Your question:

Madam Sarah, I am going to a dance and I am wearing a red plaid dress with brown high heels and a orange striped sweater over it.. does this sound good and what else should I add to my outfit? please Reply asap the dance is soon! -Madam Foresteir

Madam Foresteir! I apologize in advance for any offense you take at this, but I am appalled at your choice of outfit. First of all, if you must wear the red plaid dress, do not wear BROWN high heels with it. Black is the only way to go with that. Secondly, I see you did not bother to read the fashion tip of the week. NO STRIPES WITH PLAID! If you want to be original, do it with taste. Find out what colors clash(red, orange, brown) and find out ones that compliment and contrast each other. I encourage originality, but only if it looks fresh and tasteful. May I suggest wearing a nice little black dress, black high heels, and drape the orange sweater over your shoulders? I wish you the best of luck, and have fun at the dance.

-Madame Sarah

Greetings. I have a solid black dress with a zebra patterned cardigan. What shoes do I wear (black or zebra striped)? And should I wear tights and if so, striped or solid?

-Madame Zebra

Madame Zebra. Hmmmm. Very interesting. I do not exactly agree with wearing the zebra patterned cartigan, that style went out back in the 80s. But if you insist, you should wear the black shoes, not the zebra striped. Since the sweater is so bold, any more zebra striped articles would make you look more tacky. Yes, you should wear tights. Solid black ones. Thanks and write again!

-Madame Sarah

Hello. My boyfriend and I are going to a dance. Would the fashion police alert us if we wore the same colors and patterns? I thought it would look cool because it would show we were together. Please help before the big day arrives on July 10th.

-Isabelle

Isabelle, Not only would the fashion police alert you, but they would issue a ticket and ask you to leave the premises. Try and think of other ways to show your together. Like holding hands. That's usually a giveaway unless you're very affectionate with your brother. Have fun at the dance and write again!

-Madame Sarah

hey Madame Sarah! Please help me...my friend is having a summer party-a FORMAL one. as you can probably tell from my ailias, i am rather..umm...large. i hate getting dressed up becaure it makes me even bigger! what should i wear to make me feel slimmer??

-Tubby

Dear Tubby, unfortunately, nothing can make you FEEL slimmer. A number of things can make you LOOK slimmer though. Black is known for it's slimming effect. Also, try Wearing a solid pattern on top and a pattern on top, or vice versa depending on where your bulk is manly located. If it is on the bottom, wear the solid there. That way, the pattern draws the eyes to the top rather then the bottom. Lean towards darker colors in general, as well. Have a good time at the party, and write again!

-Madame Sarah

Hi, the way I dress makes other people think I am, in the easiest wasy you can call it, gay. In fact, though, I am not gay. Are there any fashion trends that will make me look like my normal self? I have no problem if anyone chooses to be or not to be gay, but I am not and I am sick of people taunting me. Please help me oh, Fashion Queen.

Greg

Dear Greg, I'm sure many people have this problem. Yours may be in maybe colors, patterns, or the clothing you naturally pick out. I don't know. I'll give some tips for each though, just in case. If your problem is in colors, you may tend to choose pastels, purple, or colors normally classified as being "girl colors". Try and steer yourself away from these colors and color schemes. Patterns you should avoid, are definately thin stripes. I know a boy who actually is gay, and his clothes are a dead giveaway, even if you did not know that he in reality was. One of these giveaway articles is a sweater containing many straight no-nos. Its pattern was thin, fruit colored stripes. He also is very Gap-trendy. I'm in no way saying Gap is a bad store. I enjoy it myself, for both boys and girls, but some of their mens apparral is alittle on the gay side. If you're dressing like this Greg, then it IS your normal self. You shouldnt be ashamed of who you are, gay or not. Don't let your friends push you around. I can suggest though, a nice t-shirt from AE, and cargo shorts are very in right now. Hope this helps and as always, write again if you need too.

-Madame Sarah

Do a dark green and orange go together? I feel as though it makes me feel like a pumpkin, but it looks good on other people? I do not think red and orange go together, do you? Lastly, if I am wearing a light pink dress, what shoe color is the best?

Pattricia Valentinia

Dear Pattricia,

Dark green and orange are very good contrasting colors, but it must be the proper time and place to wear them. For fall the are very nice, but spring, summer, even winter they aren't the best choice. In fall, you have to be careful with them too, or as you said, you will get a pumpkin affect. Try layering a dark green t with an orange t underneath, and have the sleeves slightly showing. No, red and orange do not go together. For your light pink dress, it really depends on how dressy it is. White sandals are good for the more dressy, if it's a casual sundress brown ones would be fine. Stay away from black though, as well as shoes the same color as the dress. Thanks for writing!

-Madame Sarah

Does a green polo with a yellow undershirt clash? I was told it looks bad, but i think it adds character to my ensemble. Any advise you might spare would be greatly appreciated.

-M. Andrew

Dear M. Andrew,

I think a yellow shirt underneath a green polo would look good, actually. Those colors contrast very well together in my opinion. Unless they are two odd colors of green or yellow that do not compliment each other at all, I say go for it. If there is something you feel looks good, never be afraid to go for it as long as it has taste. From what you've told me, I do not feel it looks bad. So, keep on adding character to your ensemble and write again!

Madame Sarah