by Brenda Kinsel

The economy is getting better. No, wait! False alarm. It's not so good. With flip-flopping economic reports, it could be challenging to face all the fall fashion options with the accompanying price tags out there.

But, here's the great thing: I think you have some of this year's trends in your closet already. If you just go visit that boutique that adjoins your bedroom, you may find the latest looks—and at a price you just can't beat!

1. Military details. OK, this means epaulets, brass buttons, camouflage fabrics, even military details in boots. I discovered a fairly new (well, bought within the last three or four years) jean jacket that I haven't worn a lot and it's got those epaulets at the shoulders. Score one for me. What about you? Do you have a trench coat? That's classic! Maybe you want to belt it in a wide leather belt instead of its self-belt to make it look a little more modern. If you have a camouflage T-shirt, it might look great with a simple skinny jean and a cardigan.

2. Animal prints. Perhaps you don't seem that surprised. "Animal prints," you say. "Haven't they been around for a long time?" Well, yes, they do seem to be "in" a lot. If fashion pages in the 80-pound September magazine issues with names like Vogue, Elle, Glamour and Lucky are spouting off about leopard prints in their photos of expensive cocktail dresses or real fur coats, no one's the wiser if this is when you pull out your Nine West cotton leopard print short trench coat that you picked up for under $100 a few short years back. Don't have that? No problem! See if there's anything in your closet that looks like a critter. If it looks like an animal, pull it out and make an outfit out of it.

3. Denim. Yup, they're calling it a trend. Some designers this fall are turning denim jeans into what looks more like a crazy quilt. Denim is mixed with leather in patchwork jeans. The whole American rugged theme is suddenly very popular, so get out those Wranglers (did I really say that?) and wear them proudly! Of course, I mean wear any jean as long as it's sexy and flattering on you.

4. Pearls. This year it's pearls on steroids. Or many strands of them worn at the neck at once in one big cluster, or one long strand wrapped three times. I saw, and fell in love with, this very look a week ago while taking a friend to the wine country. We stepped into this little shop where my eye caught a beautiful strand of pearls displayed in the window. "May I try those on?" I asked the saleswoman. "Certainly!" she said. They were magnificent. It was one long strand of different shaped pearls in varied shades from ivory to almost gold. "So how much are these?" I asked. "Thirty thousand," the salesperson said with a straight face. I mimicked her face and said, "Oh, lovely." I tried the cost-per-wear formula to figure out when this necklace would come down to $1 per wearing—82 years if I wore them every day. I settled for a photograph. I will try going to H&M or Zara and see what their knockoffs look like. I suggest you do the same.

5. Purple. Not just one shade, but many shades. Red, too. And camel. Clothes will be in more colors than these lovely ones, but count on the fact that these are fall-focused fashion colors right now. So on your trip to the closet, pull out any item in these colors and remember that shades of them count as well. So purple as a fashion color can include eggplant, berry shades (from blueberry to raspberry), lilac, dusty amethyst. You get the picture. Sometimes when a color is proclaimed as the one color we should wear this season, one might think it meant just one specific paint chip shade, but it doesn't.

6. Capes. This is an item that is custom-made for the Bay Area. Capes go over your head or can have slits where your arms go through and then fasten in the front. They're a perfect extra layer for our layering-prone climate. If you're into vintage, I'd go scout your mother or grandmother's closets and see if they have any smart capes—in camel! Wouldn't that be great!

7. Gloves. I bring these up because they are big this season, but really, if you have a memory, they were big last fall, too. So if you purchased some, pull them out and wear them! I remember some years back running into someone in Peet's Coffee who was wearing gloves and the fingertips were missing. I complimented her on her attractive gloves and she told me, "I just cut off the fingertips is all." So I went to Target, bought some cute inexpensive leopard print gloves and cut the tips off. And this was all pre-smart phones! Big this fall are gloves that have the thumb and index fingertips removed so you can text or operate your iPhone or BlackBerry without having to take your gloves off. You know what to do.

