I hasten to add the "he" in this instance is not me, but rather my friend and frequent poster Michael Incorvaia. He’s director of catering and special events at the Wyndham in downtown Phoenix, which just made the switch from its more casual summer dress code back to regular-season wardrobe (read: jackets and ties for management).To get prepped for it, Michael was leafing through the new Saks catalog and announced he needed a new pair of black shoes. "You pick three," he said, "and let readers decide which ones I buy." Ooh … are you feeling the weight of responsibility yet?Because I’m a good friend — and I want to continue to reap the benefits of friendship with someone who (a) cooks well, (b) gets invited to everything and occasionally needs a plus-one, and (c) likes the same drinks I do — I picked only shoes I would recommend myself. Nothing jokey and funny. And because he was looking at the Saks catalog and didn’t find the prices as intimidating as I would (note to self: get job as director of catering and special events), I picked all three from the stock now available at Saks. The first pair: Nappa leather slip-ons by Bruno Magli ($395). Note the silvertone logo detail — is it subtle enough, or tacky? Plus, Bruno Magli shoes tend to run on the thin-width side, which makes them annoying to wear all day long. Kind of squeezy. The second pair: Apron-toe moccasins by Prada ($410). This is my own favorite version; I have a (significantly less expensive because I got them at Last Chance) similar pair that I wear all the time. The third pair: Also by Prada, also $410, but a rounded-toe lace-up oxford.So, his feet are in your hands. (That sounds a little weird, but you know what I mean.) Leave your comments below about which pair of shoes he should buy. Whichever one has the most votes by next Friday, Sept. 21, will be the one he picks.As incentive, anyone who posts a comment by then will be in the running to win two Holistic Beauty Soaps from the French skin care line Talika: One with amethyst, one with pink quartz.UPDATE: It was close — 11 votes to 9, but Shoe No. 2 is the winner. Hopefully I’ll get a photo of Michael wearing the shoe after he buys it. And speaking of winners, I’ll be mailing Nicole (who posted comment #16) her soaps early next week. Congratulations

This woman was on the "Today" show Friday claiming that Southwest Airlines nearly booted her off a flight from San Diego to Tucson two months ago for wearing this outfit: They pulled her off the plane, told her she was dressed too provocatively for a "family airline" and asked her to change."I didn’t bring any luggage with me. I don’t have anything to change into. What can I do to make sure I can get onto that flight? I had a doctor’s appointment. I had to be there," she told the airline employee.The compromise: She hoisted her tee so the neckline wasn’t so low and tried to make the skirt a little lower, then covered her legs with a blanket on the flight.It’s certainly a slippery slope: Is Southwest going to instill a specific passenger dress code, or continue to chastise random customers?On the other hand …1. If you’re wearing a skirt so short anyone nearby could perform your OB-GYN exam *for* your doctor, you might want to reconsider wearing it. Especially sitting down on a plane.2. You probably shouldn’t defend the outfit as saying: "It was a lot more clothing than the 23-year-old college student wears on her job as a Hooters waitress," like the MSNBC post does.3. Apparently she didn’t learn her lesson: SHE WORE THE SAME THING ON THE FLIGHT HOME. She claims a stewardess complimented her on her outfit that time, which means there’s a flight attendant out there who needs a vision check.4. Also, how much makeup does a 23-year-old woman need? (See photo #5 at this slide show.) Stop applying your cosmetics with a trowel.A second woman has come forward claiming she also was told to cover up. And really, given her tig ol’ bitties in this outfit, I don’t want to see the rest of it (see photo #1) hoisting into the seat next to me, either. Remember: You want people to stop complaining that you’re dressed like a skeeze? Stop dressing like you’re a cocktail waitress in a strip bar.When we flew to Hawaii on a friend’s buddy pass (on a different airline) a few years ago, there was an explicit dress code. Paraphrased: "Dress like you’re hoping to get bumped to first class," because if there was a free spot open, there was indeed a chance of that happening.

Even the Associated Press is talking about — and by that I mean "recapping other publications reports about" — Britney’s bulges at Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards.Fat? No. Fatter than when she predicated much of her stardom on her hot tautness? Yes. Too fat to be bouncing around in a black spangled bikini? Yes, if she wanted people to root for a comeback. That and her lethargic performance did her in.

Moody Blues
The Boulevard Shops at Chandler Fashion Square
3355 W. Chandler Blvd., Suite 4, Chandler
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Information: (480) 558-7494 or shopmoodyblues.com

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Could it be that the era of sleek blowouts is coming to an end? The new trend is toward curls — and "fat hair" with lots of volume. Chances are, you’ll need some help from products like the ones pictured above.PUMP UP THE VOLUME: Spray So Pumped Volumizing Mist ($14.95) onto dry hair and scrunch. The lightest styling aid in the Big Sexy Hair line uses microscopic crystal-like drops of gel to add body without feeling gluey — I even spritzed the nonaerosol spray directly onto my arm until it was damp, and the formula dried without any stickiness or flaking. The line is sold at professional beauty salons, including chains like JC Penney and Trade Secret.SALT-WATER STYLING: You know that ocean water smell that permeates your swimsuit and hair when you’re at the beach? Sea Swell Ocean Air Texture Mist ($12) by Nexxus Phyto Organics re-creates that scent — and the "grab" that salt water lends to hair. Marine minerals and seaweed extract nourish and add volume to fine hair; the formula also has a natural UV shield. It’s sold at professional salons.OR GIVE IT TO ME STRAIGHT: The staff at Frederic Fekkai’s salon in New York performs up to a thousand blowouts a week, so you can understand if the celebrity stylist doesn’t think the look is going away any time soon. In fact, this month he introduced the Fekkai Coiff line of stylers, including Ironless Straightening Balm ($25) with silicones to resist frizz and fly-aways when you blow-dry at home. (Hedging his bets, though, he also created an Oceanique Tousled Wave Spray.) The line is sold at Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.

I think most of these oxford-inspired heels that ran in a Washington Post roundup are adorable — I’m not so fond of the blue pair, sure, but the others are pretty much all Hot Shoes in my opinion. Look at the shoelace detail on the black pair in the middle! (They call the tips of shoelaces aglets, by the way.)Today’s Shoe Hot or Not is more of a challenge: Can you figure out which pair costs $50 and which one pair is $895? Post your guesses below, then come back and highlight the text in the bottom paragraph for names and prices of each shoe pictured.I’ll pick one commenter at random to win an item from my drawer of style stash: Since oxfords are usually a man’s shoe, this week’s prize is 212 Men on Ice cologne from Carolina Herrera. So leave your comments by Friday, Sept. 14 to be entered.Clockwise from bottom left: Grommet Mary Janes by Sergio Rossi, $650; Marc by Marc Jacobs oxfords, $450; Co-Op brand suede and patent oxfords, $335; Apt. 9 "Ana" oxford heel, $50, at Kohl’s; Gucci "Bonnie" platform heels, $895; A.S. Studio "Farrah" heel, $89; and Sinela stacked heel oxford, $295.