Q: I have all these flowy skirts in my closet -- but when I put them on I feel like a hippie. Chiffon is in style now, right? So what will make my old chiffons look sharp instead of shopworn?

A: For starters, skip the peace-sign earrings and the love beads this time around. Can you sew? Maximalism is the latest thing: ruffles, rickrack, tucks, lace, braid, ribbon, fringe, and any other trimmings you can get your talented little hands on. Add a ruffle to the hem of one skirt. Transform another with an asymmetrical or handkerchief hem. Embellish another with some colorful embroidery. (You don't have to be great at it: Slapdash is more the feeling anyway.)

Can't sew? Find an underskirt in a contrasting vivid color. Or try wearing one skirt as a petticoat under a shorter one. Try a sleek top in a hot color -- like, if the skirt is turquoise, the top is grass green, or fuchsia and purple, or hot pink and orange. Check out dynamite young designer Lotta, whose spring collection is full of energizing color clashes like this: a red wrapskirt with a shocking pink ruffle, a purple skirt with a bright green flounce and a scarlet top and (my fave) a red lace over shocking pink hanky-hem skirt with a sheer beaded violet top.

Wear unclunky, unhippified sandals in a similarly unexpected color. Orange leads the pack, but you'll also find hot pink, turquoise, purple, chrome yellow, apple green, and more.

Patricia McLaughlin is a nationally syndicated fashion columnist.
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