8. Bustline emphasis. Christina Hendricks who plays voluptuous Joan on AMC's hit show Mad Men has inspired many designers to put the emphasis on the bustline this season. Say no to the dresses and tops that are in the magazines that have tucks and darts that all aim to draw attention to the bust section and simply tighten your bra straps. Yes, I mean it. When you look in the mirror at yourself (do it now) your bustline should be sitting at least midway between your shoulder line and your wasitline. So while you're looking at yourself, draw an imaginary line across your shoulders, then another imaginary line across your waistline. Your bustline should be the equator between the two. Next time you watch Mad Men, take a look at Joan and you'll see her bustline is north of that imaginary equator line. Aim high and you'll be right on trend.

Now why should you care at all about trends? Because being aware of and participating in trends just happens to make you look more youthful and aware of the world around you. I know, sometimes that doesn't feel like a good thing. But before you decide to throw in the towel and go eat, pray and love across the pond somewhere, see if you can have fun in your closet, get dressed and be happy right where you live.

 

 

by Brenda Kinsel

Are you planning a vacation this summer, dreaming of fun, relaxation and new adventures? Unless that vacation is at a nudist colony, you have some packing to do! It's a holiday, so live a little. Put away those workhorse work clothes—even if they're business casual—and focus on packing some fun in that suitcase by opting for more playful colors and prints, some charming accessories and, hey, cute shoes. Why not?

I don't want to be Debbie Downer here but truly, when it comes to clothes, is there anything more difficult than planning a "trip wardrobe"? Who hasn't overpacked, brought all the wrong things or forgotten something essential? Now, with airline travel about as much fun as sitting in traffic, you really need something uplifting to focus on before you head out. Especially when charges are escalating for nearly everything—leg room, snacks and your luggage—it's even more important to spend some quality time before you get on the Marin Airporter—planning, editing and sorting through your wardrobe choices.

Currently, most airlines let you bring a carry-on for no extra fees—but it's Friday—that may change by Monday. You do pay for one piece of checked luggage, usually around $25, and that covers up to 50 pounds of cute outfits to go along with your fun times. That gets my vote.

Here's the reason you need to get off the computer, stop tweeting and focus. If your bag is 51 pounds, you pay an additional $90 each way on Delta ($180 extra for your round-trip—just wanted to be sure you were doing the math). If you know you're going to need more cuteness than 50 pounds' worth, it's best to go with two bags. Checking a second bag costs 30 bucks each way ($60 round-trip) on Delta. Of course, check with your airline to get the particulars before you risk having a meltdown at the check-in counter when you hear the "you're over the weight limit" news. That's not the way to start your trip.

I think it's great to send the brain clear messages that this time away is different from everything else. In case the unfamiliar surroundings aren't the first clue, your wardrobe is there to remind you. So if this is a pleasure trip, start several days early by grabbing a few minutes here and there to start collecting possible vacation choices, hanging them at one end of your closet. If you have a portable clothing rack, set it up and pull out possibilities and hang them there. Over the next few days, as you look at the pieces, you'll do some natural editing and selecting. Sounds easy, right? It is! It's painless!

OK, now I'm going to ask you to buckle down and actually try on the contenders and make complete outfits. This way, if they are the chosen ones, you will be confident that you didn't leave anything essential at home. This can require a couple of hours. Stop whining! Time spent at the front end will mean you can devote all your time to having fun while on your vacation. You'll get up every morning and wallow in happiness instead of regrets!

Here are a few things you could consider bringing with you.

1. Cotton print sweaters. These are great items to pack. Bring a couple of T-shirts to wear under them. Pair them with a simple linen skirt, a cropped solid-colored pant or a skinny jean. It's never a bad idea to slip in a long-sleeved cotton turtleneck for those just-in-case weather bloopers that can occur. It doesn't take a lot of space but could really make you more comfortable if the temperatures suddenly drop.

2. A print jersey dress. We've been in such a great couple of fashion years where dresses are as plentiful as the lavender or sunflower fields that have been showcased in the current Tour de France, if you've been watching. They're so easy to pack and if they're in prints, it takes a lot for them to look anything but fresh. Look for empire styles or a wrap dress.

3. Not-your-usual-T-shirts. If you've been in stores lately, you know that the anything-but-plain T-shirt has enjoyed a renaissance. T-shirts are pretty, fancy, frilly. They stand alone as the most interesting part of an outfit. Pack a few.

