scroll this page for column excerpts...	click full text to read more...	or, flip to topics...		[photo: Janet Russo Spring 2001 Collection]
			past excerpts

The Hottest Runway Hair Trends...
Top hairstyles from schoolgirl simple to big night out wow

Plus, Hairstyle Photos- The New Big Hair . Primped, Not Proper Hairstyles . Red Carpet Hair . Preppy Hair . Outrageous Hair -new!

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Get a Gym Bunny Body with At-Home Workouts...
Top fitness trends to try at home from Pilates to belly dancing

Dear Sharon: I just don’t have enough hours in a day! In a perpetual time crunch, rather than a stomach crunch, I find myself ditching exercise classes because I can’t spare the half hour that it takes to get to the gym and back.

I hate the way that I look and feel these days, but still can’t get motivated to squeeze in a trip to the gym. Is there anything new and interesting in the way of at-home exercise? If I felt that I would actually use something on a regular basis, I would even consider buying equipment to keep in my basement. Please fill me in before I turn to complete flab! --Workout Withdrawal (Pasadena, CA)

Dear WW: Are you asking for a piece of home exercise equipment that eventually doesn’t turn into a glorified clothes rack?

That, I cannot guarantee.

But there are new double-duty at-home fitness products that just may prove to be interesting enough to actually use and not take up much coveted real estate.

Granted, most home fitness equipment can get repetitive and it’s so easy to say “I’ll workout in 5 minutes” that you keep distracting yourself from ever using it at all. As you said, your new make-me-better machine turns into a trumped up clothes hanger or a nice place to let your sheets air dry. Diversity and simplicity seem to be key to discovering a piece of at-home fitness equipment that actually gets used and therefore, deliver results....more

Spring fashion trends to update your wardrobe...
Dress tips for what you'll really want to wear into summer

Dear Sharon: I spent the last rainy weekend weeding out all the clothes from my closet that I will never wear again. Now, I’m left with well-fitting great basics, but I’m not a basic kind of girl.

I love fashion forward styles, but don’t want to invest in something that looks tired next year. Help me fill the fashion holes in my wardrobe without breaking the bank and still look totally in style. –Looking for a Spring Fashion Fling (Tampa, FL)


Dear Fashion Fling: Yup, it’s a fling you need, not a long term relationship! Luckily, you’re savvy enough to know that the core of a great wardrobe is well-fitting basics. But a life full of basics can get pretty, darn dull. Spring into summer fashion is getting inspiration from the Roaring Twenties flappers (short-term style) to the Fifties flirty vixens (a longer shot), but we don’t want you to turn your closet into a fashion museum worthy costume collection, simply a wardrobe of fresh, wearable, and exciting silhouettes that gets you excited to get dressed again....more

Shopping secrets to bargain hunt your way to top style...
Money-saving insider tips for shopping on a budget

Dear Sharon: I want to look like a model but I don't have the moo-la! I need great ways for finding trendsetting clothes without spending a lot of money. Please, can you help me? -- Style Saver (San Antonio, TX)

Dear Style Saver: Never forget that great style is all in the mix, not in the price tag! Where you purchase your clothes and how much they cost you is irrelevant to the final outcome. Just because you spend a fortune on an outfit, does not guarantee a look that’s right for you....more

Star Jones shares tips for the essential evening shoe…
What to look for in special occasion shoes

Dear Sharon: I have purchased a conservative, but nice, knee-length black dress with some beading around the neckline for a cocktail party that is not black-tie. Shoes, for me, are the worst thing to buy. I never know what style to get and the wrong style can make or break an outfit.

I have a pair of sandals with a clear acrylic heel, clear plastic across the top and a silver strap that I wore to a Bar Mitzvah years ago with a sequin dress. But, I was wondering if black satin pumps would be more appropriate for this occasion?

Are satin shoes old-fashioned? Is the acrylic heel and plastic out of date? Can leather go "cocktail" now? This dress feels "heavier" than the spaghetti strap, sequin dress I wore with them the first time, although this dress is sleeveless. I HATE making shoe decisions. Help! --How Shoe You Do (Buford, GA)


Dear How Shoe You Do: Unless we live a life that involves the need for a wardrobe of drop-dead evening stilettos, finding the perfect evening shoe to wear on select special occasions can send even the most fashionably adroit into a tailspin.

When it comes to dressy shoes, there really are two kinds: Ones that pop out and make a lasting impression, like your very of-the-moment clear jeweled sandals, and ones that are simple, elegant, and timeless. But when you can only buy the basics, how can you find evening footwear that adds the runway sizzle without stinging your budget?

