Talking Fashion

Deputy Editor of the Sunday Source Suzanne D'Amato and washingtonpost.com Fashion and Beauty Editor Janet Bennett Kelly answered your fashion-related questions, Tuesday, March 4, at 11 a.m. ET.

A transcript follows.

Suzanne D'Amato and Janet Bennett Kelly, talked about wardrobe questions for summer, Tuesday, July 24, at 11 a.m. ET.

A transcript follows.

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Suzanne D'Amato: Good morning, everyone. Janet and I are here to help sort out all of your spring fashion issues. Wondering what to wear next season? Send us your questions!

And once again, we have a special treat for two lucky readers. We're giving away luxe beauty goodies to the two chatters who have the best, funniest, most insightful comments/questions. Today we've got a trio of body scrubs by French brand Caudalie, plus a Kiehl's cleanser and toner duo that is suitable for all skin types. So get ready to wow me and Janet with your clever comments. At the end of the hour, we'll announce who's won our contest.

Without further ado... let's talk shop.

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Arlington, D.C.: Help, please! I am eight months out from my wedding and the entire family is coming in this weekend to go dress shopping with me. Talk about stress! Where would you recommend going in NoVa (or D.C.) that has affordable (no more than $2,000), beautiful dresses? Thanks!

Janet Bennett Kelly: I believe Hitch in Georgetown has a variety of price points for wedding gowns. Then there's Jeanette's Bride in Manassas, which also carries a wide range of gowns in different prices. And there's David's Bridal, which has several locations.

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Alexandria, Va.: Good Morning Ladies! Thank you for taking my question. I work in a very conservative office and am required to wear a business suit every day. I'm 24 and do not have the budget to buy lots of suits. I've been managing alright with what I have, but there is a lot of room to improve. With the summer lines hitting stores soon I desperately need a lighter weight, summer appropriate suit.

Where is the best place to look for a suit? I'm willing to pay between $300-350 if it's quality. I'm 5'8" and usually wear a size 10 or 12 both pants and jackets.

Thank you so much!

Janet Bennett Kelly: How about Banana Republic -- they have a number of suits in taupe, black, khaki, even pinstripe. Jacket and skirt styles vary, so you can mix and match as you see fit for your figure.

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Style writing: So...how do you get started writing about style (other than the obvious go-out-and-do-it-on-a-blog-on-your-own)...how does one get a gig? Attempts at freelancing? Blind resume faxing?

Thanks!

Suzanne D'Amato: Blind resume faxing is a definite don't, in my opinion. The first step is to make yourself into something of a fashion expert. Attend local events. Read as many magazines as you can get your hands on. Acquaint yourself with the industry's players. Check out every new store you hear about. (I know, fashion is SUCH hard work, right?)

Then, once you're reasonably in the know, come up with some ideas to pitch to blogs, e-zines such as Daily Candy and small local mags. Don't both contacting the major glossies until you get clips from these smaller spots. They don't pay much, but they're always looking for new, style-savvy writers.

Good luck!

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Cleaning purses, D.C.: Oh, fashion gurus...I have a cute light blue suede Coach purse that unfortunately gets dirty pretty quickly. Any recommendations on where I can get it cleaned? Preferably in D.C. but close-in suburbs are fine.

Thanks!

Janet Bennett Kelly: Purse cleaning appears to be a hot subject this morning. Again, I would try Fortuna in Bethesda, where I've had good luck in leather and suede repair.

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Spring 2008, Options in D.C.: Hi Suzanne and Janet,

I am really excited to see so many great options for spring looks in D.C. Metro-based fashion has gotten much better! I was tipped off to Carbon, (formerly shoes, mainly), as their clothing selection has really grown with wearable, affordable designers. Also, I do love my options at Secondi. Spring is looking good with soo many more options showing up right here in D.C.

Suzanne D'Amato: There are a lot of great shopping options in D.C. To your list I'd add some newer boutiques such as Sangaree, Gossip on 23rd and The District Line.

Janet Bennett Kelly: Let me chime in here that I also have liked what I see at Reiss, which I think is a Brit brand.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Suzanne and Janet,

My fiance (a guy) is having trouble finding pants that fit him. He's tall and has a generally athletic build, but he has rather large thighs. So flat-front pants just don't work on him (we've tried many pair). Any suggestions of brands or stores for more casual (Dockers-like) pants for him? Jeans are not a problem because he can get relaxed fit and such. Thanks!

