The Orlando Sentinel (MCT)

Q: What is your opinion of skinny jeans? Do they look good on anyone? I thought they were supposed to be out of fashion this fall, but no such luck. I see them in all the stores and all the magazines.

A: Reading between the lines, I’d say your opinion of skinny jeans is pretty low. But just because they are still in fashion doesn’t mean you have to wear them. Jeans in every other style are also available: straight-leg, wide-leg, boot-cut, relaxed fit.

Choose the cut that fits and flatters your figure best, and forget the rest.

As for my opinion: I think skinny jeans can look awesome _ though maddeningly, they tend to look best on skinny bodies.

If you have a heavy rear, hips and/or thighs _ and especially if you are short _ the proportions of skinny jeans simply look wrong. But there are ways of adjusting the proportions. For example, wear your skinny jeans with a tunic-style top that skims over the problem area, then add high-heel pumps or boots to make your legs look longer.

Another trick is to buy extra-long skinny jeans and turn back the cuffs. This helps give visual balance to your silhouette.

Most important of all: Take a good long look in the mirror, front and rear views, before buying any jeans.

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TOWEL OFF GENTLY

Q: Is it true that towel-drying your hair can cause split ends? My sister insists that is why my hair is split and raggedy-looking.

A: Not true, according to several hairstylists I called. But the do recommend towel-drying gently. If you rub too vigorously, the abrasive action can roughen the hair shafts, making your hair less shiny. It also may make it more difficult to style your hair.

Instead of rubbing your hair with the towel, try gently pressing and squeezing to soak up the excess water.

Brushing or combing wet hair, especially if it is tangled, is also a bad idea. When wet, hair is at its most fragile and easily stretches and breaks. Instead, first use your fingers to style you hair as you dry it, switching to a brush once most of the moisture has evaporated.

As for those raggedy split ends, the only cure is a trim. And after that, treat your hair gently and moisturize it regularly.

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OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Q: I fell in love with a long cardigan, but now I’m not sure what to wear it with.

A: Wear it with skinny pants or a short, slim skirt. For a different look, cinch it with a narrow belt.

And if you should fall for a cropped cardigan, wear it with the opposite style of pants or skirt. That is, wide pants or full skirt.

Confused? Just remember, opposites attract. Simple as that.

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THE GREAT SOCKS MIX-UP

The kids have been back at school for just a few weeks, but already half their socks are missing mates. Lost? Gobbled by the dryer? Who knows. But here’s a creative solution: Socks by LittleMissMatched are deliberately mismatched. Dots with stripes. Blues with yellows. Well, you get the idea. And instead of pairs, these socks come in sets of three, increasing the mix-and-mix possibilities. Available at E Tennis, 2271 Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park and online at littlemissmatched.com.

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(c) 2009, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.). Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.