Easy!

I asked Star Jones, co-host of ABC's "The View,” former prosecutor, and the inspiration behind the Payless Starlet by Star Jones™ collection of holiday dress shoes that deliver designer flair on a budget to shed some succinct tips on how to include the quintessential red carpet perfect evening shoe into your wardrobe.... more

Mini skirt must-haves …
How to get the designer runway look into your wardrobe

Consider the other big fashion trend now: Gloves

Dear Sharon: I was wondering if the mini skirt was a quick fad or it will stick around past the holidays? I see a lot of celebs photographed in short skirts, but I’m not sure if that’s just to grab the limelight or this is real fashion trend. If so, can you help out with some runway looks that I can incorporate into my wardrobe? Mini Me (Canton, GA)


Dear Mini Me: Miniskirts are more than still in, they are a fashion must-have. No doubt that part of being a celebrity is knowing how to keep the attention on you, and a super short skirt is the way to go if you... more

Say ciao to the metrosexual, it's the WowMan who rules…
It's not about sexuality; it's about looking great
Plus, Top 10 ways to put the life back in your look

Dear Sharon: Help! I need help to save my marriage! Can you recommend anyone in the San Francisco area that can assist with a male makeover? I'm 42, 6'3 250 lbs, and I am in a crisis situation with my wife. It's a long story but happy to tell it for some help? -Wake Me, When You Make Me Over (San Francisco, CA)


Dear Wake Me, Make Me: Sweetie, your letter sounds like an application for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, but this is not that show. However, I have been in the fashion biz for longer than any gay man would allow me to admit and have been fiercely accused of being a queen trapped in a woman's body, but we won't go there.

Here's another place not to go: please don't explain further about how your appearance puts you in some sort of marital jeopardy (she married you in the first place?!). That, my poor misguided terror of testosterone, would clearly fall under the Too Much Information Act of Personal Restraint. Nevertheless, it does sound like you're saving up your restraint for your wardrobe. ... more

Hair Makeover, Get the body you want...
Hairstyle tips and tricks from top celebrity hairstylists Gad Cohen and Luke O'Connor

Dear Sharon: I'm sick of my hair! It's boring and dry. I want something different without having to chop most of it off.

It's blonde, medium length and cut in a blunt, long shag. I'm trying to grow out my bangs so now they are a little past my chin. I thought about cutting bangs back, but it's taking me so long to grow them out to where they are now.

The problem is that my hair is stick straight and just lies there. It really draws attention to my nose, which I find big. My boyfriend thinks I'm nuts but every woman has her vice.

I'm really confused.... full article

Punk Princess...
How to Look Like a Rock Star
The eighties edge rocks back
Dear Sharon: I'm noticing a littler rocker chick, punk thing happening in fashion. I love the idea but I don't really want a total "I'm with the band" look.

How can I get that punky edge without looking like I'm wearing a costume for an early eighties revival night? -- Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (Akron, OH)


Dear Sheena: Punk fashion is the comeback that never went away. If you ask any passerby on St. Marks Place, they'll tell you that punk never died, only Sid and Nancy. However, it has taken a couple of decades for rocker chick chic to make it back to mainstream fashion, and it's screaming hot louder than Siouxie and the Banchees!

Punk is more than music, it's an attitude! You either have a punk edge or you don't… even if you are only a rocker chick in your dreams.

No amount of eyeliner and shaggy hair will give you "the look" if you spend your time yearning for Yanni. From the spring collections, onwards to next fall, fashion designers are infatuated... more

The Search for Smooth…
How To Take Time Off Your Face

Natural Botox alternative to remove facial line, rid wrinkles without the jab

Dear Sharon: Is there a natural, non-toxic alternative to Botox? The wrinkle in my forehead is strong, and the topical stuff doesn't make a dent. Please let me know your thoughts. --Rid Van Wrinkle (Los Angeles, CA)

Dear Rid Van Wrinkle: Almost every person seems to yearn for skin with that certain glow. Some do something about it, others just lament. Then there are those who are so out of control with the idea of recapturing their youth that they end up looking like a meltdown from Madame Tussard's Wax Museum.

