THE BATTLE of the sexes recently played out over thermostats. Last week New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon asked that the debate hall where she would face off with Gov. Andrew Cuomo be set at 76 degrees.

Good for her! We can relate, having spent many summers in offices where frigid conditions kept us wrapped in sweaters, scarves and in the company of space heaters.

This week, as the Fahrenheit soars, the thermostat wars continue. In the meantime, a new season of cardigans has arrived. You can start wearing them now in whatever too-cold venue you find yourself in. The good news is that real sweater weather is just around the corner.

—Janet Kelly

Above, left: Nic & Zoe’s swingy, open, cotton and rayon Engraving Cardigan is textured with channel stitching and is just the kind of thing you’ll find yourself wearing on repeat. $178, Nordstrom. Above, right: This Stretch Cotton Cable Zip Cardigan from Gant in preppy kelly green is perfect for making the transition from summer to fall. Slip a turtleneck underneath when the weather cools. $185, Shop Spring.

Above, left: I’m a fan of stripes, but they can wear out their welcome. But not when they’re combined with a baby-blue-colored V-neck and soft mohair-blend panels on the bodice, like in No. 21’s Striped Wool Cardigan. Mixing patterns is new again; wear this cardigan with a pair of gray checked trousers. $615,  Matches Fashion.

Above, center: Sonia Rykiel’s quintessentially French sweaters were her trademark and led to her nickname, “Queen of Knits,” in 1972. The label continues the late designer’s reputation for sportiness and a sense of humor, as in this wool-blend Kiss v-neck cardigan. $543, Farfetch.

Above, right: Freshen up your favorite pair of jeans with this yellow and pink and green Bernard Check Wool Cardigan with crystal buttons. It’s $405 from Matches Fashion.

Above, left: From Proenza Schouler’s PSWL diffusion line, which includes more-pared back items than the main collection, this camouflage-effect, wool-blend jacquard cardigan is loosely cut for layering purposes. $695, Net A Porter.

Above, right: Military-inspired looks never go out of style. The quilting on the front, back and sleeves makes Barbour’s Women’s Zip Knit Sweater look fresh for fall. $199, Orvis .

Above, left: Diane von Furstenberg’s Adelyn Metallic Sweater gets a leg up from run-of-the-mill, with a boost from gold, shiny threads. $328, DVF.

Above, right: Too much leopard is beginning to be, well, too much leopard. Which is why I find Toga’s Animal Print Cardigan, mixed with colors, so appealing.  $480, Matches Fashion .

Above, left: Black grosgrain trim and imitation pearl buttons make this Barneys New York Embellished Knit Cashmere Cardigan much more than a basic. Which is maybe why it only has limited availability. $595, Shop Spring.

Above, center: Swipes of fringe on the sleeves and throughout the bodice give Ulla Johnson’s Arossa Fringed Cable-Knit Cardigan a luxurious but fun look. Made of alpaca hair, it’s also bound to keep you cozy whether you take it to your cold office, a freezing movie theater or restaurant or wear it outside when the temps cool for real. $795, Moda Operandi .

Above, right: Mango’s Lapel long cardigan is your college boyfriend’s lumber jacket reimagined but just as warm and cozy. $119, Shop Spring.

MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.

MY FORMAL education may have ended some time ago but come the end of August, I fall forward into a back-to-school shopping mentality. And, what better way to, er, kick off the new season than with new shoes. Last week LittleBird Nancy McKeon was having similar consuming thoughts, discovering that even in the spendy 2018 fall collections of Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik and the like, you can find walkable heels (if you can get past the sticker shock). In any case, if your summer wardrobe is feeling as stale as mine, think a footwear refresh.

You know that in fashion—as in just about everything else—what’s old is new again. So, fall is chockablock with cowboy boots, not the stiff leather ones you may remember but reinvented versions in slouchy silhouettes, suede and soft leather with silvery details.

Leopard has also made a comeback, along with a slew of other animal prints (zebra and snakeskin, for example). Tweedy patterns have migrated down to the feet. And polka dots are spot on for fall.

For a change, shoe heels have captured the attention of designers with old standbys like block and kitten heels making a reappearance. Sculpted heels (rounded, pointed, triangular) look new and appealing.

Established labels as well as new ones, including Magda Butrym and Attico, have decided it’s time for feet to sparkle, so we’re seeing shoes studded with shiny beads, feathers and twinkling gems.

