblogging thing was EXHAUSTING. I need more chocolate and wine, I think.

Happy Easter, y'all. Have a good weekend. Wear something NICE. And a bra. Please.

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Shut UP! The Liveblog

8:01 pm

Hello! It's Friday night, and I'm on the sofa (in my YOGA PANTS, Clinton and Stacy) waiting--WAITING--for Stacy's talk show to start. But first we have Behind the Seams.

If you all tell them that I wear yoga pants EVERYWHERE, do you think I can get on WNTW? Please? Also tell them that I need a haircut and some color, like YESTERDAY. Seriously.

8:10 pm

Every so often, Stacy shows up in a dress that makes me say, What the . . . ?!?

Like that brown one, from the ambush.

I actually find it refreshing that she sometimes looks a little off, because most of the time, I look at what I'm wearing and think, What the . . . ?!?

8:14 pm

Why I could never be a television stylist: TWO EXTRA HOURS to get Stacy ready? Are you KIDDING?

I'll stay behind the computer, thanks. Although I might look a lot better with two hours of work.

8:16 pm

Why I would be totally thrown off WNTW: I would walk into the 360 and say one of those words you can't say on television.

8:17 pm

Who thinks Stacy will have the grey streak for her talk show? Anyone? Anyone?

IS ANYONE OUT THERE?

8:18 pm

Do you see them PLANNING? I want you all to imagine that I do EXACTLY that when I answer your questions. EXACTLY.

Not that I open some wine and flip around at the Banana Republic and J. Crew websites for an hour or so. Noooooo, not at all.

8:20 pm

The mannequins are a TWO and a TWELVE? Duuuuuuude. That is WRONG.

8:25

I think I own the same jacket as one of the WNTW producers. I feel so CHIC now.

8:30

Wade needs to stop eating my M&Ms. And he needs to bring me more wine. He also needs to stop talking to me about saline nasal spray.

Don't ask.

8:35

Is anyone ever REALLY surprised when Stacy and Clinton show up on Day Two? Everyone always says I WATCH THE SHOW, so don't they know the ambush is coming?

Then again, don't they know WHAT TO WEAR???

8:36

Stacy: "I like what that does for your ass."

Amen, sister.

8:37

Stacy London wears rainbow striped socks. I am stunned.

Goodness.

8:40

Does it scare anyone else that Carmindy does her own makeup?

And don't get me started about Nick and his hair.

Need more wine.

8:44

Wade came through the living room and was mesmerized by Nick; how he's doing a whole routine about SO THAT'S HOW REINDEER LEARN TO FLY.

Also, still talking about nasal spray. Lest you get any mistaken ideas about my glamorous life here.

8:46

Other reasons I will never get on WNTW: what's Nick going to do to my hair, short of shave my head?

Oh, well, this week he COULD give me a haircut.

Does anyone else think that Carmindy has a clause in her contract that prevents Stacy and Clinton from getting within fifty feet of her? Because otherwise, how do you explain her extensive wardrobe of LINGERIE?

8:52

You know, liveblogging is HAAARD. Partly because I'm really anal and I want to edit and proofread everything and partly because I have a limited attention span and can't write and watch TV at the same time, and partly because Chris is IMing me about other stuff and she's funny so I keep getting distracted.

Plus Wade is still talking about nasal spray.

8:55

I need some chapstick.

8:58

me: Can you throw me my chapstick? It's on the desk.

Wade: It's not here.

me: Yes it is. Behind the picture of the boys.

Wade: Are you KIDDING?

me: I don't think people who come to see our house need to know that I squirrel Chapsticks away in EVERY ROOM.

Wade: Oh my god.

me: So I've been hiding them behind the picture frames.

Wade: I love you.

me: Shut up.

8:59

Time for a new post! And more wine!

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I Am Always Happy to Elaborate

From the mail bag:

I've been reading a bunch of your posts and most of your style suggestions make sense. Except for the bit on BlogHer about pairing a cashmere sweater with yoga pants. Stacy and Clinton would turn you around and send you into the 360 degree mirror for that violation. :) Yoga pants are made of stretchy cotton, and really the only shirts that go with that are also cotton. Something like a v-neck long sleeved shirt. Or a zip-up cotton yoga jacket with a pretty cotton shirt underneath. A sweater, especially cashmere, is bound to look like a clash of fabrics, and might even fuzz all over your pants. Maybe you can elaborate a little more?

Absolutely!


J. Crew cashmere tee, $99.99

I stand by what I've said: I wear my cashmere sweaters with EVERYTHING, and I think you can too. A cashmere sweater in a very dressy style (say, with beading or a bow detail at the neckline) should not be worn with yoga pants, but a simple V or crew neck, or a cashmere hoodie, is perfect with jeans or chinos or more athletic pants.