While you don't need a Phillip Treacy thinking cap (but one would be nice) to know that staying out of the sun as much as possible, using sunscreen that packs some piston power, drinking plenty of water, cutting back on caffeine, booze, soda, and ciggies that dehydrate the skin, and eating like your body may not necessarily be a temple but sure is a great place to hang out can keep wrinkles at bay just a little longer. But doggone it, those little crinkles do appear with age! With age comes wisdom (we hope) and the knowledge to understand what makes us feel good about our appearance.... more

Break Out of Blah…
How to Get Some Zing In Your Wardrobe
Go for the bling-bling and have fun with life!

Dear Sharon: Help, I look like so dreary and baggy.

The problem is, I'm not the slimmest person in the world.

But I'm not fat.

I'm just average.

I have a round butt and big boobs. So, to hide this because I don't feel comfortable with it, I wear baggy, baggy, and dreary clothes that aren't becoming to me. When I see other girls with their clothes being more attractive than mine, I go home and look in the mirror. Then, I think to myself, how can I have actually worn this stuff? What advice do you have? --Tedious Tendencies (Whiteford, Maryland)


Dear Tedious Tendencies: Sweetie, if Jennifer Lopez hid her round butt and big boobs, we would never have heard of her! Thank Miss J.Lo for making it ok to be built like a brick house and be proud of it. Flaunt those womanly curves and get on with your fashion program…

Accept the body you have and make the most of what you've got to feel great about yourself. Baggy clothes do... more text

Big Night Hair...
How to Get the Top Hair Looks- hairstyle photos, how-to's, tips, and tricks

Runway Hairstyle Photos + Tips- Holiday, Wedding, Formal, Special Occasion Hair Styles

Dear Sharon: I’m attending a wedding this New Year’s Eve (yeah, I know it’s a bummer of a time to go to a friend’s wedding— besides, a double-whammy for a date!) and need a hairstyle that’s dressy, yet cutting edge. I’m not the overly fussy type, but do like hair that’s kind of sexy when the occasion permits.

I really despise salons, and the thought of going to one the day of New Year’s really frightens me. Besides, most women I know end up looking like their grandmother with some stiff, dated hairstyle after they go to a hairdresser for a formal hairdo. Can you give some ideas for do-it-yourself hair tips for a modern big glamour look? Or, at least some hairstyle photos to inspire me. -- Hairing It Now (Little Silver, NJ)


Dear Hairing It Now: Racing to a hair salon the day of an event can produce more stress than you need on a big day. With the horrifying sidebar that... more text

How to Regrow Eyebrows…
Fill in the Patches of Over Abuse
Yank, pluck, wax, or shave, here's how to get back that natural brow shape!

Make bald brows a thing of the past

Dear Sharon: Years ago I got into the habit of pulling out my thick eyebrow hairs. I would just sit there and pick at them while studying for college exams, watching TV, etc. I was born with a beautiful eyebrow shape (Jennifer Connelly-ish) and could kick myself for ever touching my brows.

My brows are dark (although I am blonde) and show patches of "baldness" where I used to pick. Are there any products out that will re-grow in eyebrow hair where it refuses to grow back? I would love to start fresh with my original shape and then clean them up into today's more natural style. Any suggestions? - Brow Beaten (Charlotte, NC)

Dear Brow Beaten: Women, in the process of getting gorgeous, seem to go hog wild and over pluck to a thread of a brow's existence- they tweeze holes, wax off ends, or shave half their eyebrows away.

And, there are women... more text

Lost 100 Pounds and Wants to Wow the Gang Back Home…
Men's Dress Tips to Go from Nerdy to a Perfect V-Shape "God"

men's fashion tips to go from yuck to hunk

Dear Sharon: I am a 21-year-old guy who recently moved to Texas a few months back from Kansas City. Since I have moved down here, I have lost well over 100 pounds. I made huge life-style changes (diet and exercise), and I have reaped the benefits.

I am going home next month to visit my parents for the first time in some months, and they have no idea that I went from a size 50 waist to a size 32 waist. I still have not bought any new clothes and I am wearing the ones that I had when I was fat.

I really haven't changed my hairstyle or anything else about me. When I go home, I want to surprise my whole family with a brand new look, and a brand new me. I don't know a thing about fashion (I have been concentrating on school). I want to go from baggy nerdy clothes to looking like a god.