Below, some of our suggestions for a fall shoe reboot.

—Janet Kelly

COWBOY-BOOT COMEBACK

ABOVE FROM LEFT, KAIGAN BOOTIE: Designer Rebecca Minkoff is known for her knack for combining a downtown vibe with feminine touches, as in this cowboy-inspired soft boot with zig-zag stitching. $227.95, Nordstrom.

LAMSY LEATHER CAPTOE ANKLE BOOTS: Cool-girl attitude aplenty, courtesy of Isabel Marant’s leather boots with silver detailing and geometric heel. $1,350 at Moda Operandi.

LEATHER ANKLE BOOTS:  Update a pair of cropped jeans and a T-shirt with Toga bootie’s on-trend, Western-style details (pointed toe, elasticated inserts and silver-tone plating on a stacked heel).$472, Matches Fashion.

A IS FOR ADORNMENT

ABOVE FROM FAR LEFT, KINZEY FLORAL EMBROIDERED KITTEN HEEL BOOTIES: A flourish of floral from Sam Edelman’s bootie is all it would take to refresh a black dress. $140, Lord & Taylor.

LYNN EMBELLISHED SUEDE SMOKING LOAFERS: Shiny studs give a lift to a pair of Donald Pliner loafers. $178, Lord & Taylor.

MARABOU FEATHER MID-HEEL PUMPS:  Shoes with personality to spare from Attico’s Fall-Winter 2018 collection. The velvet ankle ties and front plumage add texture; the pointed toe and cone-shaped heel add an edge. $726, Matches Fashion.

BEAD EMBELLISHED TARTAN FLATS: Set on a small stacked heel, this tweedy shoe from Simone Rocha glitters with black lamé and glossy beads. Give an  evening dress a new life. $745, Matches Fashion.

PATTERN PRINCIPLE 

ABOVE FROM FAR LEFT, DRUM TWEED & LEATHER HEELED ANKLE BOOTS: A mixed message to like, from 3.1 Phillip Lim. $595, Saks Fifth Avenue.

SABINE PRINTED SNAKESKIN PUMPS: An unexpected green snakeskin print makes this tied slingback kitten heel delightfully different. From Denmark favorite designer Ganni. $280, Moda Operandi.

BB POINTY-TOE PUMP: Pretty polka dots on denim in a walkable kitten heel from skyscraper-heel lover Manolo Blahnik. $695, Nordstrom.

RODNEY CHEETAH CALF HAIR D’ORSAY FLATS: Channel your catty instincts and walk with ease in Sam Edelman’s animal-print flat. $120, Lord & Taylor.

THE HEELS HAVE IT

ABOVE FROM FAR LEFT, COMBINED LEATHER SHOES: Be on trend for less with Mango’s cool-looking geometric heel, Mary Jane strap and see-through upper. $99, Mango.

CIRCA SLINGBACK PUMPS: Available in peach (above) or canary yellow, Matiko’s rounded wood-heel slingback is reportedly comfortable as well as chic and nicely priced. $140, Shopbop.

V HEEL: From sustainably minded Everlane, a v-shaped vamp, almond toe and wear-to-work block heel that’s available in mustard, light blue, black and pink suede. $155, Everlane.

MAISIE BANDED MULE: Malone Souliers’ is a party for your feet with woven band, kitten heel in neon and a glossy patent pointy toe. $595, Nordstrom.

MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.

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AFTER MAKING an appointment two days in advance, last week I went to the Apple store at Maine Mall to have the cracked glass screen of my iPhone repaired. I arrived on time but still had to wait about 15 minutes at “The Genius Bar” for an available genius to consult with me. During that time I saw a toddler of about two, sitting in a stroller, playing on an iPad. He seemed incredibly adept at the controls, despite his mother insisting, “I hardly ever let him use it.” After the genius—his name was Dylan—told me to return in an hour, off I went in search of one of those hideously unhealthy, fabulously decadent, extremely salty and buttery pretzels that I only eat at the mall, so it’s a good thing I rarely go there.

The mall was shockingly crowded for a weekday at noon. It was hard to believe that anyone could need most of the things offered for sale, yet all the stores were full.  A free-standing kiosk shop was crammed with customers buying decorative cases for cell phones in every kind of design imaginable, and in all colors. I doubted that a new phone case would lower my blood pressure, help me lose weight or fix the mess our country is in, so I kept going.

