Mommy drearest

Boomer moms tend to be busy, nurturing, and warm, which is why they deserve to look good. But between the carpool, the book club, and the scrapbook bee, there might not be much time for Vogue; hence, some have settled into dressing habits that aren't entirely flattering. We enlisted Melissa Payner, CEO of the online outlet Bluefly.com, to comment on some fashion no-nos and offer some suggestions for how to keep your spirit but update your style.

From head to toe, here are ways to transform from frumpy to fabulous.

Hair: Save the earth and your profile with wisps.

Sweaters: Leave the seasonal trappings in the greeting card aisle.

Pants: Slim down the thighs and you'll look thinner, too.

Bags: Big doesn't have to mean upholstered.

Shoes: Show a little toe, and still stay comfortable.

The helmet of hair

It's impressive, in a sense, the way your hair can stay in place through showers, windstorms, and possibly tornadoes. But that hole in the ozone layer? You might be responsible.
Melissa says: ``I don't recommend shellacking your hair."
Her suggestion: ``Use something that's totally natural." Drugstores are full of gels and mousses that provide a bit of shape, but still let a few strands flutter in the breeze.

The festive sweater

You know what we mean. The expansive knit number with the seasonal doodads: little Santa Clauses around Christmastime, miniature witches for Halloween, giant flowers in the springtime. You can set your clock to their appearance in certain office buildings we know.
Melissa says: ``Dressing up doesn't have to mean glitter, and it doesn't have to mean pumpkins and Santa Clauses. I do, however, think there's nothing wrong with bling."
Her suggestion: If you embellish, do it with embroidered or studded jeans and T-shirts. Or glam up an outfit with layered jewelry in textures such as wood, shell, or stone.

The roomy pants

OK, they're probably comfortable. But there's something wrong with your pants when there's enough room in the waist and thighs for your pet cat to crawl in, nestle into the pleats, and stay the night.

Melissa says: "So, we um, we think that they shouldn't really wear them." And then she laughs.
Her suggestion: You'll actually look slimmer if you wear straight-legged pants with a tunic or long T-shirt over them. And this season, "T-shirts are tunic length. So that's actually made it much better for a more mature woman."

The big Vera Bradleyesque bag

Festooned with paisley and tiny flowers, it looks a little like the quilt in your guest bedroom. And it's about the same dimensions as your queen-size guest bed.
Melissa says: Actually, she has no idea what we're talking about. That should tell you something, ladies.
Her suggestion: The tote-style handbag is big this season; in some cases, Payner says, ``it's more important than your outfit." Move your necessities (six lipsticks? a page-a-day calendar?) into a hobo-style satchel. And patterns are fine.

Pantyhose . . . with sandals

Yes, it can get chilly in the air conditioning. But there's something about so-called nude pantyhose that screams, ``advanced petroleum-based polymers."
Melissa says: ``I don't recommend them."
Her suggestion: Stave off the winter-whites with a self-tanning bronzer with a moisturizer, available at any drugstore. Trust us, nude is better than ``nude."

. . . or ultra-white sneakers

You can spot them far across the parking lot. You might even be able to spot them from the moon. But even Billie Jean King doesn't wear them with skirts when she's ventured too far off the tennis court.
Melissa says: ``Sandals are really the thing this season."
Her suggestion: Don't despair. After a stretch of arch-busting looks, this year's trend in sandals is finally comfort: wedge heels, thongs, and internal cushions. ``So you don't have to wear a Ked and you can look very much in style."