THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508310063
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CAMMY SESSA, SPECIAL TO THE DAILY BREAK
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
IN MOST STORES, it looks like fall, but in reality, plenty of hot, sticky weather is still in the offing.
Yet, most women are in an autumnal psyche and don't want those summery shades such as pastels or whites. Transitional dressing is the way to go. That means donning cool and comfortable clothes that can take us though intense heat but have the look of seasonal chic. Dressing for this ``in-between'' time means wearing summer-weight outfits fashioned in dark or bright colors.
This is a good time to paw your way through any remaining racks of summer sales to find dark-hued skirts, pants or jackets.
Actually, buying lightweight black, navy or purple cotton jersey, silk or rayon clothes can extend your wardrobe for all seasons and not just this time of year.
It's investment dressing if you latch on to a silk blazer in black, brown, navy or red because you can wear it all year. In summer, the jacket is smart with white pants and a striped T-shirt. Yet when brisk winds whip up a chill, you can combine it with a turtleneck shirt or cashmere sweater. When it gets really cold, wear the same garment under an overcoat.
There's more. A silk jacket combined with gold pants and camisole can be a killer way to dress for evening. Also, if you're going on a trip, this one item can simplify packing and will be the pivotal focus for dress-up or dress-down occasions.
Right now, bargains prevail in department stores, especially in classic sportswear collections such as Liz Claiborne, Rafaella and Jones, New York. I like Carole Little designs for transitional dressing because the styles are loose-fitting and comfortable, and most are made of rayon. Cool!
For many years, I've been addicted to the Valerie Stevens line, which is carried exclusively at Hecht's. This is a label for clothes that are well-crafted and tailored; they can hold their own next to expensive better sportswear any day of the year. One good buy that will be available this weekend is a smart Valerie Stevens boucle jacket for $119.99.
Remember if you buy a jacket of superior quality, you can get less expensive items to wear with it. Think about investment dressing whenever you shop. LOOK WHO'S BACK
Many women of style lamented the closing of ``JJ's'' last year. The little specialty store in Virginia Beach was open for 21 years before owner Janet Woods called it quits.
Dry your tears.
Woods is back in business in a-state-of-the-art shop in Thoroughgood Commons appropriately called ``Janet's.''
How come?
Woods, who is plucky, petite, and highly professional answers: ``I'd be shopping in a grocery store. Someone would see me and say: `Janet, when are you going back in business?' So here I am.''
Besides, Woods admits that she missed her customers and the excitement as well as the unique craziness of the fashion business.
Excitement exudes from Woods as she goes to a rack of clothes to show a nifty black suit trimmed in curly lamb.
``This is a last cutting of Lilli Ann,'' she says explaining that the fashion house Lilli Ann is under new management.
Other designer names are Henry Lee, Count Romy, Antonella Preve and Karan Lawrence. She has plenty of transitional outfits, including a neat cotton by NRI for $138.
Woods also has a dynamic selection of leather and combinations of leather and fur.
``People think that because I'm tiny myself, I don't carry large sizes but I do,'' Woods says about her penchant for satisfying all figure types. ``We go from size 4 to 24 1/2.''
You'll find Janet's in Thoroughgood Commons off Pleasure House Road, Virginia Beach open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. DON'T BLOT
Kiss all those highfalutin fashion magazines goodbye and find out the real low-down on fashions and cosmetics in Consumer Reports.
If you think that this consumer guide just zones in on washing machines, power tools and automobiles, you're wrong.
The magazine occasionally does some great beauty and fashion comparisons that other magazines just won't tackle. One good study in the July '95 issue rates 40 lipstick brands.
Lipstick is probably the top-selling and most-needed of all makeup products. Most women wouldn't leave home without it. Yet, women think that if they pay more, it will do a better job - perhaps make them more beautiful. After all, some of us believe all those Estee Lauder advertisements.
However, this study proved that price differences between lipsticks was not based on quality but packaging. The cheapest was 92 cents and the most expensive, $20. Sleek and shiny lipstick cases command more money.
Besides price, the lipsticks were rated for long wear, moistness as well as glossy, matte, opaque/easy-on and nonfeathering qualities.
Like most women, I was most interested in the long-lasting ones. Two in this category are Maybelline Revitalizing Color Lipstick and Avon Perfect Wear Lip Color. by CNB