Another popular spot was the latest entry in self-debasement, an edible cookie dough store called Dough Life. Set up like an ice cream shop, its clerks happily filled the gaping maws of dozens of willing customers with “safe” cookie dough flavors such as Monster M& Ms, S’more Please, King Caramel and Peanut Butter Mother, none of which had any nutritional value or in fact any redeeming qualities at all, besides a short-lived respite from depression and anxiety. Two young women decked out in chef’s hats and aprons strolled around out front extending trays of free samples to the passers-by, but I was saving myself for that pretzel so I demurred.

I almost got out alive but made the mistake of going into Macy’s handbag department on my way back to pick up my phone. They were having a sale, and if I opened a credit card I could save $40 on the new bag I just had to have. I’m pretty sure buying it helped lower my blood pressure on the spot, which I desperately needed after eating that super-salty pretzel.

—Andrea Rouda

Andrea Rouda blogs at The Daily Droid.

THIS PAST April I bought enough pricey makeup at a department store to score a “free” gift—a white tote bag (above, left). I promptly put it into the depths of my closet and as these things go, discovered it sometime in July and started using it. Friends admired the bag, with the result that I have been using it ever since as my summer tote. Unlike the also-free-with-makeup tote (above, near right) I got two summers ago, which was 13½ inches long and 19 inches wide, this one was long and narrower (16 inches long and 15 inches wide), reminding me of a business envelope. Idly wondering if this was just a one-off or if bags were going to grow vertically, I browsed online for similar-looking totes. Then I checked in with a NYC fashion school to get an expert to opine on the subject, but this being August, everyone is “still on summer break.” So, whether this new longer, trim look is driven by something in the zeitgeist or just a mere swing of the pendulum is anyone’s guess. In the meantime, I did find 10 totes that measured up.

—Janet Kelly

LEFT: Accommodate your shopping addiction with a Sies Marjan Farah Tote Bag. Dutch designer Sander Lak went to extreme lengths on this bag, which measures 18.7 inches long. It’s made from glossy crinkle-laminated vinyl and is lined in cotton twill. $395, Matches Fashion.

RIGHT: My mother would have described this Loewe Gate Textured-Leather Bucket Bag bag as neat-looking, meaning it was sleek and compact—a compliment in her lexicon. At a height of 11 inches and width of 7.8 inches, you can’t stuff a lot into it, but it fits nicely on the shoulder and an adjustable strap allows it to be worn as a cross-body. $1,150, Net A Porter .

LEFT: Available in black or white, All Saints’s slouchy, 14-inch-long, 13-inch-wide Paradise North South Hobo Bag has an interior zip pouch for stowing keys and smartphones for quick access. $378, Lord & Taylor .

RIGHT: Baggu’s lined 15-inch-long Basic Tote can hold a 13-inch MacBook in the main compartment and an iPhone 7 Plus in its inner pocket. Available in midnight blue, black and tan. $220, Baggu .

LEFT: Modeled after a simple paper bag, each 16-inch-high Unisex B Waxed Canvas Bag is naturally dyed with with coffee and tea and hand-finished with a natural beeswax coating to protect it. Designed to endure life’s hard knocks and for those who regularly haul their goods and chattels. $260, LN-CC.

RIGHT: Although I love the texture and the casual, slung-over-the-shoulder look of Diane von Furstenberg’s Large Bucket Steamer Bag (16½ inches high, 10 inches wide), the combination of white leather and pale linen may not be ideal for those who are hard on their handbags. $528, Nordstrom.

LEFT: Go way long with Acne Studios’s 17-inch-high Brown Baker Tote, another example of a bag inspired by paper grocery bags. Use the top handles or attach the shoulder strap. Supermarket shopping never looked as chic. $440, Ssense.

RIGHT: The 15½-inch-long, 14¾-inch-wide Uptown Vertical Tote from Leatherology can handily carry a laptop and important files. There are two interior pockets for smartphones, pens or makeup, and a zippered one for a wallet, ID, etc.  $140, Leatherology.

LEFT: Got very deep pockets and like the cozy feeling of shearling? Saint Laurent’s Genuine Shearling Shopping Tote (15½ inches long, 14 inches wide) is a splurge-y, spacious carry-all one could warm up to. $2,250, Nordstrom.

