FASHION MISTAKES Common sense will cover up many flaws

It's one thing to be trendy; it's another to look simply ridiculous.
By KEVIN COWAN
SCRIPPS HOWARD
She took my breath away, and nearly my appetite.
A big-haired, bottle-blonde vision in denim short-shorts and go-go boots, the attention-grabber walked through the restaurant with pride. Not too many people could pull off this look, including her. On this Sunday, dinner came with uncomplimentary order of bad taste.
Oh yeah, did I mention that she had to be in her 60s, more than a little bit past her Daisy Duke prime?
To put it mildly, our geriatric Pamela Anderson wannabe belonged to Fashion Don't Club, where membership should come with removal of all privileges.
Everyone is entitled to an occasional fashion faux pas. Remember when those shoes didn't quite go with that dress, or the time that tie threw off that suit? It happens. However, there are certain blunders that are almost unforgivable.
Jeans that ride on the hips have been coasting out of stores for sometime now. A frequent companion to the bottom is a belly-baring cropped top. On the right body, this trendy combo sizzles. On the wrong one, it crashes and burns. I can't tell you how many wrecks I've seen at malls. It's not a pretty thing to see chubby young women do their worst Britney Spears impression.
The bottom line: things get messy when the low-riser runneth over. Know when to say when.
Instead adapt the trend to your figure. Don't go for the lowest of the low, try something that sits a little higher and has a cool wash. Team it with a flowy top with split sleeves and an empire waist.
Workout wear as street wear
Some ladies exercise their right to wear gyms clothes anytime. No, not the little J Lo terrycloth tracksuits. We're talking stretchy Spandex leggings, shorts and sports-bra tops.
Guys are guilty as well. Fellas, what's up with the muscle shirt? This is not an everyday shirt. Note the design. They usually have generous armholes, which facilitate easy arm movement during exercise, not grocery shopping. Also, when these tops are advertised or shown in catalogs, they usually fall under the "active wear" category, not sportswear.
Save that muscle shirt for the health club. Instead opt for a quality T-shirt, polo or camp shirt. They look so much better.
And one more thing, muscle shirts look best on men with toned arms, in or out of the gym. So pump some iron and live up to their name.
The panty line
In this day and age, there is no reason why a woman can't prevent unsightly panty lines. There are too many products that can come to the rescue.
At the top of the list is the thong. No longer viewed as a Frederick's of Hollywood special, the ultra-brief creation is now part of the foundation mainstream. Hip-hop star Sisqo didn't write a hit song about it for nothing.
And if the thought of a thong makes you uncomfortable, manufacturers produce smooth-fitting briefs crafted out of high-tech fabric blends.
Hair-raising sights
Makeup should enhance and not overpower the face. The goal is a natural look, not an unnatural disaster.
Use foundation to even out the skin tone; it shouldn't create a heavy mask. Blush supplies a hint of color. Too much rouge makes a lady look like Raggedy Ann. Mascara applied with a light hand can make eyes flutter. Heavy handed? Pray you don't look Tammy Faye.
Bleach blondes don't have more fun. Super-light locks barely work on rock stars. Regular folks should go for more natural shades or highlights.
Your slip is showing. The sight of a slip in the slit of a dress or skirt is jarring. Choose a slip that falls above the opening. Or maybe do the unthinkable and don't wear one, which more and more women are doing.
A short-sleeved shirt with a tie screams, "Welcome to McDonalds'." Unless he is the manager of a fast-food restaurant, a man should never wear this. Short-sleeved shirts (even those in dress fabrics) are usually casual. Ties are dressy. It's like mixing oil and water.