4. Jewelry pieces that relate to each other. You don't have to pack a lot of jewelry, but look for a couple of groups of things that will pull together simple, casual outfits as well as dressy attire. How about a dangly, chunky, bright silver earring with chunky silver bangles—especially if you're wearing multi-colored prints? Or a colorful beaded earring with a stretchy bracelet with gemstones on it—great for wearing with solid-colored clothing. Even if these items aren't expensive, they may be precious to you, so definitely pack jewelry in your carry-on.

5. Crinkle cotton, linen or rayon scarf. These are forever useful. Wrap it around your neck in a chilly airplane. Add it to a sleeveless sundress for unexpected style. If you're having dinner in an air-conditioned restaurant, putting it around your neck can feel just right.

6. Pack cute shoes a first-aid kit. If you don't listen to me when I say, "Never wear shoes that have never been worn before," you'll come to regret it if your days are packed with activities and those new shoes are causing blisters. Carry some Band-Aid Blister Block and a few corn pads in case your feet get unhappy. You may be doing more walking than you normally do. Flip-flops can be killers on feet unless you're just walking from the pool to the snack stand. Look for comfort technology in flats so you have more support for days when you can go shop the local farmers' market or seaside boutiques. Carry foot powder with you to keep your feet smelling fresh and feeling cool inside of flats. If you're tromping around a city, look for shoes with a short, squat heel rather than pointy heels. You'll get a lot more support and your weight will be distributed better. Gel pads are great slipped inside higher heeled shoes.

7. Pack a travel steamer. Jiffy Steamer makes a great one (www.jiffysteamer.com ). A steamer works much faster and easier than the hotel ironing board. There are very few fabrics the steamer can't tackle.

With your outfits planned out, you won't be overpacking at the last minute, throwing in all kinds of unrelated items. Reward yourself by slipping in a simple canvas bag—if you fall for a hailstorm of souvenirs, you have something to carry them home in without paying for an overweight bag.

 

 

by Brenda Kinsel

Two Marin young adults are on their way to careers in the fashion industry, having graduated from the School of Fashion at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Andrew Wedge and Ghazaleh Khalifeh, both 24 years old, presented their senior collections at the May 23 Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony.

Wedge, from Novato, had that light-bulb moment at the age of 13 when his cousin who had modeled in a Giorgio Armani runway show came back to Marin with some of the clothes from the collection. He looked at the designs and construction and recalls, "For some reason, I ran upstairs and started drawing, doing fashion illustrations. I knew this was it for me."

His family was completely supportive and Wedge soon started researching other designers to see what steps they took. "I always knew I'd go to design school," he said.

For his senior collection, he chose to work with furs. He says, "I love working with furs. There are so many ways to manipulate them. I blame our Russian heritage for my affinity for fur." Wedge is careful about the furs he works with. He does the legwork to determine the sources. He also enjoys using reclaimed vintage furs.

He likes to mix things up. In this collection he mixed patent leather with nappa leather and tissue-weight jersey. "Jersey is so slinky and leather is so structured."

One of the things the Academy teaches is to design with a specific end user in mind. Students are asked to think through who their client is. What does this person do for a living? How much money does she make? Who is she in the world?

Wedge's muse is Eva Green, a French actress who was in the last James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. Wedge says, "Eva Green has the strength and mystery that I really love." He enjoys creating clothes that are statement pieces that have a strong celebrity red-carpet feel. "I like to design clothes you wear a little bit, get attention and then go home and put on jeans and a T-shirt." He takes a more European approach to fashion. "I want my clothes to be artistic and out there and then wearable. I want women to feel strong and powerful in my clothing."

What does Wedge think about shows like Project Runway? "They're good in that they show the general population a little about what working in fashion is really like. It's very difficult and very time consuming. There's a false perception that it's a glamorous, easy lifestyle when really, you're working 18-hour days and your hands are bleeding."

Wedge is looking for a position in Paris, Milan or New York.

Ghazaleh Khalifeh, from Kentfield, grew up around fabrics and fittings, as her mom had been sewing since before Khalifeh was born. "Growing up and being surrounded by materials and resources was inspiring. I made a lot of clothes for my dolls and things. I've been into painting and illustrating. Fashion design is another form of art. My dad would try to suggest other options but I was stubborn. In high school I knew I'd be going straight to the Academy of Art."

Her favorite part of designing is developing the back-story that inspires her designs. "I used to like to choose someone with one foot in the real world and one foot in the imaginary world. It's amusing to me how one thing can lead to something else in inspiration."

