Molly Bloom knows style

A dear reader wrote in to ask how she can remove the red wine dribbles that inevitably end up on her blouses and table linens. This drinking problem is not only common, it’s in high season with all the weddings and open bars of summertime.

If you spill red wine on cotton, such as men’s dress shirts or table linens, try dousing it with milk immediately. This will stop the red from setting.

A fantastic laundry treatment combines Dawn dishwashing soap and hydrogen peroxide. The solution is drizzled on the stain and allowed to soak for a few minutes. You can watch the stain lighten. Then throw it in the wash.

Noto bene: Watch out for champagne spills. They will stain clothes a brownish yellow. Wash or dry clean as soon as possible to avoid yellowing.

Dear reader Laura left a comment asking for some advice. She posed such a good question that I replied in post-form.

Wedding dress codes are funny. Elegant semi-formal. Cocktail couture. Years ago I was invited to a wedding where guests were encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts (I wore red leather pants and a polka dot top). Basically they all mean “Look good enough that we want to select pictures of you for our wedding album but not as good as the bride.” Dress codes are open to interpretation and personal style, so gussy up.

Since two dress codes are listed on Laura’s invitation, I think changing clothes is in order. The 9-hour time span between the start of the ceremony and the start of dinner is another indicator. For daytime, consider a little black dress (”formal attire, hats encouraged”) with a colorful wrap and a fun hat to offset any funeral/black doldrums vibe. For evening, fulfill the “formal with flair” portion of the dress code with the red dress. I think a knee-length dress should be fine for dinner, but I’ve never been to such an affair. At any rate, it sounds like quite a fete.

As for hosiery, if you’re willing to spend just a little more than average you have great options. One recent-ish style is the nude stocking with the rear seam. I love a rear seam, especially the nude stocking with a nude seam, or nude with a black or red seam. Cuban heel is another back seam style, but they’re tricky. I think you need mules or something to wear them. I haven’t worked them out with pumps.

I like fishnets, but they are a bit much for a Southern wedding. However, depending on your skin, you should check out flesh-tone fishnets. They are surprisingly flattering. One reason you want to pay a little more for stockings is the fit. You don’t want the ankles bagging or the knees losing shape. Cheap fishnets are legendary for such elephantine tendencies.

If you have money to spend, I love Wolford hosiery. And Macy’s has a fine hosiery department.

As for the hat, do it. Small handbags can be inexpensive and really round out an outfit. Sparkly pins work well with both little black dresses and as closures for wraps. May I suggest a garter flask?

One dear reader recently emailed that she receives compliments when she wears a boatneck top, but that she rarely wears it because her bra straps show. While I zealously applaud her vigilance in keeping undergarments under wraps, I’d like to point out that not all bras are built the same. If a certain top doesn’t work with your bra, that means it’s time for a new style of bra. Don’t hate the neckline, hate the bra.

I have a thing for bras. I am convinced there is a bra for any outfit that flatters a woman’s body. This does not mean there is a brassiere that will make a 44DD look good in a one-shoulder disco dress. But if the top is flattering to your figure, don’t discard it because that one style of bra you own doesn’t work underneath.

Flimsy mall store lingerie trends come and go, but what the twins need is foundation. In the case of the reader who wanted to wear a boatneck, she should look for a bra with the straps set out on the shoulders. Little safety pins or sewn loops inside the shirt will hold the pins just outside the neckline. I’m a big fan of double-sided Hollywood Fashion Tape.

When was the last time you were measured? Don’t be shy. Let the kind woman with the measuring tape help you. You’d be surprised what going up a measure or cup size will do for your curves. In short: the number part of your bra size is the measure of your rib cage directly under the bust. The cup size represents the number of inches added by the bust. So if you are a 34 D, that means that your rib cage is 34 inches and your fullest bust measurement is 38 inches, or 4 inches larger.

I like to try on lingerie before buying. I like to see how it looks under my clothes, check for strap placement and visible seam lines. If I’m shopping for an undergarment to wear with something specific, I take that dress with me into the changing room. For those who like to shop online, a great resource is Bare Necessities, where they let you shop by size. Parfait.

And readers, feel free to leave a comment in the comments section of a certain entry. I read them all! I love getting email too, but if you leave a comment everyone can hear you.

For those who’ve inquired about the title of this post, a nod to parody.