RIGHT: You can carry Rag & Bone’s Walker Convertible Suede & Leather Tote  (14 inches long, 9 inches wide) by the top handle or wear it over your shoulder, thanks to its contrasting straps. Available in lilac or nude. $425, Nordstrom.

MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.

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Last weekend I spent time talking to friends who have been participating in an Alzheimer’s study. They take combinations of vitamins, exercise religiously, plus follow a diet low in carbohydrates. Which brought to mind Mary Carpenter’s late 2017 post on reversing and preventing cognitive decline. In case you missed it, here it is again: 

The End of Alzheimer’s, a book by UCLA neurology professor Dale Bredesen, describes interventions that in small numbers of patients have not only halted the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) but reversed symptoms of memory loss.

While some 200 drugs have been tested and failed to make much difference for Alzheimer’s patients, Bredesen’s protocol involves mechanisms similar to those proposed for drug development, such as fighting inflammation and improving blood sugar regulation—interventions for which there is “good evidence” of potential effectiveness, according to DC-area psychiatrist Susan Molchan.

With genetic testing currently available and less expensive blood tests anticipated for the near future, Bredesen’s successes may help answer the question: why get tested? Based on his findings, someone who learns they carry “the most important genetic risk factor for AD”—two copies the Apo-E4 gene—finally have some recourse and thus some reason for hope.

Dale Bredesen first made news in 2014 with a small study of 10 patients who were struggling with memory loss at work, some of whom had quit their jobs as a result. Of these, nine patients who chose to implement different elements among Bredesen’s list of 36 possible interventions experienced a groundbreaking reversal of symptoms.

Persevering with a second group of 10 patients, Bredesen reported similar positive results in 2016 and has since developed a complicated algorithm called Reversal of Cognitive Decline (ReCODE) to evaluate the status and needs of each patient. At this point, more than 1,000 people are enrolled in the protocol, with 150 currently being followed actively, and 450 physicians worldwide have been trained to use it.

Many in the scientific community criticize Bredesen’s studies for their small numbers and lack of controls, but these qualities of good research are hard to impose on his protocol, because assessments of need and subsequent recommendations are so different for each person.

Dr. Mikhail Kogan, head of the Center for Integrative Medicine (CIM) at George Washington University, has been trained to use ReCODE to slow or reverse symptoms of AD by addressing its metabolic roots.  Kogan offers these personally tailored evaluations and recommendations at his newly established MK Cognition Institute.

For more than 10 years at CIM, Kogan has created similarly individualized treatments for those with AD as well as those with chronic health complaints that traditional medicine has failed to resolve.

Bredesen bases his treatment on a novel concept of AD: that mental deterioration is caused not by amyloid plaques but by imbalances in the body that allow for the invasion of the brain by pathogens.  The brain responds to these pathogens by amassing sticky plaques of amyloid-beta protein—which in turn destroy synapses crucial to nerve cell communication, according to Kathleen Doheny on Senior Planet.

Some three dozen imbalances—created by such factors as inflammation, hormonal status, vitamin levels and toxins—are described by Bredesen as “holes in the roof” that contribute to cognitive decline.  “You cannot just plug one hole,” Bredesen told MyLittleBird.

Many of Bredesen’s interventions are intuitive: less stress; more sleep and more exercise; less processed food and more vegetables and fruit.  Other diet recommendations include avoiding all simple carbohydrates, all sugar, all gluten—and adding herbs such as turmeric as well as coconut oil, fish oil and blueberries.

A related measure is a three-hour fast between dinner and bed to allow after-meal insulin levels to go down before sleeping, because increased circulating insulin levels have been linked to AD.  Also recommended is a 12-hour fast between dinner and breakfast to provide time for the amyloid-beta proteins to be flushed out of the brain, a process aided by melatonin. Other supplement interventions include vitamins B, C, D and E, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics.

About the most controversial recommendation, hormone replacement therapy—because of the link between HRT and increased risk of breast cancer—Bredesen believes the trade-off (increased risk of future cancer vs. immediate and worsening symptoms of dementia) is worthwhile, and his patients back that up.  Bredesen told Senior Planet, “Hormones levels play a critical role in cognition . . . one husband said that he and his wife would monitor her status regarding cancer but that they’d both rather do that than continue to watch her cognitive decline.”

Bredesen agrees that his protocols can be demanding—rigid sleep times, exercise prescriptions and dietary restrictions—but that “when people start getting very mild cognitive impairment, they’ll have the incentive. Right now what keeps people away is thinking they can do nothing.”