Her collection is composed entirely of silk, mainly silk charmeuse, silk gazar and silk chiffon. She manipulated the colors in the collection by using powder dyes and boiling water. "The heat stiffened the fabric, creating a rougher texture that was also more gathered or shriveled. Despite this, it also had a great way of stretching and expanding. This made it very fun to use with patterns that had a bias grain line."

All the beadwork was done by hand. "I spent many nights meticulously stitching them on one by one, and quite often reinforcing them multiple times." The beadwork was composed of antique gelatin sequins from France and Belgium back in the 1920s-30s and very heavy copper beads imported from Ethiopia. She also made a collection of many necklaces that had beads from Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon and Kenya.

"One of my favorite elements of sourcing materials for my collection was buying the beads. It was such a delight to speak to the African vendors and search and find such magical goods from such a distant world. Geography and world cultures are very much inspiring to me, and it's so exciting to dive into learning about what sorts of treasures various parts of the world create. I hope to spend much of my future traveling, to Asia, Africa and India—all over! Something that I love about creating art is that it's an expression of life itself—what it was, what it is today, what it could be in the future. And that love for life definitely translates into everything I do!"

Regarding her own personal style, Khalifeh says, "I like collecting vintage pieces. I like the style from the Paul Poiret era. I like a lot of Japanese designs. I mix all that in with black. It's a pleasure to get dressed. Part of what's fun about waking up in the morning is deciding what character I want to dive into. To me, style comes from the imagination."

Khalifeh just started an internship in New York with Diane von Furstenberg. "It's different from what I'm used to. The rewarding aspect is working with other interns who have different backgrounds. It's been inspiring so far. It's interesting to see the process. There's so much that goes into the smallest fabric samples."

On the first day of her internship, she was sewing beads on one of Diane von Furstenberg's own dresses. "I see her talking to other designers. She's really there and involved in everything."

A small fraction of the original number of students ends up showing their collections in the Graduation Fashion Show. "The Academy has very high standards and you have to prepare yourself for that. If you have energy and passion, it's the best design school to attend," says Wedge, who also spent time at Parsons and Pratt.

Khalifeh was awarded the $25,000 CFDA Grand Prize Geoffrey Beene Design Scholarship.

 

 

by Brenda Kinsel

Elisabeth Laurence wants to inspire you to live a life of style. And she's created a top-notch vehicle to do that in her Marin County-created TV show Lives of Style. Laurence, a Tiburon resident who has developed or hosted over 50 television projects and shows, is especially excited about this one. "Our mission is to show how everyone can live a life of style," she says. "Throughout my years of writing and doing television I have been fortunate enough to meet extraordinary people and cover fabulous events. Many of these people share personal insights and reveal secrets to their success, and show us how they really live their lives."

This is a show that might broaden your idea of what's stylish. Laurence's point of view is that "style means basically living the best life you can. Walking on the Tiburon bike path and looking at the bridge, that's stylish."

Laurence has lived all over, but Marin is her favorite place. She appreciates the rich opportunities we have in the Bay Area to enjoy style. Laurence wants her show to be a bright light for everyone. This is not a new version of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Although her subjects may very well be rich and famous, she's interested in bringing to viewers the qualities of the people behind the glitz and the glitter. She says, "I am the audience." She asks the questions that the audience would want to ask. She's the conduit between us and the style-makers.

She wants you to know that style doesn't have to be about spending money. "Hiking Mt. Tam, picking up a gorgeous flower, enjoying natural fabrics, buying locally grown produce, that's living a life of style," she says. Although the show brings a worldview to the subject and has a lot of New York, Paris and Milan in it, she stresses the show's Bay Area connections.

Laurence got the idea for Lives of Style about five years ago while walking on the Tiburon bike path, her favorite place. She told me about the vision she got "right there on San Rafael Avenue by the water." She realized that "we could inspire people and use all my background and contacts. Someone passed us on the path and said 'you're smiling,' and that was the beginning."

She has a great producer to help her—her daughter Erin, former producer for Diane Sawyer at 20/20, Good Morning America and Primetime at ABC network news. Erin is a local who graduated from Redwood High School. She now splits her time between Los Angeles and Marin. "We're treasure-hunting the world for the best products, places, people and events," Erin says, "and bringing them back to San Francisco."

