May 16, 1996|By Elsa Klensch | Elsa Klensch,Los Angeles Times Syndicate
I'm 21, and I'm not allowed to wear a bathing suit at our beach club in Buenos Aires. I know it sounds absurd, but my grandmother, one of the club founders, believes in the same dress code established decades ago. She insists that I wear shorts and a shirt when I'm hanging around the pool. I want to find something very sexy and provocative that will also play by the rules.
Your grandmother certainly seems to be overly protective. But there are solutions to every problem. New York designer Marc Jacobs is one of many designers showing warm-weather pieces that will look great in the Southern Hemisphere.
"I have a perfect solution to your problems," he said. "First, find a pair of sexy short-shorts in a luxurious fabric -- something chic and tailored.
"Then find a blouse with a matching bikini top. Or, if that's difficult, buy a bikini and search for a blouse that matches it. The blouse, the bikini top and the shorts are a look that's sexy without being vulgar."
I'm an anxious person, and I cram everything I can into my purse in case I might need it. As a result, I can never find what I want. For my birthday, my aunt gave me a over-the-shoulder bag that she said should finally solve my problems. It's clear plastic so you can see everything in it. Now I have another problem -- I don't want everyone to see what I'm carrying. What should I do?
Your aunt may actually have solved your problem. An interesting idea is to look around for several colorful zippered pouches with unusual designs. You can use these to compartmentalize your things -- one for makeup, another for personal papers and so on. This way you will be able to find what you need quickly, and the bag will look stylish through the plastic. A collection of these small containers can make the bag new each time you use it.
Every few weeks go through your bag and take a close look at what you're carrying around. You will be surprised at what you can leave at home.
Pub Date: 5/16/96