My biggest problem is that I have a large frame. I have a 50-inch chest, but only a 32-inch waist. My body is "V" shaped, and I have a problem finding clothes that fit me correctly, especially shirts. Please help me wow my family when I go visit them! -- Chipping Away to Adonis (San Antonio, TX)
Dear Adonis: Help you wow your family??? After a surprise 100-pound weight loss, I suggest you bring some smelling salts along, just in case....full text

Makeover Etiquette...
Makeup Artist Tips toWhat to Expect From Your Cosmetic Counter Makeover

Buy, try, or just say good-bye- the graceful guide to getting gorgeous

Dear Sharon: I am scheduled for a makeover at an Estee Lauder counter in a department store in a few days. The only other time I've had a "professional" makeover was in a Body Shop, when I was 16. I'm going because, though I'm happy with my palette, I'm looking for new application techniques, and, because the process is mildly fun.

Is there makeover etiquette? Does the makeup artist expect you to come with some direction? If they ask you what you want, what is reasonable? full text

They're Baaaack In Style...
The top 10 fresh Fall 2002 trends that are not in your working wardrobe... promise!

Dear Sharon: My wardrobe is full of great basics… I love well-cut black clothes. I also have a slew of peasant styles from last season that I am completely sick of, besides, I think, they are on their way out of fashion anyway.

I want something new to zip up my everyday fall wardrobe, but not a trend that's so saturated, like that peasant thing again, that I see my look coming and going. What's new, stylish, and not seen on every girl (at least not yet!) who follows fashion? - Ahead of the Pack (New York, NY)


Dear Ahead of the Pack: Every season, fashion gets infused with new styles. The key to trend longevity, if there can be such a thing, is to find the trend on the way up before it hits the masses like a fireball gone wild.

If your personal style is more of-the-moment than classic, that means update with a few, inexpensive key looks, and emphasis the cutting-edge ones that will take a bit longer to spread to the main stream.... more

Stuck On You…
Stylist, Model, Celebrity, and Beauty Contestant Tips to Fake a Perfect Fit
Novel insider tricks to try when ordinary lingerie just won't do

Dear Sharon: I have just purchased this fantastic new plunging V-neck dress. My problem is that it is too low to wear with a bra. I have heard that there is a new kind of tape that all the celebs are using to keep their bits in place. Please, could you tell me what this is called and where I can buy it? --Stick 'Em Up (Wellington, Telford Shropshire England)


Dear Stick 'Em Up: Having been a fashion stylist, I have probably seen-- and used-- almost every tape, glue, gizmo, and glob you could imagine to hold a garment where it ought to be. The only "new" thing is that what used to be a stylist secret for models is now public curiosity since Jennifer Lopez wore that barely there dress and after Geri Halliwell accidentally exposed toupee tape-- on her boobs.

Every stylist packs an arsenal of tricks in her kit to make the most difficult fitting dress stay in place. The difference between walking the red carpet or getting your picture snapped is... more

Hair Color Tips for Men...
Real Men Get Dye Jobs!

Let's face it, some men gray in a gorgeous manner and others just get murky. So why not help nature out?

Dear Sharon: I'm into my 30's and my hair color is starting to look a little murky. I'm in a creative business where you are judged by your appearance and need to keep up with the young guys. I know it's cool for men to color their hair, but I'm still timid to visit a salon and get my hair colored. I wouldn't even know what kind of salon or barber to go to for starters… it would seem weird to go to the same hair colorist as my girlfriend. I'm willing to try something different, but I guess, I need the encouragement to take the plunge. --Color Me Manly (Philadelphia, PA)


Dear Color Me Manly: Beauty rituals are no longer reserved for women. Men know that looking polished means going that extra round in the grooming department, particularly when lasting impressions are made after one brief mental snapshot... more

Stay Cool with SUMMER'S HOTTEST HAIRSTYLES...
Perfect Runway Hair You Can Master On Your Own

Dear Sharon: My hair never seems to look right in the summer. No matter how many products I use, I just suffer from a bad hair day that lasts a season long. Once the temperature drops, I can style my hair to look the way it should, but what am I supposed to do about the warmer months? I'm not about to drape my head in a kerchief until fall. --Bad Hair Days of Summer (St. Louis, Mo)

Dear Bad Hair Day: Rule Numero Uno of great hair: Find a hairstyle that works for your hair and environment, not one that just looks pretty in a magazine! Start to learn to go with what you've got and your appearance will thank you for it.

Sounds as if you are ...more

Beauty Secrets…
15 Cheap Tricks of the Rich and Famous That Unleash the Home Spa In Your Kitchen Cabinet

Buy Nothing! Makeup, hair, beauty, and diet tips that you can do with what you have at home!