Janet Bennett Kelly: The men's department at Nordstrom stores carries a large selection of brands -- from fancy Zegna to Faconnable to sporty golfwear slacks. I suggest going there and trying some. Also, bring the pants that fit well and see if you can find something similar. The other thing to do is to get pants tailored -- then you know they really fit.

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Richmond, Va.: Good morning, fashionistas! I have a question for you about spring handbag trends: Is patent leather still going strong this season? I saw a gorgeous bowling-style bag in a lovely pastel gray patent (think warm spring gray, not cold winter gray) with silver hardware. But patent's been in for a while now, and I don't want to spend the money if it's starting to play out. (Not that I'm a slave to fashion trends, but I want to spend my money on something that's going to look modern for more than just a few more months.)

Suzanne D'Amato: Patent leather is a trend, but bright pops of color seem to be bigger this spring than gray, black and the like. I've seen some great day-glo bags from Marc Jacobs, Fendi and the like. At the real-life end of the price spectrum, Nine West's windows these days are full of neon brights.

Still, I'd guess that your gray patent bag has more staying power than anything I've just described. So if you like it, go for it!

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Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.: Ladies,

A large mysterious stain has appeared on one of my leather handbags and it looks awful. I thought it would dry up and go away but clearly it's made of something perhaps with oil. I can't even begin to guess what it is or where it came from. Any ideas where to get it cleaned, if it's even possible? To give any idea, it's one of those soft pebbled leather varieties.

Janet Bennett Kelly: Eek. That has happened to me many times, and I'm sorry to say, it usually doesn't go away. It does fade with time, however. Fortuna Shoe Repair in Bethesda does good things with leather, and it might be worth a call to them to see if they have any ideas; also Parkway Cleaners in Chevy Chase might be able to help. Any chatters have any ideas?

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Durham, N.C.: Good morning, fashion gurus! This summer, I'll be the only attendant in a dear friend's wedding. She's told me I can choose whatever I'd like to wear with only a few exceptions (i.e., no magenta, etc.). It's a great thing -- I can choose my own dress, which I'll most certainly wear again, or I can even choose a dress I already own. But I'm stumped on what fabric and cut would be good. The wedding will be outdoors, in a wooded mountain park, in August. So -- do I choose cotton? Satin? Silk? The bride's dress is long and silk. I've seen some really cute dresses from J.Crew, and heck, I already own some cute dresses, but I don't want to be too formal for an August outdoor wedding or too casual for what the bride is wearing. Do you have any thoughts?

Suzanne D'Amato: Cotton is certainly the most breathable option, fabric-wise -- you'll feel comfortable and cool in the August swelter. I'd look for a polished cotton frock with some pretty details (rosettes? ruching at the neckline? that part's up to you) to dress things up a bit. Length-wise, you could go for something knee-skimming or floor-length, but I wouldn't suggest a mini since the bride's dress is long. As for color -- look for a solid hue that flatters your skin tone. I like printed cotton frocks, but they're generally better at summer barbecues than summer weddings.

Now, if you already own a dress with all of the above features, kudos to you! If not, look at styles by Thread Design -- their Web site, www.threaddesign.com, is a great place to get ideas.

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Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.: I need to have a small hole (about the size of a pencil eraser or a dime)in a favorite cashmere sweater fixed. My understanding is that cashmere needs to be rewoven, so any ideas on where I can have this done? Who specializes in reweaving cashmere in the District and will do a small project for a reasonable amount. Many thanks!

Suzanne D'Amato: Try Parkway Custom Drycleaning in Chevy Chase. They're not a bargain, but they're known for their meticulous work. A number of NYC socialites actually go so far as to FedEx their designer duds to Parkway.

Chatters, any other suggestions?

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Pennsylvania: A couple of chats ago, I wrote in asking where I could find some some plus-sized basic T-shirts to wear under sweaters (I was looking for silk or cotton). Janet steered me towards Target and Old Navy (which I should have thought of, but didn't).

Last chat, someone wrote in criticizing Janet for sending a plus-sized gal to such unimaginative places. In Janet's defense, I was looking for basics so a "basic" store makes sense.

Turns out Target had all their T-shirts on sale, so I bought a bunch for $5 each. So Janet's advice was right on, well, target (sorry, couldn't resist).

Any chance of having these chats every week? They're a lot of fun. Many thanks!

Janet Bennett Kelly: Aw shucks, Pennsylvania,

Thanks for that vote of confidence!

