To look slimmer all around 

- 'Wear darker skirts to the knee or longer. They make you look taller,' says costume designer Lori Eskowitz. Other options include; 

* Clothes with princess seams because they elongate the entire body. This is a tip Helen Hunt follows. 

* High heels. An easy trick practised by petite stars like Reese Witherspoon. 

To camouflage your thighs 

- 'Wear pants that only skim the body and fall just a bit long at the leg,' says Lori Eskowitz. 

* Darker is always better. And don't wear denim -it's too thick. Instead opt for lightweight knit pants with some give to them, such as yarn blends. 

* Cotton loose leg drawstring-waist utility-style pants. 

* Stretch pants with boot cut leg.

To hide upper arms 

* A thin wrap is another flattering look that can hide a multitude of sins. Minnie Driver is a big fan of this look. 

* Grasshopper top with princess seams. 

To minimise full hips and derriere 

- 'Anything you can do to broaden your shoulders and make your waist look smaller will 'shrink' your hips and rear,' reveals Giovanna Melton. 'Tailored jackets with just enough padding to make your shoulders a bit wider than your hips will work well. Other options include: 

* Skirts cut on the bias in light knit fabrics. 

* A body skimming A-line dress which hides the hips beautifully. 

* Long narrow skirts with a drop waist and a slit up the back. It's a good shape for women with larger hips or a bigger bottom.

To conceal a wide waist or a big tummy 

Other options include: 

* Waist-less skirts that zip up at the back and hang ever-so-loosely over your hips. 

* Pleated trousers can hide a belly bulge, especially when worn with support hose and a body slimmer. A lot of film stars are fans of this look. 

* Sheath-type dresses which hide the waistine are another flattering look. And if you're trying to hide something you can't go wrong with darker colours like black, brown or burgundy. 

To shrink a full bust 

* A light-coloured top worn underneath a darker coat. 

*Simple blouses and fitted suit-style jackets which give a nice lean line. 

Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

By Ruhanie Perera 

But more advancement in the beauty care department sees men walking into salons for facials, manicures, pedicures...in short 'the whole works'. What's more they faithfully follow up these routines at home, guaranteeing that they have just as many bottles and jars on their side of the shelf as women do. 

"There was a time when we had male clients who felt a bit odd to come in for something other than a hair cut," says leading beauty expert Ramani Fernando. But, according to her, things have changed pretty fast; so much so that maybe over the past five years the number of male clients who come in for beauty care options like facials, clean ups, etc. has increased considerably. 

Ramani, who has male clients coming in for a range of treatments from manicures and pedicures to facials, body care, consultations for skin problems and even eyebrow shaping, says: "Men coming in for this kind of thing is really not about vanity. It's the same principle that is applied where women are concerned: it's about being conscious of one's well being. Men have the same skin problems women do like acne and dry skin etc., so why shouldn't they, like women, seek treatment for these problems?"

25 years ago when she first started out, finding a man in her salon would have been a bit of a shock, even for her, admits Ramani. But today it's a pretty common sight, one which has prompted her into thinking on the lines of opening out a complete section for men. A section which makes available for her male clients almost all options that are on offer for women. 

There isn't a 'type' in partcular that come to the salon, says Ramani, who sees clients ranging from those who are going through the 'difficult skin' stages to those professional types who are very particular about looking 'the much sought after look of the century' - well groomed. 

According to Ramani men spend a lot more on themselves and they are very particular about following up their individual beauty care regimes at home. With that in mind they make the necessary inquiries and buy the necessary products. This is serious business for them.

However Ramani is not big on make-up for men. "Make-up in the sense just some foundation although that purely is for the sake of photographs," stresses Ramani.

"I don't go in for any make-up," says Waruna, who does however follow a very strict skin care regime which means a daily ritual of cleanser, scrub and moisturiser. He also goes for a cleanup once in six months and does an occasional facial as well. Waruna who was very much the average soap and water guy changed his perspective on skin care when he, acting on curiosity, got a clean up done.

