Fashion Q&A: Match your hairstyle to hat style

Q: I recently bought a charcoal-gray fedora. How do I wear my hair — straight, wavy or up under the hat? My hair is long and straight with side-swept bangs. Also, when I wear a beret, do I slouch the beret in the same direction as my bangs, or to the opposite side?

A: Because the angles of a fedora are so sharp and masculine, wearing your hair in loose, feminine waves makes a pretty contrast. Leaving your hair straight creates more of a chic, boyish look. Putting your hair up may look too severe — but try it and see what you think. Also, if you put your hair up, make sure the hat doesn't sit too high on your head. A fedora looks most stylish worn low on the brow and tilted slightly to one side.

With your beret, slouch it in the opposite direction to your bangs to create a balanced look. And if you decide to add a trendy newsboy cap to your hat collection, try wearing it with your hair pulled back into a low bun at the nape of your neck.

End powder spills

Q: I love everything about loose powder, except for the way it spills in my handbag or in carry-on luggage when I'm traveling. Any idea how I can prevent the spills?

A: If you use a powder puff, storing the puff inside the compact usually acts as a kind of stopper and prevents spills. Or you could try a new loose-powder product from Clinique, Superbalanced Powder Makeup SPF 15 mineral Rich Formula.

Packaged in a compact, the product starts off as compressed powder. But when you twist the built-in shaver, it shaves off just enough loose powder for one application. Need more? Twist again. No more spills.

The compact comes with a small, anti-bacterial brush, which is stored inside the lid of the compact. Personally, I prefer a larger powder brush or puff.

Fashion focus: what a hoot

Wise up, fashion fans. Owls are replacing butterflies as a favorite design motif this fall. The wide-eyed birds are showing up on everything from T-shirts to jewelry and tote bags, such as a leather purse for $78 from unique-vintage.com. What's sparking the trend? Perhaps it's all the owls in movies such as "Harry Potter," "Where the Wild Things Are" and the upcoming "The Fourth Kind."

Fashion writer Jean Patteson welcomes questions. E-mail: jpatteson@orlandosentinel.com. Sorry, no personal replies.