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Arlington, Va.: Okay -- so I just bought a high-rise, pencil skirt in gray. I have plenty of shirts to wear with it. I have black, high-heeled oxford shoes... can I wear them with this skirt? Do I need to wear black tights with them? Will it look weird to wear them alone with a gray skirt or should I just be sure to match something on top in black?

Suzanne D'Amato: Your skirt already has a dressy, proper vibe, which you could send into extreme overdrive with those prim, 1940s-feeling booties. It's certainly a polished effect, but if you want to mix things up, I'd suggest something just a little less refined, a wee bit more slouchy: a strappy platform pump with a thick stacked heel, say, or maybe the 80s-ish ankle boots so many of our chatters despise (but I love). Definitely heels -- flats won't do with a pencil skirt.

Black tights sound fine, however. And your top certainly doesn't need to be black. I think a white tuxedo-inspired blouse would look great with your skirt, for one.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Suzanne and Janet,

I have two black-tie events coming up: one in April and one in June, and I would like to buy a dress that would work for both of them. I was thinking along of the lines of a very dressy cocktail dress, but wanted to know if there's any hot trends or styles to be on the look-out for for spring. Would red be too much for spring?

Thanks.

Janet Bennett Kelly: Crayola colors such as yellow and electric blue are very in for spring. Look for dresses from designers like Nanette Lepore, Tibi and Alice + Olivia for the latest looks. But more importantly, find what looks good on you, no matter what the trends are. If I were going to wear something in red, I think I'd go for a shade with either a lot of pink in it (maybe more on the magenta side) or something in reddish orange that will look more springy/summery.

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New York, N.Y.: Hi! I hope you'll answer my question, because I have no idea whom else I could ask. I have a few bras with molded cups, and the cups have lost some of their stiffness. I always wash them in a lingerie bag in cold water with the gentle cycle, and I do not put them in a dryer. Do you know how I could get some stiffness back in the cups? Thank you ever so much!

Janet Bennett Kelly: Hi, there, New York,

I just spoke to my local lingerie maven, who unfortunately doesn't hold out much hope for getting the stiffness back into your bra. She does, however, recommend that you always wash your bras by hand using a detergent without chlorine. And contrary to popular belief, she says, good old Woolite does have chlorine.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi! Love this chat; it really lightens my day!

My question is about spring fashion, particularly the color yellow. I've noticed a lot of cute shoes, bags and dresses in bright yellow hues popping up everywhere and am craving a pair of yellow heels! However I am not quite sure what colors would go best with them, and also whether I should try to tan a bit first before wearing them, as yellow might not mesh as well with pale skin?

Suzanne D'Amato: Thanks for your kind words! Yellow is looking like a big trend this spring. To my mind, it's more easily worn on accessories than anything that frames the face. (Those yellow heels you mention, for example, would look great with dark denim and a sailor-stripe, long-sleeve tee.) While the hue looks lovely on olive- or dark-skinned women, on pasty and/or even slightly ruddy complexions it can be a disaster. So bags, shoes = yes. Shirts, dresses = no.

(In case you're wondering, yes -- I do know whereof I speak. I'm fair myself, and have a year-old, once-worn yellow blouse in my closet at this very moment.)

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Washington, D.C.: I've been cleaning out my closet and have a number of items I don't wear anymore, but they're still in good condition. I was hoping to find a second hand/vintage store where I could trade them in for cash or store credit. Do you have any suggestions?

Janet Bennett Kelly: One of the best-known in the area is Secondi in Dupont Circle. There's also Once is Not Enough, which features a lot of high-end designer consignment items.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I'm sick of the wrap dress, but the style usually looks good one me (esp. in a print). I have a belly (thanks genes!) and a somewhat large bust. What style of dress should I look for? BTW, the baby doll dress makes me look pregnant. Thanks.

Suzanne D'Amato: I'd try anything that gives you a waist. For example, some dresses have darker color-blocking at the middle, which makes that area look smaller. A full-skirted, knee-length dress would be a good style for you, too -- the volume at your hips and thighs automatically makes everything else look smaller. Finally, a style with ruching at the waist can do much to camouflage any lumps and bumps. You're right to skip those babydoll dresses -- they're best on women who are flat of chest and lanky of limb.

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Dressing up in D.C.: I got a new black sheath dress that I looooove, but I'm wondering how I can wear it to work. It's long enough, and I'm planning on wearing it with black pantyhose, but I need something to cover up the arms. It has a pretty boat neck line. With a suit jacket? With a cardigan?