As a spouse of one of Bredesen’s patients who did well on the protocol wrote on Amazon: “[Bredesen’s] book and the ReCode protocol offers something that cannot be measured, real hope.”

—Mary Carpenter

Well-Being Editor Mary Carpenter writes about how to stay healthy both physically and mentally.

IT’S TIME to connect with your animal instinct.

Leopard prints, which seem to have nine lives, are back again and running their spots all over those ubiquitous florals. But the catty pattern isn’t alone in the limelight. Designers have also fallen in love with other members of the animal kingdom —tigers, zebras, even snakes—letting them roam free on jackets, blouses, pants, skirts, handbags and shoes.

For fall 2018, designer Proenza Schouler put a tiger print on a maxi coat and dress; Victoria Beckham went wild for leopard on shirts and coats, while Michael Kors had some feral fun with a pair of sandals.  Think of these prints as neutrals you can build almost any outfit around. Animal anxiety? Dip a toe into the trend with a scarf or sunglasses.

—Janet Kelly

ABOVE, LEFT: F.R.S. – For Restless Sleepers climbed on the critter bandwagon: its Zelos Blue Silk Trousers with a slinky snake print are edged in blue piping. Too elegant to stay in the bedroom, wear them out to cocktails with a shiny pair of pumps and a simple silk blouse.  $788, Matches Fashion.

ABOVE, RIGHT: The ’80s are back—again. Channel the decade with statement accessories like Chimi’s Tiger-Printed Cat-Eye Acetate Sunglasses with semi-opaque black lenses. $150, Net A Porter.

ABOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: This luxe Lila Rola Screen-Print Silk Classic Pajama Set from Olivia Von Halle is just the kind of outfit we can imagine old Hollywood royalty swanning around in. Just luscious. $570, Neiman Marcus.

Forget horses. Milly opted for the fastest mammal on land (according to National Geographic) for her Emmie Long-Sleeve Cheetah Print Silk Top with choker tie at the neck. $395, Neiman Marcus.

Wear Topshop’s  Zebra Print Pleated Midi Wrap Skirt for a touch of the exotic. Too wild? Tone it down with a white T-shirt and a leather jacket. $75, Nordstrom.

ABOVE, LEFT: Scare away the rain drops in Ganni ‘s translucent Cherry Blossom Leopard Print Rain Jacket.  Large pockets and attached hood make it a practical buy. $295, Moda Operandi.

ABOVE, RIGHT: A boldly striped tiger print maxi coat strode its way down Proenza Schouler’s fall 2018 runway.

ABOVE, LEFT: The cherry red color of Diane von Furstenberg’s Long-Sleeve Chiffon Blouse sets it apart from the roaring crowd. $298, Shopbop.

ABOVE, RIGHT: Break out of the boring with an oversize Leopard Print Shirt. Not your everyday work blouse. $59.99, Mango.

ABOVE, LEFT: Fitted Shirt from Victoria Beckham’s fall 2018 runway collection. Made from viscose and lined in silk, it has a tabby print in tan and brown. $1,115, currently sold out at Saks Fifth Avenue.

ABOVE, RIGHT: Michael Kors paired red-striped camo pants with leopard sandals for his fall 2018 collection.

ABOVE, LEFT: Ocelot Print Genuine Calf Hair Foldover Clutch from Clare V makes a standout accent for any outfit. $275, Nordstrom.

ABOVE, RIGHT: Feel the call of the wild right down to your toes in suede Tretorn NY Lite Leopard-Print Sneakers . $85, Shopbop.

MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.

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HUMID DAYS of summer can be deceptive.  You feel puffed up with fluids but your clothes are damp with sweat.  Since water comprises up to 75% of our body weight, it’s important to pay attention to hydration—but drinking more water is not always the answer.

In fact, even mild dehydration—also known as “heat illness” —can cause water retention, often noticeably in the legs, as well as feeling faint and cramping muscles.  Although the body usually can reabsorb fluid from the blood as needed, when you’re dehydrated, the blood becomes more concentrated, which causes water retention in the kidneys as well as in tissues throughout the body.

Thicker blood makes the heart work harder to pump the blood, which can cause a rise in heart rate to maintain blood pressure.  In addition, one of the body’s first cooling actions is increasing the heart rate to move blood and heat outward to the skin.  An elevated heart rate can increase the risk of fainting, often accompanied by dizziness and nausea.

