Sometimes a reader has so many good questions that it's tough to choose just one. This trio of concerns about chic come courtesy of District denizen Allison Denny.
QMy boyfriend has a bunch of funky Ben Sherman-type shirts that form the backbone of his wardrobe. How can he kick it up a notch for dressier events?
AA non-stodgy suit will help him spiff up stylishly. Look for one with narrow lapels, a straight leg and a slightly mod cut overall, in lightweight charcoal wool (black's too slick; navy, too conservative). Depending on where he's headed, your boyfriend can pair said suit with leather ankle boots or Chuck Taylors.
QEveryone's talking about blogs these days -- can you point me toward good fashion ones?
A It's a cast of thousands out there in the blogosphere, and there are many great ones. Here are three style-minded spots that'll have you wasting time in no time.
Marilyn Kirschner was an editor at Harper's Bazaar, and her sartorial know-how shines in http://lookonline.com/blogger , which is filled with tidbits on runway shows, collection previews and museum exhibits. Her prose is intelligent, informed and as refined as the Chanel and Prada she reviews.
One site devoted to skewering celebrities' "fugliest" fashion don'ts, http://gofugyourself.typepad.com , is a guilty pleasure that beats anything Ben & Jerry's could dish up. The caption accompanying a photo of Poison guitarist C.C. Deville? "I just escaped from a mental institution specializing in kicky restraints, and now I'm going to eat your face." Melissa Rivers dreams of being this funny.
http://Shoeblogs.com is the brainchild of "Manolo" (not Blahnik), a fellow with no small foot fetish. Expect new-shoe reviews up the wazoo, delivered in the main man's hilariously off-kilter, pseudo-European patois. His take on one Miu Miu sandal: "This shoe above, it is the sparkly, aggressively green shoe, yet it makes the Manolo very happy to just look at it." Click on the items for where-to-buy info -- though as with many a fashion blog, shopping is largely beside the point here.
QI'm sooo tired of the lacy top/pricey jeans/pointy shoes going-out outfit. Any thoughts on how to freshen up the evening ensemble?
ATry an empire-waist frock with an easy A-line fit -- it's plenty dressy while still allowing you room to exhale. And if you've tired of pointy, pinchy stilettos, you're not alone: There's something about them that speaks to a certain style moment (all flat-ironed hair and ultra-low-rise jeans) from which most designers have mercifully moved on. Now it's your turn: A flat-but-fabulous sandal like Nine West's, below, amounts to a step in the right direction. Suzanne D'Amato
Wondering how to wear it? E-mail styleq@washpost.com . Please include your name, city and phone number.