"I realised the difference almost immediately. My skin was no longer oily and it had a clean, fresh look. In fact my skin looks better and I don't have to worry about going about in public and feeling self concious about how I look. It's important that you don't put people off when they look at you. For example if you're face is full of pimples, you're not very pleasing to look at."

In his opinion it's not about whether you are a man or woman, it's about looking after your skin. Both sexes use soap, shampoo, etc., and for him skin care is just an extension of that principle.

Says Waruna: "I maintain my skin and I feel a difference. Even when taking photographs I have no apprehensions about the spontaneous ones. Whereas there are women who rush to wash their face or get some foundation on." 

"I'm fine about the whole idea of men looking after their skin. And I don't think vanity has got anything to do with it. And even if that was the case then it should apply to women who are into skin care as well," says Minoli. She has nothing against anything that goes into taking care of one's self, but rules out anything which would make a man seem effeminate (like using lipstick) - so even manicures and pedicures fit in. "At least they're conscious about cleaning their nails. There are some men who have very dirty nails and I think it's high time they did something about that. If they can't clean their nails themselves, they should get it done!"

The matter of using foundation however, gets a big 'no'. According to her, men have this 'leathery' looking skin which makes up their rugged appearance and that suits them perfectly. "It would be a real shame to cover that up with foundation. Even worse they could end up getting that 'petal' soft look women are supposed to have."

On her wedding day Minoli is determined to have her groom look as radiant as herself. She definitely doesn't mind the idea of her groom going through the same or similar skin care regime she follows in preparation for the wedding. "After all I expect him to show up looking good, as long as he doesn't show up wearing foundation."

"It is not an uncommon sight today to see the prospective groom accompanying his bride-to-be to the salon for her facials, and to get one done for himself as well," says hair and beauty specialists Ramzi Rahaman who is also of the opinion that today men are very concious of and interested in beauty care regimes, particularly skin care. 

"Even when I conduct courses for workplaces or during the Mr. World contest, I touch on the importance of grooming. It's about maintaining your skin and that involves cleansing, moisturising, basically the whole skin care regime. And the fact that you're a man shouldn't make a difference. The stigma associated with a man walking into a beauty care salon is a thing of the past."

In his opinion, just about anyone likes to look good and pamper themselves. So why not? And if the need does arise men could even go in for a bit of foundation, but maintaining a very natural look. 

If the person's skin is very oily or scarred and an important occasion like a wedding or some function is coming up, then perhaps they could go in for powder or foundation, says Ramzi who has had male clients in for make-up (but for very special occasions only). 

So beauty care is now very much a part of a man's world and with it comes some surprises that we really haven't bargained for. Just be on guard girls, the next time your boyfriend leans over just before you get out of the car on a hot date or your brother pops into your room on his way out, his next question could very well be, 'Could I borrow your foundation?'. 

But as long as there are those who think differently that day won't dawn too soon. Says Rajive, a non-believer, "Somehow I consider this whole business of beauty care a rather effeminate process for men. You can be well groomed without taking it to ridiculous lengths. As for the lazy, unhygienic people who've waited for manicures and pedicures to come along, haven't they heard of nail brushes and scissors?" 

A painful kind of love

To wipe away your tears and erase your own fear. Why is love so painful? Filled with every potion to make you cry? You may as well pass me by, 'cos I have got no tears to cry. I'm free like a solitary bird in the sky, out of my nest I'm trying to fly. So if our emotions and feelings match, our understanding will fill the patch. 

I never want to hurt you ever again, 'cos I know that sort of left out pain, through each treasured, reassured drop of rain, some fall in the pond, some go down the drain, so fate has led us nowhere to go - as we stick to each other through the telephone, I wake up and see a blank wall in sight, as the darkness steals the morning light. 

The world acts like it is always deaf. That's not what I will call a background gift. This world has made its own special ways, but we hear ourselves talk in the silent days. Love doesn't need no social bound, 'cos heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Nature repairs the things that we do. You cannot choose love, let love choose you. Experience teacheth a lesson to learn, that our love is young when there's nowhere to turn. As the sun goes down for a better rest, I still make a promise that you're the best. 