Sweating is another of the body’s cooling responses designed to prevent elevations in core temperature.  But with age, the sweat glands respond more slowly, allowing core temperatures to rise and increasing recovery time.  Also the body’s water concentration decreases with age, and the thirst response takes longer to activate.

Early signs of dehydration include dryer mouth and eyes, darker urine and feeling more tired and irritable.  Bad breath can be a clue because dehydration reduces saliva, along with its bacteria-fighting abilities.  Dehydration interferes with the body’s ability to regulate temperature, causing body temperature to rise or sometimes, paradoxically, to fall—causing chills.  Quick tests include pushing one finger into skin on the arm or using two fingers to pull up skin on the hand—in both cases, skin should resume its original appearance in a few seconds.

When severe dehydration reduces fluid in the blood to the point where blood can no longer circulate to the organs, the most serious result is life-threatening shock —which requires medical attention.  While shock usually occurs only in cases of severe diarrhea, it’s a reason to pay attention to the body in extreme heat.

Sweat contains more sodium than other electrolytes. Both dehydration and drinking too much plain water when dehydrated can cause hyponatremia—insufficient salt in the blood—which can trigger muscle cramping.  Cramping is also caused by becoming overheated while exercising, as well as by overexertion of the calf muscles, insufficient warming up and magnesium and/or potassium deficiency.

In cases of severe dehydration risk, UNICEF and commercial rehydration packages include salt and carbohydrates—sometimes simply sugar—to mimic the normal composition of fluid in blood, which improves absorption.

To stave off dehydration ahead of time, alternatives include pre-cooling and heat acclimation.  In a Scandinavian study of different cooling methods, 12 experienced male runners were tested on three separate occasions: first after drinking a room-temperature sweetened beverage, then after a sweetened “slushy” (icy) drink and finally after cooling their skin by draping cold towels around their necks, immersing their arms in cold water and wearing underwear filled with ice packs.  The athletes performed better after both the slushy drinks and skin cooling than after a room-temperature drink—but the effects of core cooling with the slushy drink wore off faster than the effects of skin cooling.

A different study, at the Environmental Extremes Laboratory in Brighton, England, tested nine recreational runners doing a simulated 5K race four times at top speed in a 90-degree heated room: first with no preparation; then after pre-cooling with frozen underwear and a chilling arm plunge, plus a cooling vest; next, after formal acclimation—cycling for 90 minutes in 99-degree heat for five consecutive days; and finally, after both pre-cooling and acclimation.  Acclimation made the biggest difference in subsequent running times; adding pre-cooling provided little additional gain.

Because overheating alters many bodily functions, including efficient production and use of energy, many athletes use cooling vests to reduce excess heat while exercising.  In one study, however, core cooling did not increase any more for the group wearing a cooling vest than it did for those who simply sat in the shade ahead of time—the only difference for the former was cooler skin and a feeling of coolness.  Also, cooling vests and underwear come with the risk that reducing perceptions of body heat can mask rising core temperatures—making heat-induced illness more likely.

But for most people, overheating occurs without warning (and preparation). In that case an easy option is salt pills or salty chews (though people with high blood pressure should be careful).  “Saltstick Fastchews,” tasting something like sweet tarts, include four electrolytes and promise to “reduce heat stress and muscle cramping.”   Whatever the individual response to a hot day—sweating profusely, experiencing leg cramping or feeling a little nauseated—these chewy treats, along with cool, watery drinks, seem to help many people feel a little better.

—Mary Carpenter
Well-Being Editor Mary Carpenter writes about how to stay healthy both physically and mentally.

ONE OF my favorite Seinfeld moments was when Elaine said to Jerry, after he complained about someone doing something annoying, “I will never understand people,” and Jerry replied in a disgusted tone, “They’re the worst.” The line may have been spoken by Jerry, but it was written by the show’s brilliant creator Larry David, and surely reflects his take on humanity.

It’s one I share. I’ve got nothing specific in mind, just a general uneasiness regarding humankind. So I found it easy to understand why some people choose to spend the better part of their days, and lives, with chickens. To see these folks up close and personal, I suggest renting the superbly entertaining documentary entitled Chicken People. We got it from iTunes for 99 cents, and it was the best bang for a buck you’ll ever get.