Yoga pants are, typically, made of a cotton blend; the best ones are a nice mix of cotton and spandex, for a little stretch. They are VERY casual and need an appropriately casual top. HOWEVER, that doesn't necessarily mean a tee. A nice cotton or cotton-blend tee is terrific, as is a great yoga jacket, but you can also pair a fleece pullover or jacket with yoga pants, or a light-weight sweater, in cashmere or cotton or even a very fine wool. The most important part is that the sweater be VERY CASUAL--no embellishment or extra detailing. I usually wear a cashmere crewneck with a white tee and my yoga pants; the little bit of the tee that shows at the neck and waist keeps the sweater from looking dressy. I also have a cashmere hoodie that I wear with my fleece yoga pants on very cold days; again, with a crew-neck tee underneath.

Finally, sweaters made of 100% cashmere should not shed or fuzz on anything; if you've got a cashmere/wool or angora blend, then yes, that might be an issue. Cashmere is a good investment because it wears so well and is easy (and inexpensive) to care for.

The bottom line, though, is this: wear what feels right to you. If it seems odd to pair cashmere with yoga pants, then don't do it. I'm just one girl with an opinion and an internet connection, and sometimes that's a dangerous combination.

Don't forget! Shut Up! It's Stacy London premiers tonight, after What Not To Wear. Check your local listings for time, and then stop in for some Stacy-related liveblogging, which MAY involve the consumption of alcohol. Possibly. You'll have to come back to see.

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There's Casual, and There's Sloppy, and Never the Twain Shall Meet

I am all about casual dressing, about treating every day like Friday. But casual is NOT synonymous with sloppy, and Friday is a workday, which means that you still want to put in a little extra effort.

So what ARE the rules for good casual Friday style? I'm so glad you asked!

1. Wear appropriate undergarments. I will admit that I go braless on occasion, but I will also admit that I wear a 32 NearlyA cup bra, which is really just a glorified training bra. And I will acknowledge that braless isn't a great look, even for flat little me, because it just emphasizes how very underendowed I am. Give your girls a good home, no matter what their size. Wear a bra that fits appropriately and works with what you're wearing; keep your straps under cover and your cups in the right place. If you have lost or gained a significant amount of weight since your last bra purchase, go have a proper fitting. I promise you that a well-fitted bra can make even the cheapest t-shirt look terrific.

While you're in the bra store, get some underpants that fit correctly too. If you're wearing lower waisted pants, opt for lower waisted undies. Again, if you've lost or gained weight, or if it's just been more than, say, three months since you bought underwear, start over. I am partial to microfiber panties because they eliminate the possibility of any awkward pulling or clinging (cotton undies can stick to other fabrics, which isn't pretty). Whatever you buy, opt for something with a cotton crotch because it's healthier for your girl parts.

2. Wear things that fit. Yoga pants are comfy and practical; jeans can go anywhere; a great little white t-shirt is a wardrobe staple. But be certain that everything really and truly FITS. Too-tight yoga pants with a too-big tee isn't casual, it's sloppy. When you're buying casual wear, try it on in the same way you would a cocktail dress or suit; check the front view and the back view, stand up, sit down, bend over, look in the three-way mirror. Wear the right shoes and the right top, so you can get the whole effect. It is entirely possible to make a last-minute grocery run and still look pulled-together.

By the same token, don't hang on to casual wear that has worn out. Hole in your jeans? Toss them. Permanent stain on your tee? Replace it. I love baseball caps; I wear them a lot on the weekend and pretty much all summer. But I keep them clean, and when they start to stain or fade, I throw them out. Same for shoes--it's worthwhile to get a pair of athletic-inspired shoes that you can wear to run errands or go to a play date. Payless has a nice selection of sneakers for lounging around (do NOT do any actual athletic activity in these shoes, though--they're not made for it).

3. Don't be afraid to put on something nice. Just because you're not going to an office or out for lunch, don't feel like you must stay in your pajamas all day. Get dressed--not necessarily dressed UP, but just dressed. Put on some cute shoes to go to the grocery, or a pretty necklace to go to Gymboree. Wear lipgloss to story time. If your basic uniform is yoga pants and a tee, or jeans and a sweater, think about accessories; get some terrific sunglasses or dig out those earrings you used to wear on dates with your husband. Being casual--working from home or staying home with kids or just lounging on the weekend--doesn't have to mean giving up.

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Shut Up! The Talk Show

What Not To Wear's Stacy London is getting her own talk show. According to Variety, the show will feature "peeks at celebrities' lives based on the clothes they wear, road tests of fashion trends by everyday folks, beauty roundups and a special makeover." Shut Up! It's Stacy London will air on Fridays after WNTW.



And now I am awash in questions: can Stacy make the transition from uber-stylist to talk show diva? Can she really string together an hour a week (minus commercial breaks) of analyzing what celebrities wear? How many road-testable fashion trends ARE there, really? Will anyone tune in if Clinton's not there? Why isn't Clinton getting HIS own talk show?

And more importantly, what do I have to do to get a talk show? Because that would be AWESOME.

Don't you think?

Shut Up! It's Stacy London premiers Friday, April 6; check your local listings. Or just come back here on Friday night for some Stacy-based liveblogging. Can I get a shut UP?

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