As a team, they bring different talents to the project. They work really well together claims Elisabeth. "Erin is creative, but focused on the production," says Elisabeth. As a mother/daughter team, they're proud to be reaching people from 20 years of age to 40 and beyond. They have two other projects in development as well.

Laurence says of the designers she interviews, "We really tried to show the humanity of these designers." Many of these style-makers started from very little. Behind the high-intensity music, celebrities sitting in the front rows and electric energy of a runway show, there's a humility about the designer's life that she wants us to see. Laurence feels that learning the real story about these people will give us all insights and inspiration. Many people assume successful people are just "lucky" or have fortunate breaks and lead a charmed life. She says, "Most successful people we've interviewed have worked hard for their success and they are realistic, oftentimes are pretty humble and have tips or roadmaps for us on how to achieve success."

This is a local show but has the look of a first-rate network show. Lives of Style has a newsmagazine format. The subject of beauty is explored through interviews with runway makeup artists as well as reviews of the latest breakthroughs in beauty, skincare and cosmeceuticals. Style is explored beyond fashion through a look at rare jewelry and collectibles including exotic cars, antiques and art. There will be up-close and at-home visits with owners of fine homes and estates, as well as segments on dining with great chefs who explore food, wine and entertaining. Laurence sees wellness as a subject of style and in that she brings to the viewer sources for travel destinations, spas and resorts.

She says, "We're inviting Bay Area viewers to interact with us—to contact us with people, places and things they think would be great to feature on Lives of Style." There are examples of the best-of-the-best in every neighborhood in the Bay Area from Santa Cruz to San Jose to Santa Rosa—and of course, San Francisco, Marin County and Sonoma/Napa wine country are featured. "We are rooted in the Bay Area and our San Francisco team has resided here for decades."

Those looking to find style in an economical way will be happy to know that "we'll be doing segments on 'style for less,' ways to maximize style and 'real-people' style," she says.

This show gives us the heavy hitters in the fashion world. Some highlights include Donna Karan discussing the celebration of her brand's 25th anniversary, what she's proudest of and how she balances her life. Ralph Rucci gives an inside look into the life of an American couturier and what it's like to dress some of the most iconic women in the world. Narciso Rodriguez recounts what it's like to dress first lady Michelle Obama and shares how a movie poster can influence a collection. Nadja Swarovski reminiscences about Alexander McQueen's stamp on the fashion world and what it's like to be part of a dynasty that's provided crystals for women from Queen Victoria to Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock. There's even a feature on a celebrity philanthropist who plays a sexy siren on TV.

Lives of Style is planning to donate 5 percent of net profits to charity.

Ready to follow Laurence's vision of style as grace, beauty, wellness and joy? Then catch the show locally on KRON-4 TV Sundays, starting June 6. If waiting until then is too hard, you can watch a trailer at www.livesofstyle.com .

 

by Brenda Kinsel

Before there were mothers, there were women: women who parachuted out of planes, women who walked across a dance floor and attracted a dozen set of eyeballs watching the swish of her skirt, women who could make nerdy black-rimmed glasses look sexy.

And then they become mothers and everything changes. I hear it from many women. You can't imagine life without your kids, but it's also so easy for that life to take over every physical and mental space that once was filled with other images of yourself, your identity.

Whether you're currently mothering young ones, teenagers or are on the other end and are mothering your own parents now, it wouldn't hurt to rethink this identity thing and reconnect with that inner spirit that might have some other ideas about you. Even women who aren't nursing biological children are nursing relationships in their lives and being called on to mother co-workers, siblings or friends. Stop! Stop for just a few minutes and entertain some broader ideas.

I made up this term a while back to help women steer their identify ship. It's called BeTTY and it stands for Be True To Yourself. Everybody needs BeTTY to be present in her (or his) life. Finding a way to remember who you are in the middle of making school lunches, filing insurance claims or running around the county with a list of chores is a priority. If you don't do it, who will? Thinking about yourself, choosing to dress yourself with thoughtfulness can give you energy to face the day. It's what garners statements like, "You look great!" And it's pleasurable moments like that, brief as they are, that really lift our spirits.