Dear Sharon: I want to try new beauty ideas but I am on a very tight budget. Everything I read about seems to show celebrities who have all the time and money to get beautiful… I wish! How can I try new things without spending a fortune? - Bargain Basement Beauty (Bloomington, MN)


Dear Bargain Basement Beauty: Money isn't everything when it comes to making the most of what you've got- as a matter of interest, it plays a very small part in the mix to look great.... more

Modern Mom… Turning 30 in Style
How to look great when you're dressed to be in a mess

click for 8 great ways to get casual right now

Dear Sharon: I will be turning 30 soon and I need some advice on fashion. I dress casually most of the time since I'm a stay-at-home mom. But, when I do go out for fun or to my child's school, I try to look nice.

My problem is I feel like I am still dressing like a 23 year old. I want to dress more my age so I can fit in with the other mothers but I don't want to look like June Cleaver. Can you give me some tips on what to wear when I 'm out and about. I wear a lot of big leg or bellbottom jeans-am I to old for this trend?

I know 30 is not old, but I don't want to be one of those women who dress like their teenage daughter. - Momumental Age (Roxboro, NC)


Dear Momumental Age: Thirty is only old to someone who's seventeen! Dress for the age you feel and the shape you're in. However, by the time you do turn the Big 3-0, you should have developed somewhat of a handle on your personal style and what works best for you... more

Men's Clothes Style...
What Impression Does Your Style of Business Dress Give?

clothing coalition develops style scale to take the stress out of corporate dress

Dear Sharon: I am a 21-year old actor/student who has no idea about what a the big picture for a basic clothing inventory should be. My clothes now have an "easygoing geek chic" look that my friends say well suits my personality. However, I really don't want to wear such ordinary garb.

I need to have the ability to go from "boy-wonder" to "jet set urban-god" to get the part... but I just don't know how. I'm not the "boy next door" character... average is about the best way to describe myself. Except, when it comes time for auditions, I never get the part because I don't have "the look" they want for the project. Go figure!

Guess I need a complete fashion overhaul and the tips to get my look in top gear... more

The Decisive Shoe Buying Guide…
What Shoe to Wear With What Outfit and When-
Shoe Shopping Tips From Star Jones

Dear Sharon: Help! I want some basic rules for shoe shopping. I'm afraid that when it comes to shoes my fashion IQ is zero... Shoe Be Do -(Shawnee, OK)

Dear Shoe Be Do: My puzzled princess of pedicured perplexities, sometimes the most basic style questions are the most befuddling. Rules are meant to be broken when it comes to fashion trends, however, a solid fashion base will give you the essential know-how to keep your personal style classically instep.

Look Great At Any Age...
A Timeless Approach To Elegance

Dear Sharon: Help, I look frumpy all the time! At 53 years old, I'm almost through "the Big M". I, like many of us, used to be very pretty and could fit into anything that was a size ten.

No more!

My body has shrunk to 5'4" and I weigh 165 pounds. Through my physical changes (I try to eat healthfully and exercise), I have a difficult time finding cute or elegant clothes that flatter my shorter and squarer figure.

The salespeople I have consulted with don't seem to care how anyone looks in clothing- they just want to sell anything to anyone for the commissions they will receive. -Suited To Style (Denver/Golden, CO)


Dear Suited To Style: Any physical change- especially when we think it is not an improvement- creates stress about our self-image and how we perceive our appearance. The part about "used to be pretty" is what really worries me.

Beauty is all in how you see yourself.

Sweetie, 53 is not old; wisdom is a lot more alluring than innocence! Stop dwelling in the past and devour today with your luscious lips! --text

Fashion Gets Romantic…
Clothing Shows A Softer, More Feminine Side

Dear Sharon: I usually prefer suits and a tailored, crisp kind of style of clothing, but suddenly I can't bear to buy another blazer or wear another black turtleneck. Any advice to update my wardrobe without trashing everything I already own? -- Classically Clean (Boston, MA)

Dear Classically Clean: Sweet sister of stagnant style, you have picked the right season to summon up your softer side. One of the bigger trends for this spring has more romantic inspiration than Andrea Bocelli has arias.

Fashion may be having a more lyrical moment, but please promise not to throw out all your tailored, well-cut essentials… they're the clothes you can wear day in and day out.

