Right white

Right white
When we first heard that Clorox had come out with a bleach pen, we figured it was just another ho-hum invention that would get only soccer moms excited. Boy, were we wrong. The Clorox Bleach Pen is the newest tool in the DIY arsenal -- a new way for you to customize clothes, accessories and furnishings.
The pen contains gel bleach (it doesn't drip, so you have better control). Grab a black T-shirt, a navy tote bag or a dark denim jacket, and get to work. Draw little stars on a tee sleeve or write your name across the back of a jacket. Even personalize your pillowcase so everyone knows where you rest your head. And talk about instant gratification -- it takes only about 10 minutes for the bleach to work its magic.
Grab a pen for about $3 at supermarkets and mass retailers like Target and Kmart. Then head to designer.cloroxbleachpen.com for inspiration and instructions.
You can even download stencils to get you started. Our prediction is that it will be only a matter of time before "bleach couture" hits the runways.
Holiday hues
One of our favorite things about the holidays (besides the joy of gift-giving, the pretty lights and the excuse to go shopping) is the chance to get all dressed up for once-a-year events. And that means buying new makeup for the occasion. Stila, one of the chic-est companies in the cosmetics world, has introduced a new holiday line, aptly named "Stila Confections."
As its name suggests, the collection features gorgeous colors that suggest yummy holiday sweets -- rich chocolate browns, fluffy vanilla beiges and fruity reds and pinks. Our favorite item is the lip glaze double -- a set of three mini double-ended glosses infused with fruity flavors. A beige gloss tastes like bananas; a soft purple-pink smacks of plums. At six colors for 25 bucks, this is officially a steal.
Look for all of the Stila Confections products at department stores, www.gloss.com and Sephora boutiques, or visit www.stilacosmetics.com.
XBecky Sher writes this column for Knight Ridder Tribune News Service. You can write to her at bsher@krtinfo.com.