Carrying the colors Love the new straw totes, but don't...

Carrying the colors

Love the new straw totes, but don't quite trust the loose weave to hold small things? Line them with scarves, says scarf designer ECHO.

Self-serving as the suggestion may be for ECHO, it's not a bad idea. It probably will keep your keys in the bag, but why stop there? A splash of color peeking from a basic black shoulder bag could be kind of nice, too -- like tissue paper inside a gift box. You could even change it to match your outfit, so you're always coordinated and haven't spent a fortune on a rainbow of purses.

-- T. B.

The skinny on the skirt

Leah Feldon, "Oprah" guest and author of "Does This Make Me Look Fat: The Definitive Rules for Dressing Thin for Every Height, Size and Shape" (Villard Books, $25), gives away some of her book's advice free on the Web at www.leahfeldon.com. In the tips section, the former stylist offers these suggestions for slimming your silhouette with the right skirt:

* Skirts should be longer than they are wide to maximize the vertical line.

* Side slits are good (if you have the legs). Front slits are bad (they give the skirt a funny shape and don't move well).

* Hemlines can make a big difference. A skirt that lands mid-calf makes your legs look heavier. You're better off lowering the hem to a narrower part.

-- T. B.