Speck-J 

Give me the plain old T-shirt

Once I was standing near a group of boys, who were too preoccupied with swapping trendy tips, and I couldn't help but pay attention to their accoutrements. Myself of course, when I get to know what's in fashion it's already out of fashion by at least a week! Hence this was a great opportunity for me to bag a few tips for myself.

I must say in my slovenly point of view, their latest rage didn't appeal to me at all. Their trousers were so baggy that the pockets were where the knees should be. But that was probably the high couture of Calvin Klein. And the shirts were half way open to reveal something which I thought was a vest, but later gathered to be "a body top". And I had a sudden brainstorm: if I gave up my tedious education and started pursuing a hair gel career, it would be like hitting upon a gold mine. And the amount of accessories such as rings, ear studs, bracelets etc., completed the macho look. These days a guy without an earing would be like New York Harbour without the Statue of Liberty.

Am I living in the Palaeolithic age, or is this the newest "new look"? Well if it is, all I can say is I'd prefer an unglamorous guy with just a T-shirt and bathroom slippers any day!

Yoshanthi Wellawa. 

Blues of parental strictness

Most girls tend to obey their parents as they are quite strictly governed. Unfortunately some boys also have to undergo this terrible rule which can be regarded as a hundred percent foolish act by parents. Somehow or other boys are tactful enough to break this rule without the knowledge of their parents, but girls are helpless.

In Sri Lanka as a whole, parents consider their daughters as humans who do not possess any human feelings. I doubt if parents forget their youth when they have children. Whatever the reason is, girls have to suffer a lot.

As a girl I can strongly say that, girls do love the company of the opposite sex . How stupid are the rules that are rooted in Sri Lankan society that ban girls from enjoying their lives. 

There can be a good side of this parental strictness , but the disastrous side is more than the good side -the way I see it. Take the suffering she experiences within her close circle of friends for not having a boy friend. The sinful situation is that sometimes there are some girls who willingly take that chance to ridicule an innocent decent girl by labelling her as a lesbian. So a girl like this will be sunk in a world of sorrow by both sides. On one side, for refusing guys who have come to start an affair with her due to parental strictness. The other for receiving demerits for being good.

There is another hidden, very bad reflection on girls due to parental strictness which most of us do not see. A girl may waste her youth. She may pass the marriageable age making her a sexually obsessed person in the long run.

Miss Lullaby 

'Pora kukulo'

I think sports has many advantages. One is making the sportsman well disciplined. But is there any discipline in wrestling? Usually in any sport the umpire's decision is final. In cricket although we see a batsman is clearly not out he has to go back to the pavilion if the umpire decides he is out. The respect to elders is clearly shown. But I recently saw a wrestler trying to hit the referee when he ordered him to stop. Is this their discipline? There is no justice. Sometimes one player is beaten by three or four opponents at once. And I want to ask this question from all wrestling fans. How can you actually enjoy this third rate game? Don't you have any other sports to enjoy other than fighting like ignorant savages? I think even the animals with a lower intellect laugh at humans with a much higher intellect when they fight each other like cockerels. Why are we so foolish and stone hearted to enjoy such a brutal sport?

H.S.S. Perera

I hate what you did

Deeply Wounded!

Chubbier the better

I thought opposites attract, but so far that's not been the case for me. So, "me" thinks she is an unattractive teenager, think again, girls 'cos guys like us are out there to appreciate U, adore U, spoil U. Or even better write back to Clothesline if U feel the same way. I dare say I am quite cute (Uhmmmm) fair and 5' 9". But God knows why - according to my friends I look like a foreigner - girls of chubby types give me the cold shoulder. I know what it feels to be called "Katu" (bones) but it never bothers me now. So cheer up girl, who knows, we could have been waiting for each other! For me the chubbier the better! 

I know how skinny girls specially those with no curves suffer. Be thankful of being chubby. When I was a baby, big girls, aunts and everyone flocked around me and cooed "ooh what cute chubby cheeks, and so fair too" and they would pull my cheeks till I would scream in pain or anger. And now, skin, bones, wolfish face, sharp featured, they would only have my nose to pull! "ME" can write back to this, after all, I know what it feels not get your dream person!

Tom Cruise

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