Smartly directed by Nicole Lucas Haimes, with amazing photography and even more amazing film editing, this 2016 film will knock your socks off, plain and simple. It’s a funny, heartwarming, eye-opening and somewhat scary look into a unique world I never knew existed, and chances are neither did you: the world of show chickens. it’s the Westminster Dog Show for fowl, only more esoteric and bizarre, since we don’t eat dogs and we do eat chickens. But certainly not these chickens, the Marilyn Monroes of poultry, each one more beautiful than the last.

The film delves into the lives of a handful of the quirky competitors for the 2015 Ohio chicken-off —it’s not called that but you get the idea—as they prepare for the big day. We see them at home, meet their families and eventually come to understand that raising chickens is the reason each one of them gets out of bed in the morning. Actually I was a bit jealous that these folks have found something so all-consuming and satisfying. (I’m still looking.)

We see them breeding the chicks and watching them grow, then getting their prized ones ready for the competitions. They bathe them—one woman said she would be “spending the next 48 hours washing chickens” —then fluff them with hair dryers, clip their toenails (talons?), spray their feathers with conditioners, redden their wattles to make them shine, and dote on them like, excuse the expression, mother hens.

They may lose this time, but there’s always another show on the circuit. And besides, none of them care. They’re chicken people, through and through.

—Andrea Rouda

Andrea Rouda blogs at The Daily Droid.

SUNGLASSES are season-less. Which is maybe why they’re looking so appealing now that you can’t find any summer clothing in stores or online that doesn’t seem slightly sad or leftover. We’ve still got plenty of summer weather ahead, but the stores have begun showing their pre-fall and fall lines. You, on the other hand, are not ready to see anything remotely resembling wool. A new pair of sunglasses is an easy way to update your summer look. And under-the-radar brands, including Freda Banana, Bonnie Clyde and Quay, offer some surprising alternatives to traditional brands.

Before you buy a new pair of shades, consider the shape of your face. Angular lines balance round faces; frames with curved corners soften a strong, square face. Don’t neglect the importance of proportion. Those with square faces should select frames that extend past the widest part of their face. Heart-shaped faces, choose aviators, typically wider at the top and tapered at the bottom, so they complement your face’s outline. Again, think proportion. If you have small, delicate features, don’t choose large, heavy frames.

Look for sunglasses that are labeled full UV protection. Cataracts, other growths, even some cancers are directly related to UV exposure. Lens color doesn’t matter, coverage does. Today’s styles favor small and angular, but large sunglasses offer more protection from the light. And not only on sunny, summer days. All year round. They’ll up the cost, but polarized lenses will help reduce glare.

—Janet Kelly

ABOVE: If you’re prone to losing (expensive) sunglasses,  Acne Studios’ Ylari angular acetate sunglasses, a combination of sunnies and jewelry, could be your solution. A long necklace of metal and light brown pearls is attached to the gold mirrored lenses. $420, Matches Fashion.

ABOVE, TOP: See Eyewear was founded with the idea of creating high quality, one-of-a-kind styles at affordable prices. Like this 33 Sun, a modified square pair in baby green, a wider fit option for larger faces. $99, See Eyewear.

ABOVE, BELOW: Sao Paolo, Brazil-based Lapima favors bold silhouettes. The feminine, 1960s-inspired Carlota Oversized Round-Frame Sunglasses with very subtle cat eye flatters the face and provides 100% UV protection. Also available in orange and neutral-colored frames. $469, Moda Operandi.

ABOVE:  Los Angeles-based Bonnie Clyde is known for colorful, unisex sunnies. These Layer Cake 55mm Cat Eye Sunglasses float over the face for a cool, futuristic vibe with 100% UV protection. Also available in red and black, gold and ivory and marble and gold. $118, Nordstrom.

ABOVE, TOP: Chimi lenses from Chimi Eyewear, a Stockholm-based eyewear company, come in six classic shapes and 10 different colors. These square 004 shades, with navy blue frames (kinder to most faces than black), are polarized and 100% UV-protective. $99, Revolve.

ABOVE, BELOW: Designed by Adam Selman in cooperation with Le Specs, these Breaker Tiger-Print Acetate Sunglasses were inspired by Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Quentin Tarantino’s crime drama, “Jackie Brown.” Keep the rest of your look subdued. Full UV protection. $86, Matches Fashion.

ABOVE: Freda Banana London-based designer Alexia Jane Hebet makes one-of-a-kind shades festooned in pearls, like these Anissa Khaki cateyes (also available in red). Full UV protection. $290, Moda Operandi.

