Fiona is smart, accomplished and upbeat; you can't tell from this outfit. The black slacks and black-and-white top are serviceable but humdrum.

Ron Bittler, 37, a Raleigh father and husband, figures his sweats, T-shirts and sandals might convey a sloppier image than he wants for his engineering company. Updated, casual and comfortable is the way to go.

With her dark coloring and fine figure, Meredith could do much better than a black top and jeans that accentuate her hips.

Cindy Block, 54, a Raleigh retiree, volunteer, wife and mother, has a common case of I-wish-I-was: She wishes she were thinner (the Size 0 she once was) and taller (she's 5-foot-2). To find a casual, updated style that suits her busy life, she needs to ignore the size tags and dress her figure as is.

Ken Lewis, 40, a Durham husband and dad who works at Marshall's, is often a T-shirt-and-sweatpants guy in his off-hours. But he wants "something for the weekend that looks good" and is easy to wear. We showed him how to wear the heck out of a suit.

Debe (say "Debbie") Czerweic of Raleigh, who's 60 this month, resorted to baggy clothes after her colostomy nearly four years ago. After losing 35 pounds, she wants to dump the frump, "but I cannot wear control-top hose, Spanx or anything that constricts my bag."

Need some refreshing? Send a note with your name, age and style problems to sheon.ladson@newsobserver.com. Meanwhile, click to download this week's refreshment (PDF).

After her sixth bout with ovarian cancer, Diann Nelson, 61, of Fuquay-Varina, appreciates the body that has brought her this far. She wants figure-flattering, age-appropriate clothes.

Hallie Moore, 31, a Raleigh medical assistant, is 5 feet tall and 105 pounds, so finding clothes in her size is a challenge. (PDF)

Erin Carter, 14, just graduated from middle school and wants clothes befitting a soon-to-be high schooler. "I am obsessed with fashion and want to have a wardrobe that shows that." (1.1 MB, PDF)

Sissy Perry, 61, of Louisburg has clothes to wear to church and formal events, "but when it comes to casual and comfort wear, I'm lost." She has gotten some bad reviews from family. We'll help you, Sissy. (PDF)

Adrienne Banks, a Durham health educator, had gotten into a rut: Dark blazer and pants at work, dark blazer and jeans for play. (PDF)

Suzen Hutchison, 51, is on a roll. The Cary nurse lost 80 pounds and has kept it off for five years, and in June she's getting married. Her dilemma: 'I don't know my style. Never did.' (PDF)

Loie Weidner, 57, threw away all of her "teacher" clothes a couple of years ago when she retired. But she says she doesn't know "how to rebuild my wardrobe around my new life of relaxation and fun." (PDF)

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