Janet Bennett Kelly: Cardigans are very in this season -- try some colorful ones with the dress and see how it looks. You might even try belting it.

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Arlington's high-rise pencil skirt: Gray skirts, to me, are just like jeans -- there's a lot of freedom with the rest of the outfit. For shoes, try red (or plum) patent round -- or square-toe heels. ('High-waist' and 'pencil' automatically rules out flats.)

A not-overly-harsh yellow would be a good counterpoint, too. The idea is to contrast against the gray. White, while it would really pop, might scream too mod with the black tights...

Suzanne D'Amato: Yellow does look lovely with gray. (Finally, an idea for something I can do with my ill-conceived yellow top?)

I must politely disagree with your comment about the white top, though. A tuxedo blouse and a pencil skirt are such polished, classic shapes, there's little chance anyone would mistake that look for mod.

Thanks for adding your take!

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Arlington, Va.: Hi there! I love wearing button-down shirts, but I have a very large chest, narrow shoulders, and a somewhat long torso. It's hard to find shirts that fit correctly. Do you have any suggestions of shops to try, or should I just have my blouses altered? Is that even possible? Thanks.

Janet Bennett Kelly: I would recommend that you find a good tailor who could do alterations. In the long run, it might be less expensive.

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Oklahoma City, Okla.: Hello! Thanks for taking my question....What color shoes would one wear with a navy blue skirt? It's cotton, pleated and kind of poufy, I want to wear it with a short sleeved pale gray cable knit sweater over a white button down shirt. Any shoe color ideas?

Janet Bennett Kelly: You certainly jazz the whole outfit up with some yellow patent leather shoes. Love the combo of navy, gray and yellow. If you tend to be a conservative dresser, find something in a mustardy yellow -- doesn't have to be patent leather.

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Fashionistas: I love shoes -- and sometimes buy kinda eclectic ones thinking that the perfect occasion or outfit will materialize. Sometimes it works -- like when I wore my psychedelic 70s "groove is in the heart" platform shoes with an orange dress to a friend's California wedding. However, I bought a pair of fabulous shoes that I do not know what to do with. I ordered these from the Boden catalog -- they are black and white dalmation print (stay with me here) with a kitten heel and red trim. They're totally cool...but I have no idea what to wear with these so that they don't look costume-y. (or is that just a lost cause?) Any ideas?

Signed,

Cruella DeVille

Suzanne D'Amato: Your shoes sound absolutely fierce, and not too hard to match at all. We featured a very similar-sounding pair in Sunday Source some time ago, with a red dress and black opaque tights. If that sounds too matchy-matchy, you could certainly pair them with jeans, perhaps with a Chanel-esque tweedy jacket. Other colors are fine to add into the mix, but I'd make sure they're of a similar intensity with the red. (No pastels.)

Also, need I add that you should not wear anything else that brings to mind the call of the wild? No zebra stripes, leopard spots, or anything else of the sort.

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Dresses: So spring is supposed to be all about the dress, right? Will there be any dresses with waists? I am depressed about the ones I am seeing: flowy mini-dresses and empire waisted yuck. Please tell me there is hope for those of us above 24 with a figure we'd like to show off -- and without $$$$$.

Janet Bennett Kelly: There are a lot of dresses out there without waists, I agree and commiserate with you. But I've also seen some shirtwaists. Club Monaco has a sleeveless trench dress that belts at the waist for under $200, and I think the Ralph Lauren's Polo line also carries some dresses with waists.

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Suits: For the chatter in search of suits, J. Crew has some good options for a more modern but still conservative look. I noticed a story a few days ago about the company's CEO, who vowed to bring back women's suits at no more than $300.

Janet Bennett Kelly: Thanks for that input. Yes, I did notice that J. Crew carries some office-ready suits.

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Style writing follow-up: Thanks for answering -- assume you pitch the ideas by contacting editorial staff, then?

Suzanne D'Amato: Yes. You might even try to set up an informational interview with someone at a publication you're interested in. Tell them that you want to break into the biz and that you're a big fan of their work. Remember, fashion people looooove themselves! So flattery will get you everywhere.

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Alexandria, Va.: Re: Rihanna's pink jeans, I just bought a pair of aqua jeans from Ann Taylor Loft this past weekend but haven't worn them yet. Suzanne, you liked Rihanna's jeans (I liked them with her black top too), but in general, are the pastel jeans okay for us mere mortals to wear? Thanks!