Freshen up your wardrobe by mixing and matching the romantic with the realistic to avoid... more

TRICKS TO LOOK THIN...
Hide the Winter Five, Look Slim Now

Dear Sharon: Okay, I admit it, I have put on my winter layer of flubbery fat. It's not as if I'm a whole size bigger, it's just that my clothes suddenly pull and cling in a rather unflattering way. My question is, how can I hide these five pounds with clothing (without expanding my wardrobe, so to speak) when I know the weight will come off by spring? - Pants Runneth Over (West Bloomfield, MI)

Dear Pants Runneth Over: Did you say stash the wide whale? Corduroy that is!... more

BEAUTY IS HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF
Image-boosting advice to rock your world!

D I feel invisible, yet people tell me I am attractive. I just don't look the way I would like. What tips do you have for appearing beautiful? -Casper the Friendly Female


Dear Casper: My poor self-pitying princess, look in the mirror and declare that you are beautiful!
Grab the nearest dumpster. Fill it the brim with all your self-deprecating debris. Roll the over-stuffed canister of incredulousness down the steepest hill. Inhale. Let the demons go… Then, sweet sister of style, take stock of your physical strengths: I am sure there are many.

Physical beautyis subjective- what is stupendous to one person is hideous to the next. You must be pleasing to yourself.

Some of the most amazing looking women are so self-doubting that... text

9-5 To Nighttime…
How To Get 24-Hour Holiday Style

Dear Sharon: I have a few holiday parties that are right after work. I don't want to drag another outfit to wear and refuse to go in my casual business clothes. How can I look a little bit festive without carting around a department store? - Glamover (Boston, MA)


Dear Glamover: For some odd reason, people expect that once the word "party" is involved there's an eminent reason to put on a cocktail dress even though the fun is scheduled for 5 minutes after the office closes at a hangout around the corner.

Worse off, there's the lot that thinks "festive dress" means donning a sweater festooned with three-dimensional characters, glowing snowflakes, and Santa and his helpers leaping off their chest in a frenetic statement that screams, "I'm wearing this stupid sweater because I have no clue about style!"All you need to do is add an element of formal to everyday clothing to master 24-hour holiday style.... text

Booty Call…
The Best Boots To Update Your Wardrobe And How To Wear Them

The four top questions answered on how to wear boots and what to wear with them
... text

Paring Down A Purse Fetish...
Handbag Trends To Hold On To… How Much Is Too Much?

Don't forget to read Loco for Logo Handbags

Dear Sharon: I have recently simplified my wardrobe and have a closet with everything I absolutely love. Suddenly, getting dressed is so easy. Now I need to do the same for my handbags.

I presently own about 50 designer bags (Loius Vuitton, Longchamps, Coach, Channel, Kate Spade, etc.) and it's a pain to store them. I want to simplify, but I am having a hard time.

My question: How many handbags do you need for a great basic simple wardrobe?... text

October Is
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month-
Shop These Gorgeous Charitable Ideas ...

This marks the 16th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there are many ways to rally for the cause and promote early detection. ...more

Wedding Round-Up...
The End OfGuest Distress
Your Questions Solved, What to Wear With What… Shoes, Hose, Accessories

Click for: If the Shoe Fits… Mother of the Bride Footwear…Sandals and Slacks, Oh My… Shoe Match… Blue by You…

Darling Readers: I don't know why, but weddings seem to blitz everyone out about style. A normal formal evening would seem like almost any other dressy event, except, when the word "wedding" is added to the agenda, most of us are stymied. So here's a round up of some of the most frequently asked questions about how to dress for a wedding ...text

Back-to-School Dorm Décor...
Dress Up Your Dorm Room on a Budget

Dear Sharon: My daughter is about to go off to school and I haven't a clue as to how to help her decorate her dorm room. I don't want anything too high-end and she doesn't want her room to look like a smelly flophouse either. Can you point us in some direction? - Top Dorm (Chicago, IL)


Dear Top Dorm: Mom, it's not your kind of dorm any more! It's no longer about sticky taping a heavy metal poster to the wall and having a milk crate do double-duty as a dresser. Kids today are exposed to style and they want it.--text

Sniffing Around… A Whiff-O-Rama
The Good, the Bad, and the Stinky from Perfume to Masking Body Odor

three nose-tickling questions solved

Removing Perspiration Odor from Clothing

Dear Sharon: A friend borrowed my new formal dress. After she wore it, she had the dress dry cleaned before returning it. However, when I removed the dress from the drycleaner's bag, I was overwhelmed by the smell of body odor. Is there ANYTHING I can do to get this smell out? --B.O. Plenty (Waco, TX)


Dear Plenty: Okay, okay, you can unscrunch your face now, a dress that Smells Like Teen Spirit is not my kind of Nirvana either. There's nothing quite as funky as... more