Sunday, February 18, 2007

Recently, a reader wrote to me: "I have a strapless black-and-white floral print dress I bought this summer. Can I wear it now?"

The short answer: Maybe. A lot depends on the length and fabric of your dress. Does it hit at mid-knee, and is it made from polished cotton (preferably lined)? If yes, then you probably can get away with it this time of year. Is it thigh-high and crafted from a yard and a half of sheer chiffon? Save it for June. (Even then, it'll look better in Ibiza.)

Here are a few other factors to consider:

Black-and-white florals tend to be more seasonless than their butter yellow and seafoam green cousins. It doesn't hurt that, in keeping with fashion's march toward minimalism, a stark, neutral palette is in vogue at the moment.

If your dress is blousy and drop-waisted, it'll look fashionably edgy over a clingy, long-sleeve tee. Finish things off with spare, chunky jewelry, tomboyish black boots and the thickest tights you can find. (Wolford's Polar tights are an exceptionally warm -- and, at nearly $70, exceptionally expensive -- option.)

One style of dress to avoid right now? The princessy, fit-and-flare shape. It does pop up in fashion magazines, but that look has always struck me as odd in the middle of February: Everyone around you is bundled up for the next blizzard, and there's no garden party in sight.

In this column, I offer style advice to readers, but it's also nice when the Jimmy Choo is on the other foot. Tracy O'Dowd of Laytonsville recently wrote in with a tip: "I'm a longtime fan of liquid eyeliner, and I've tried them all. The best one out there is, without a doubt, Lancome's Artliner. It comes in a variety of colors, but my fave is good old Noir." Have fashion or beauty tips you'd like to share? By all means, send them my way.

-- Suzanne D'Amato