I remember seeing a woman dash into a coffee shop one day looking cute in great fitting jeans, shoes with some sparkle and a simple sweater with a scarf thrown around her neck. While she was waiting for her drink, I decided to get up the nerve to compliment her even though I was sure she must hear it all the time. As she was walking out I said, "I just want to tell you how great you look today." She said, "Gee, thanks," and walked out. She got to the street, turned around and headed back. She popped her head in the door and said, "You have no idea how nice it was to hear that today. Thank you!"

I think many a woman suffers from the whole PC thing about whether paying attention to oneself and how one looks is a noble enough cause. It isn't ending famine, saving the rain forest or stopping war in the Middle East. Well, nothing else is solving those problems either, so it can't hurt now, can it, to take some personal pride in how one looks, even for busy moms.

Let me offer some help. Think about how you'd like to be perceived. What qualities would you like to bring out in yourself? Even if it represents just 20 percent of your outfit, that's enough! You'll be reminded of those qualities all throughout the day! You may have a jeans and T-shirt lifestyle or a casual work life, but there are things you can do to hint at the woman you are with your color choices, accessory choices or even the fit of your clothes.

I've created six categories for you that might help you get started.

Expressing Sexy

Remember, I'm helping you to bring more "sexy" back, not to be dressing totally sexy from head to foot—20 percent goes a long way. So try one of these:

1. Find the curves! Find one part of your body to highlight in clothes that follow the curves of your waist, bust or hips.

2. Bare some skin. Let's see those great legs by wearing a short skirt. Or let us see your bare neck and decollete in a scoop-neck top or dress. Add a long linky necklace that cascades down your trunk.

3. Individual pieces that could be great are red high heels or pretty chandelier earrings.

Expressing Strength and Confidence

1. Look for strong statements in necklaces that don't have moving parts. Chandelier earrings are not for you. You could wear a medium-sized hoop earring.

2. Sturdy fabrics are better than flowy ones. If fabrics like cotton or linen have a lot of body to them, all the better.

3. Neutral colors like beige, black, white and gray are good choices. How about a white button-up shirt with slim pants worn with a strong chain necklace.

Express your Fun and Flirty side

1. The stores are filled with items that have ruffles on them. Find a ruffle-something that you like!

2. You're a great person to mix vintage cardigans with jeans and heels. Or put on a flowy floral print top and belt it with a thin metallic belt.

3. Jewelry with movement can be fun on you, just not too bulky. Choose a cross-body bag that is medium-sized and make it a fun color like coral, aqua or even white. No black or brown for you.

Express your Adventurous side

1. Are you a world traveler? Go for the safari prints or camouflage prints. Military details or sailor stripes are good for you. Hint at the places you've been.

2. Tribal jewelry and tribal print scarves are so popular right now. You're not a polka dot person, so bring out the wild side.

3. Wedge sandals are better for you than heels or loafers.

Express your Warm and Inviting nature

1. Color is such a tool for you! Check out spicy colors like turmeric, cinnamon, chile pepper, ginger and nutmeg.

2. Seek out touchable fabrics to put into your outfit. These are fabrics that make someone want to reach out and feel the texture. This can be accomplished with soft sweaters and blended fabrics in items that are not tight-fitting.

3. Use jewelry pieces that have warm metal detailing. A handbag could have brass fittings and whip stitching. Belt buckles should be interesting (inviting!). Bangles could adorn your arm in warm ivory, pesto green and copper.

Expressing Creativity

1. Go for oversized bold jewelry. Do one grand necklace and let that be the main focus. It could be colorful, have moving parts or you could wear multiple strands of chains in mixed metals. No single gold chains for you!

2. If black is your favorite color, make your pieces stand out by thinking "unbasic black." You're creative, so find the black top that is asymmetrical or has fabric interest. Wear different textures of black in the same outfit.

3. Mixing colors together is great for you. How about hot pink and dove gray; turquoise and jade green; wine and curry.

Now get dressed and go out and enjoy the compliments!

by Brenda Kinsel

A recent New York Times article pointed out that fewer people are taking on a plastic-surgery project because the funds for elective surgeries are more difficult to get. Lines of credit and second mortgages used to pay for these extras, but that money is now hard to come by. Although this may be a temporary slowdown, it does give one time to think about options.