Suzanne D'Amato: In general, I would say they're tricky to pull off without looking like a cast member from "Adventures in Babysitting." They're just soooo 1980s. That said, I liked Rihanna's take -- with the studded bracelet and black layered tops, she looked pretty *and* punk.

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San Francisco, Calif.: I've lost some weight recently, and I want to get a new pair of jeans that are flattering and maybe kind of, ummmm, sexy. What kind should I shop for? Now that I don't need the size-16 Old Navys, I'm not actually sure where to find a good pair of jeans. (I'm sure I'll have to try on a few pairs, of course, but if you could help me get started, that would be a big help!)

Janet Bennett Kelly: Sevens has lots of different styles, so that's a good brand to try, and I think they can be forgiving as well as flattering. I personally am a fan of Rogan's, which you may be able to find at Barneys. Take a friend with you when you go shopping and ask her to assess how your rear end looks in each style.

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Gray w/white...: I'm sorry, I wasn't clear about the white with gray...I was "solely" referring to white shoes.

I myself have rocked the white top and gray skirt combo...

Suzanne D'Amato: Aha! I get it now. And I like the pun, too. Thanks for clarifying!

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Pantyhose question: I'm attending a wedding this spring and I'm planning to wear a scoop neck little black dress with a champagne sash, and black stilettos. What sort of pantyhose should I wear? I usually don't wear any if I'm just wearing a skirt and heels to work, but I feel like I need something here. Sheer black? Something patterned? Not sure how much the season plays into it either? Help! Thanks!

Janet Bennett Kelly: Sounds pretty! I'd go with sheer black pantyhose. If you find a pair with a little pattern, that might look nice as well.

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Arlington, Va.: Hi ladies! I love the new one-shouldered dresses that are in for this season. One of my favorite things to do is to buy trendy items and then figure out a way to incorporate them into my work wardrobe. It's amazing some of the styles I've pulled off and I work for the government. Anyways, do you think that I could put a blazer over the one-shouldered dresses? Also, are these a bad 80's trend resurfacing or are they as cute as they look in the fashion mags? Thanks!

Suzanne D'Amato: While I love the idea of working the trends into your work look, I'm not so sure about the idea of a one-shouldered dress under a blazer. These dresses often have asymmetrical, non-scoop necklines which might look odd under a jacket.

I have an idea, though: What about trying a turtleneck under the dress? I suppose it would depend on how the one-shoulder part was structured, but...could that work?

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Accessories:: I found some very pretty retro enamel jewelry (one was an adorable yellow cuff bracelet with flowers) at Target last week - -marketed, I think, as "Bohemian chic." They had lots of color families though -- and the prices were fabulous. Great for spring and summer accessorizing without breaking the bank. (Some pretty rings, too, but no small sizes.)

Suzanne D'Amato: To this I would add that Justin Guinta, the talent behind the Subversive line of jewelry, will be designing a collection of cheap-chic baubles for Target. They're slated to hit stores on March 23rd, and he has some very lovely enamel cuff bracelets in his collection. Definitely worth checking out.

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Florals?!: The new floral "craze" that I'm seeing in these pre-spring magazines leaves me feeling uninspired. I find the possibility of me rocking a full length billowy flower print dress leaving me to look like nothing more than a matron in a muu muu. What are your thoughts, oh fashion gurus?

Suzanne D'Amato: Personally, I love spring's takes because they're so unmatronly. The rigidly structured min-dresses at Balenciaga, for example, were the antithesis of mumsy. And even in the more wearable interpretations (such as Stella McCartney's), floral frocks were paired with edgy platform sandals and other cool-girl accessories. The result was quite slouchy and cool -- not at all Laura Ashley, in my opinion.

Janet, what did you think?

Janet Bennett Kelly: It takes a little attitude to pull off a long floral flock, yes. But as Suzanne says, if you pair with edgy accessories it's more likely to work for you. But you don't have to full bore on floral. If you're not sure about it, try a pretty floral print shirt or ignore the trend entirely.

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Suzanne D'Amato: Thanks so much for joining us today! Janet and I are pleased to announce the winners in our beauty giveaway. To Cruella de Ville, owner of the dalmatian-print shoes, we offer the Caudalie gift set. To the chatter who wrote in with the tip on Target's retro-enamel accessories, we have the Kiehl's cleansing duo. Please email me at trendspotter@washpost.com with your name and mailing address, and we'll get your prizes shipped out to you.

And to everyone else, see you again in two weeks!

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