Accessories can make the outfit

A filmy cotton and silk shawl with exotic oriental embroidery and edging from Natori can take you from your afternoon's labor at the office to an evening celebration.

If the occasion is important but still daytime, try adding a long scarf, like one from Banana Republic with navy polka dots and fringe.

Who says a status watch has to be dull? Cartier's Divan has a rectangular case and face with Roman numerals, spiced up with a brightly colored reptile-textured strap.

Bright lights beam from Paloma Picasso at Tiffany & Co. The gems of her bold two-stone rings set in 18K gold are stacked at an angle, top to bottom, rather than side by side. Choose aquamarine and rubellite, green tourmaline and aquamarine, or amethyst and citrine.

Before Cleopatra's final assignation with that asp, she probably wore an arm bracelet in the form of a spiraling serpent. Today's temptresses are picking up the style if not the denouement. An example is Dawn Hale's slithery snake necklaceof 200-plus carats of faceted ruby beads, a 24K gold "S" hook in the form of the snake's head and tail, studded with a sapphire and ruby eyes, and a 24K coiling snake slide with an emerald "apple" teardrop.

Keep the road in sight fashionably with opthalmic eyewear by Jeep Alpha. Choose a combination frame with strong rectangular eyeshape in mocha brown, antique almond, or satin black, a softer rectangular eyeshape in shiny dark brown, satin silver or satin black, or a semi-rimless soft rectangular eyeshape in satin silver or satin black. All frames are unisex.

-- Associated Press