The ladies' paradise

Cut off your hair!

Did I mention I'd cut five inches off my hair? I love, love, love it! (Kudos to Jackie, at Urban Style Lab salon, in DC.) I'd read that women should make sure to shake up their look every so often. Usually you read (in magazine articles and books about personal style) that if you're wearing the lipstick you wore 10 years ago, it's time for a change.

But then I read something a little more radical: Every couple years you should make changes in your personal appearance that reflect the changes in your lifestyle, job, family situation, age, etc. As you get older, your coloring changes, and that affects how you wear your hair, your makeup, etc. (Plus, obviously, fashions change, and that dictates hairstyles, too.)

So my latest mission is getting women to find a new haircut. One book I read recently even suggested leaving your salon if you've been there a few years: It maybe be tough for a longtime stylist to see you in any other way.

(Forget the fact that this is Jessica Simpson -- isn't the hair great?)

Necklines: What not to do

I am obsessed with necklines.

I can't tell you how many people I see everyday who are wearing the wrong shape neckline.

And, friends, thanks to Trinny and Susannah, there's just no excuse. Big chest, high neckline? No! And no turtlenecks, either -- those are even worse. Repeat after me: Low neckline (either a V or a scoop or other plunging neckline), a wrap, or surplice. (If you prefer more coverage, simply throw on underneath a tank on underneath of the same or a contrasting color.)

Unless, of course, you are less well endowed. In that case, enjoy turtlenecks, boat necks, crew necks and the entire range of much-more-accessible necklines.

Recently Trinny and Susannah released a body-shape survey, which is amusing. Most women think they are hourglasses. Take a look at the survey to find out more about the other shapes -- and which shape you are.

Note: T&S also have a body-shape book out (paperback this summer).

Lift and separate

It's a curse. I can't walk down the street without noticing how many women, tragically, are wearing bras that just aren't working. The result is unfortunate -- sagging bosoms that add pounds and distort the silhouette.

This issue wasn't always on my radar screen. I wore a nursing bra for a long time, one without underwire. Eventually, my guardian angel at Saks set me straight. She told me, and she's completely right, that without the proper bra, even the nicest clothes won't look that good. She sent me to a nearby lingerie boutique to get fitted, and I've looked and felt much better (and more comfortable) ever since. These days I swear by my balconette bras (also sometimes known as balcony bras). They're cut with the strap a little far out on the shoulder, and they're sexy and keep the bosom up, which is the whole point. They're also cut low in front, which makes them useful for deeply plunging necklines.

Calvin Klein F2762 Push-up Balconette Bra ($42)

You've read this before, and it's true: It's imperative to get a bra that fits. One thing to look for is that when the bra fits and is doing its job, the breasts will be halfway between the shoulder and the elbow. Anything lower, and your silhouette will be distorted. (A digression: Empire waists? The breasts must be above the seam. I can't stress this enough. Otherwise the whole look is just a disaster.) A few other pointers: Nothing should overflow the top (or side) of the bra cup. The strap around the back must not ride up -- if it does, get a smaller size. It should feel quite snug on the loosest hook, as all bras stretch a little over time. The front center of the bra between the cups should lie flat against your chest; if it doesn't, you probably need a smaller size.

And if you're thinking you're a little more well endowed than you like, that's all the more reason to get a good bra. Otherwise, those breasts look like you've randomly stuffed old throw pillows under your shirt. The right bra will lift and define them and also make your torso longer and more sleek.

Yes, a little lacy nothing is pretty and fetching and all that. But how do you look once you've put your clothes on? If your current bra can't do the job, you may be better off with something more sturdy, and this holds true for both small- and large-chested women.

So here's what to do. Go to a big department store and experiment with different styles, brands, and sizes of bras. Notice how different they can make you look. Get a couple and see how you like them -- and only then buy more than one of each kind. You'll be amazed at how much better you look!

Out with the old

The dead of winter is a wonderful time to start setting aside clothes that don't work, probably never did, and never will. A cute but cheap sweater that pilled on its second time out, a jacket in a color that makes you look half-dead and every other piece of clothing that makes you feel less than your best self -- put them aside to give away or sell. Chances are you won't miss them.

One of the most-cited wardrobe challenges I hear about is clutter in the closet that makes the clothes' owner unable to see what she has and prevents her from creating new and exciting outfits. Although I really do understand impulse purchases of hot, trendy items, I believe it's probably more satisfying in the long run to keep one's wardrobe lean and mean, filled with clothes you can wear over and over in many different combinations. My heroes Trinny and Susannah even say in one of their books that cultivating a hardworking wardrobe, with every piece in heavy rotation, is often the best approach.

So get rid of the old and make room for those new pieces you'll want to wear all summer long. We'll be highlighting some ideas in coming days

Body envy

When you've got a body that's far less than perfect, like I do, it's easy to walk around envying those with perfect bodies.

Now for the news flash: There are very few perfect bodies. Lots of us could stand to visit the gym. Others weren't blessed with the body proportions that grace the covers of national magazines. (And, let's face it: That's why supermodels make the money they do -- they're freaks of nature!)

For the rest of us, it's a matter of asking our clothes to pick up where Mother Nature left off. Short in the torso? Short in the legs? Pick styles and silhouettes that will flatter. Do a good enough job of this, and no one will believe you when you whine, "But I'm short-waisted!"

I was reminded how powerful clothes can be on a recent visit to Loehmann's -- and its communal dressing room -- with two friends, both of them attractive and toned. One is very short-waisted, and the other very long-waisted. Funnily enough, some of the same pieces looked good on them both (and now they have matching green-mesh V-necks). But by no means everything. One shape that was friendly to them both -- and is flattering to a wide variety of shapes and sizes -- is the knee-length A-line or full skirt.

Diane Von Furstenberg full skirt, at Neiman's

Here's why: The A-line skims over big hips and thighs to flatter women with pear shapes. For those whose torso, hips and thighs are more straight than curvy, the A-line creates a waist and hips. Either shape looks wonderful in an A-line or full skirt. How the person wears it will depend on her body type.

Oprah's Bra and Swimsuit Intervention: Best Breast Tips

I'm convinced that the right bra can compensate for a whole host of body issues, including both an overly endowed bosom and a miserly one.

Getting the right fit

Oprah recently had a "Bra and Jean Intervention" on her show, and the page on her site includes a whole host of fit tips for bras and jeans. Check it out! My favorite is this one: Your breasts should be mid way between your shoulders and your elbows. (Larger breasts tend to be somewhere below that mid point.)