I spoke to a couple of people who have undergone face-lifts. Marjory DeRoeck is an image consultant from Walnut Creek. She had a face-lift five years ago that included her eyes, brows and neck. Would she do it again? "Absolutely, in a minute!" she said. "Like we all do, we start to see our mothers when we look in the mirror. Not that my mother wasn't lovely, she was. But I was feeling like I looked old. I saw this wattle in my neck area. That's the part that bothered me the most."

Jacqueline Fisher (not her real name) from San Jose was maybe not as enthused about the thought of doing it again. She is still in the healing stages of a face-lift that was preformed 15 months ago. "I thought I'd be all healed in six months. I got the thing fixed that bugged me the most. No matter how skinny I got, I always had more fat underneath my chin than I liked." Jacqueline had a hooded eye, which her insurance company paid to correct. While she was going to be under anesthesia anyway, she elected to have her lower face done at the same time. She's having some problems with scarring due to her skin tone. "All my other health practitioners I go to say it takes about two years for complete healing. Nobody ever tells you that," she said.

If you see a face-lift in your future and are waiting on the funds, both DeRoeck and Fisher say that it's important to visit a few doctors before you decide on somebody to perform your surgery. DeRoeck visited with three board-certified doctors. One thing that influenced her a lot was the office staff. The person DeRoeck settled on not only had good "before and after" pictures and took time to have a one-on-one no charge consultation with her, but his office staff, the people who you would see the most after the surgery, were very friendly, helpful and had been patients of his who'd also had great results.

There are some non-surgical, almost common-sense things that, when added up, could make someone look at you and wonder if you'd gotten the "rested" look that plastic surgery can create. Here are a few:

1. Get your eyebrows shaped. DeRoeck had a client who had what could have been called a uni-brow. People would comment on how this person always looked like she was frowning. She had her eyebrows professionally waxed and the results were amazing. This simple procedure opened her face, made her brighter and happier looking without dipping into her savings account.

2. Jewels also bring light to the face naturally. Whether your pearls are the real deal or good-looking fakes, their luminescence brings a nice light to the face. Diamonds will do that, too (real or fake). Or visit a jewelry counter and try on necklaces or earrings in faceted gemstones, glass or crystal to bring sparkle to your face.

3. Are you lusting for lipo? As Fisher said, "If someone wants plastic surgery, they'll find a way." But one way to look like fat was removed from an area is to simply wear one size larger. Going up one size will give more ease around whatever part of your body you wish was trimmer. If you have a full bust, you could still consider wearing a belt. Just drop it lower than your waist. Looking thinner is nearly as great as actually being thinner.

4. You've heard Oprah talk about this a lot and I'm going to join the chorus. Get a new bra! Really. March down to Macy's, Nordstrom or Chadwick's and get a proper fitting bra. Eighty percent of women wear the wrong bra size, estimates Tracy M. Pfeifer, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City. Here's the thing. The right bra can lift your breasts and create more length in your torso. More length in your torso equals a longer, leaner line. While you're trying on bras, take in the Bra-llelujah by Spanx. Its claim to fame is that it eliminates back bulge. The hosiery back and elastic-free straps eliminate VBL (visible bra lines). This is one area where technology keeps coming up with newer and better products all the time. So don't sit on the laurels of a bra that worked well five years ago. There is a better product out there waiting to make you look even better.

5. Do you wear glasses? Are your glasses making you look older? That one accessory can do so much for giving you an instant lift. How a frame lines up (or fights against) your eyebrow line, brings attention higher up your face because of the temple design or how the color relates to your own coloring rather than fighting against it all adds up to taking years off your driver's license number. I recently paid a visit to Patrick Fasano's Focus Opticians at 356 San Anselmo Ave. in San Anselmo (415/457-8171). Full disclosure: I've brought personal clients here to get updates and one day last week, I was checking his stock for my own face. This is another area where technology is being put to good use. On one particular pair of frames that I tried, Fasano pointed out how I was getting instant light to my eye area. How? The inside of the frames was a chalk color and the outside, caramel brown tones. What could be better for me? The outside related to my hair color and the hidden inside feature made me look brighter. You're going to choose a pair of frames anyway so, just like I'm suggesting with bras, try on several and look for the details that make you look brighter, youthful, alert, happy—all those things that plastic surgery might do for us for several thousand more dollars than a pair of glasses might cost.

If plastic surgery isn't an option or even a choice, follow these tips and you just might hear, "Have you been on vacation? You look so...rested!"