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Dear Shopaholic:

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Summer colours, hot purses, black tie events...

GOT A QUESTION? Need someone to give you some unsweetened advice about your outfit? Can't get your wardrobe to do what you want it to do? If you have a pressing fashion dilemma, e-mail our resident Shopaholic at help AT happygrrls DOT com. Don't worry, she won't laugh at your fashion faux pas - at least not to your face.

Dear Shopaholic,
I am 5'9". What is the most flattering skirt length for me? I'm a bit pear shaped, too. Thanks!
D. B.

Dear D. B.,
Being pear-shaped, you should stay away from pencil skirts and stick to a flamingo-style skirt that has a slight flip at the bottom. This will help to balance out your top half. As far as the length of the skirt, being tall allows you the ability to wear whatever length you want, but I would stick to either knee-length or longer.

Dear Shopaholic,
I'm looking to brighten up my spring and summer wardrobe, but I find that with my fair complexion, most light colours make me look washed out. Do you have any suggestions on how to lighten up without fading away?
Wall Flower

Dear Wall Flower,
If you find that most light colours fade you out then you should definitely stick to a spring colour palate. Stay with the brights. When shopping, think of those true bright colours: turquoise, fuchsia, bright green (but don’t confuse this for neon), red, or even yellows.

Dear Shopaholic,
I will be attending a whole bunch of weddings this summer, and as much as I love celebrating other people’s love, I want to be comfortable too! Is there any alternative to wearing stilettos all day? How casual can I go with my shoes before it starts looking sloppy?
Happy Feet

Dear Happy Feet,
Lucky for you there is an alternative this season: the ballet slipper. There is no reason why you can’t do a silk or even leather classic ballet slipper with your summer dress. Of course, a heel does add a dressy factor to your outfit so if you want to stick with a bit of a heel, look for a wedge. They are super comfortable but still add some height.

Dear Shopaholic says: More is better when it comes to purses this season.

Dear Shopaholic,
I’m looking to update my wardrobe. What’s hot for purses this summer?
B. W.

Dear B. W.,
Purses are large, large, large – in case we didn’t already have enough back problems. In bags, the Hobo style (small and large) is popping up everywhere. So are totes in all shapes and sizes. But the big thing in both handbags and shoes is patent, which you can find in a variety of colours.

Dear Shopaholic,
I’ve been invited to a “black-tie” event by my boyfriend’s company. What exactly does this mean? Can I get away with wearing something dressy but not too formal, like a pants suit?
Party Novice

Dear Party Novice,
Black-tie can normally mean formal, men in tuxedos and women in gowns. If you showed up in a pants suit, I would probably tell you that you would be underdressed. You could wear a tuxedo-style pants suit, but to fit in with the crowd I would pull out your knee-length gowns. Don’t have any? Now is a great time to go out and purchase one. Purchase something classic, so that you can always pull it out to wear it again.

Dear Shopaholic,
I've recently seen some celebs sporting the high-waisted pants look, but it's seriously not flattering! What do you think about this new trend? Is there a way to wear this without looking like someone's grandmother?
Not Yet Over the Hill

Dear Not Yet Over the Hill,
I hate to tell you but this trend is really big for fall. Some of the better designers are actually cutting the pants so that normal women who are both short- and long-waisted can wear them. The trick is to find a pant that has a wider leg and fits you properly in the hips almost as if the added waist-band was not there. It’s a new trend so we’ll see how long it lasts. ¤ Erin