Molly Bloom knows style

Last weekend I was discussing second-hand shoes with my friend Jen, who’s prepping for a costume party. “You should put them in the freezer inside a tight plastic bag to kill the bacteria. That gets rid of the stink too.” She told me I had to tell the dear readers about the shoes in the freezer.

The thing is, my shoes get stinky. Ted thinks I’m crazy for putting my stinky shoes in the freezer but he has no sense of smell. You’ll want to get as much air out of the bag as possible before freezing (I often double-bag) otherwise moisture will freeze and your shoes will dampen upon defrosting. I leave them in the freezer for a few days, or until I remember them.

My friend Tina B. buys cheap shoe inserts for going sockless. The inserts, not the shoe, soak up the sweat and stank. Smart.

Sometimes it’s the shoes that stink, or the socks are stinky-making. If it’s your feet that are the problem, here are some tricks:

- I learned this one on Oprah: Soak your feet in tea for 10-15 minutes. Brew some strong black tea (like Lipton) in a bucket and let it cool to a comfortable temperature. The acids or tannins or something in the tea will kill off the bacteria.

- You’ll need to remember to bring your socks into the bathroom before your shower which makes this one somewhat advanced. After your shower, dry your feet. Wet and then rub one of those deodorant crystals all over the bottom of your feet, one at a time, and finish off with a clean sock.

- Lavilin Long Life Foot Deodorant works overnight. It doesn’t have any nasty chemicals but it sure does work. Wash your feet, apply the foot deo, put on some clean cotton socks and hop into bed.

- Flip-flops, especially the inexpensive kind with a more porous sole, are not made to be worn for years. Throw them out when they start getting small dings.

- Take a scrub-brush and mild soap to the footbed of your sandles and wipe down with a damp cloth.

Now go forth with happy feet!

This is cool: fashion brand Band Of Outsiders shows their men’s clothes online in blog format. There are store locations listed as well.

I’ve written about bras in the past (here and here). Recently a friend quoted me back to me: “Molly Bloom says there is a bra for every outfit, and this one isn’t it.” Bras have come up in conversation twice since then. People have questions about the bras. So for you dear readers, I pass on what I know about bras.

My favorite lingerie store in San Francisco is Alla Prima (they have two locations). They are masters at fitting bras. They’ll measure you and bring you different kinds of cup styles (and most women would benefit from a cup change). Alla Prima is a great place to start your new collection of correctly sized garments; you’ll pay a little more but it will be perfect, and you’ll wear it every day. Look for bargains in favorite brands online once you’ve set your size and style.

A few things about bras:

- The number on your bra is the circumference of your ribcage.
- The letter (or cup size) represents the number of inches fuller your breasts are than your ribcage. Measure the fullest part of your bust for this. If your ribcage measures 32 and your bust is 35, you’re a 32 C.
- Just because it fastens doesn’t mean it fits.
- The center part of your bra between the cups should be flat against your chest.
- Your boobs should not jiggle when you walk. Sorry, guys.
- Get measured every year.
- Bra sizes often change with weight loss or gain. Don’t just go up or down a band size; you may need a different cup size as well.
- Learn which straps, cup style, fabric, etc. are most comfortable and look for more bras with those features.
- Don’t wear a sports bra as an everyday bra. It mushes your boobs into a funny loaf shape and the fabric is usually too heavy to be inconspicuous under nice tops.
- You need to spend some money on your bras. Victoria’s secret is actually that her bras are poorly made and uncomfortable.
- Don’t put them in the dryer. The elasticity will go and the wires will poke through and then you’re just screwed. Hand-washed bras will last the longest.

Hard to believe it’s been 10 years since fashion designer Gianni Versace was shot dead by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. Versace’s clothes were loud and sexy and I appreciate them now more than ever. His elaborate fashion screamed, “Wear me and live the fabulous life!”

I have a vivid memory of buying a copy of People to read about the murder and the hunt for the killer. I remember reading that magazine as I waited for the 24 bus in front of my apartment. It was my first summer in San Francisco. I lived on Castro Street back then and the neighborhood was plastered with flyers to be on the lookout for Cunanan, “the gay serial killer.”

Ten years. Sigh.

Target’s latest GO: Designer line has launched, this time by Libertine.

This collection feels like two collections, one for juniors and one for fashion-forward women who mix high and low fashion. Lots of skulls and preppy prints here that smell a bit past their sell-by date. Some of the less junior-y pieces have potential. This dress is the best seller. I like the mini bolero pictured above but hate the pants. The striped blouse with a bow is cute. I’m not telling you what I ordered.

Time Magazine created a photo essay about the 35th president’s style and the impact he had on American fashion. Meow.

French brand agnès b. homme showed some cool, wearable looks earlier this week. A lot of dudes ask “Where should I shop? I have the money to spend, I just don’t see anything I like or know where to go.” If you have a bit of money to spend (and if you work in the tech industry you do, hint hint) there are agnès b. shops in SF, LA and NYC that carry the homme line. In my experience the sizing can run a bit small and it’s best to try on before buying. agnès b. homme sells durable and fashion-forward staples such as crisp white shirts, nice knits and black pants. Don’t sleep on some of their more trendy or colorful items — you may find a soon-to-be old favorite.

Jean Paul Gaultier showed his Fall 2007 Couture in Paris today. He’s best known for designing Madonna’s conical brassieres circa 1990 but has been cranking out couture for decades.

Oh-seven couture? Love it. Especially love the lace applied to the faces of some models. And I love that their hair is made to look like a crown. I’ve been seeing a lot of crowns lately, what with the Vivienne Westwood show and all. I love-love the coat pictured above. I’ve been kicking around an idea for a regal evening coat for some years. I was given an antique kimono at Burning Man a few back. I want to take some of the embroidered designs and appliqué them on a sturdy cloak. I’ve recently been thinking about the coat and this couture number is speaking to me. Stay tuned.

The New York Times has a photo series called “The Best Hands In The World.” It features the work rooms of major fashion houses as they prepare garments for the couture shows. There are some familiar sights for me: stay-stitching that needs to be removed, patterns drafted onto silk organza, hand-gathered sewing to create a ruffle.

And I love the Dior sewers in their white smocks.

John Galliano’s latest couture collection for Christian Dior is exactly what couture should be. It has drama and color and outsize proportions. It is serious but knows how to tell a good joke. And he brought back the true supermodels, including Linda Evangelista, the fiercest of the fierce walkers.

Ooooh la la.