Style Dilemmas: The Post to the Rescue?

Yesterday, two of the Post's style denizens, Suzanne D'Amato and Janet Bennett Kelly (Deputy Editor, Sunday Source, Fashion and Beauty Editor, washingtonpost.com, respectively), spent an hour online Talking Fashion and helping solve style dilemmas for the style weary. They kicked off with a rant you read here quite a bit,

"Don't know about you, but this is exactly the time of year when I feel as if I haven't a thing to wear! If you're facing the same problem and sick and tired of all your [in this case] winter clothes, let Suzanne and me know what strategies you have to deal with it."

Now I realize that I could be committing style-writing sins here, and could find myself blacklisted in the DC fashion scene (ok, so I'm being a little dramatic - but who knows - I haven't met either of the women - I have no idea what they're like. And a little bit of blacklisting never hurt anybody's publicity...).

I wasn't impressed.

Apart from a few bright moments (recommending a trapeze or shift dresses for a woman wanting to update her wardrobe, and the "But wait -- you're in London! Why are you writing to us when you could be at Topshop?!" response - my favorite), the ladies' recommendations seemed as staid as D.C. fashion is rumored to be.

Of course, because it's an online chat, and folks send questions in, maybe this was all they could do. That caveat aside, this could have been a fun, witty chat with some interesting suggestions.

For example, a courthouse bride asked for recommendations on style and colors. Janet recommended (kudos on this point) "going short," then sent the bride-to-be to Reem Acra because "they also do less formal." Wouldn't that have been the perfect place to recommend a retro wedding suit or shift dress, per their earlier answer? Reem Acra? Especially when the bride mentioned that she wants to wear a "simple, off-the-rack dress," and is having a small lunch afterwards.

Sure, I could be jumping to conclusions, but I'm guessing that maybe the couple is looking to not blow the bank on the wedding, but still make it special. A $50 Isaac Mizrahi party dress from Target would do the trick much better, in my opinion. Or, if she's willing to pay a little more, J. Crew's Vanessa dress paired (ok, so I took the website recommendation, but for once it's right) with their Piazza cotton jacket. So Audrey, and so lovely in navy - perfectly unexpected for an April bride. Toss a pair of brightly colored pumps on, and you're going to wow your hubby-to-be and the whole courthouse. Just don't wear the pearls (unless they're heirloom from grandma - that's what wedding style is about, for heaven's sake) - too expected.

I do have to thank them, though, for telling the grad student to ditch the Uggs. Phew.