ABOVE, TOP: Australian brand Quay offers a range of frames and lenses at wallet-friendly prices. See Me Smile Sunglasses are trendy, with thick cat-eye frames and chunky plastic temples. Available in these translucent rose frames with brown lenses and in black on black. 100% UV protection. $55, Shopbop.  

ABOVE, BELOW:  Make your pals go green with envy when you wear Karen Walker’s retro Treasure 52mm Sunglasses with emerald-tinted lenses and emerald frames. 100% UV protection.$200, Saks Fifth Avenue.

ABOVE: Classic aviators (100 percent UV protection) from Lilly Pulitzer get an update with mirrored lenses and sleek, shiny frames. Also available in blue, pink, hot pink and gold. $48, Nordstrom.

ABOVE, TOP: Quay Australia’s Don’t Stop Sunglasses with a two-tone rectangular frame are $60 at Shopbop.

ABOVE, BELOW: Retrosuperfuture was founded in Italy with the mission of creating a quirky and bold line (not boring) of sunglasses. For an unexpected burst of color, wear this fluorescent orange color. The Iconic Series Sunglasses were designed to be similar to those worn by Andy Warhol. 100% UV protected. $157, Matches Fashion.

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OF ALL THE bits of punctuation roaming the English language, surely the apostrophe is having the least amount of fun. I’m willing to bet it’s downright depressed.

Exclamation points are out there having a blast, being used and abused by people of all ages, especially in texts by young people, and even more especially, my blog!!!!!! Quotation marks are also quite busy, with everyone trying to avoid being sued for plagiarism. And, of course, the ubiquitous period reigns supreme, showing up everywhere. Like here. And here. And here, too. (Even an idiot knows how to use a period. And, BTW, parentheses.)

Conversely, the apostrophe is completely misunderstood by even smart people!!!!!!!! This morning a woman who I know has a college education wrote on Facebook, under a photo of the California firefighters, “These are the real hero’s!” The blatant misuse of what looks like an out-of-place comma made me sigh deeply, roll my eyes and wonder why. It most definitely did not make me roll my eye’s!

Come on people, concentrate! It’s easy (not its easy)! Here you go:
An apostrophe is a mark ‘ used to indicate the omission of letters or figures, the possessive case (as in “John’s book”), or the plural of letters or figures, as in “the 1960’s.

That’s it! As in, that is it! (Not thats’ it!)

—Andrea Rouda
Andrea Rouda blogs at The Daily Droid. 

THE DOG DAYS of August call for a lighter and fresher vibe for perfume. Forget the heavy musks and the ouds, and go for citrus, fruity-floral and body mists of perfume classics. You probably already know that when it comes to fragrance there are different levels of intensity. But, in case it slipped your mind, a brief review:  Extrait de parfums have the highest concentration of perfume oils—between 15 and 30 percent. Eau de parfums have the next-highest concentration, between 15 and 20 percent. They last on the skin all day. Eau de toilettes have a lower concentration of perfume oils, usually 5 to 15 percent, and are made for lighter wear on the skin, not necessarily lasting until the end of the evening. Eau de colognes have a light concentration of perfume oils, usually 2 to 4 percent, great to spritz on and freshen up, but not lasting wear. With that in mind, we rounded up 10 scents we think are worth trying.

—Janet Kelly

ABOVE, FROM FAR LEFT, ACQUA DI PARMA: I first discovered Acqua di Parma in Portofino and fell hard. Since then, the company has come up with many tweaks of the original colonia fragrance, infused with notes of bergamot, citrus, lemon, bitter orange, sweet orange, rosemary, sandalwood and vetiver. I’m still a fan of the classic, but this summer I’ve been spritzing with Essenza, which is a slightly more intense eau de cologne. It’s available at Sephora for $115 (1.7 ounces).

EAU DE SOLEIL BLANC: Tom Ford’s Eau de Soleil Blanc is a refreshing update of the original Soleil Blanc, which launched two years ago. With a list of notes including neroli, orange blossom, jasmine nectar and bergamot, it’s a holiday in a bottle. The eau de toilette is $125 for 1.7 ounces at Sephora.

CRISTALLE: Created in the 1970s, Cristalle was the last fragrance Mlle. Chanel herself had a hand in. A little innocent and a little naughty. Top notes of Sicilian mandarin and lemon, a soupçon of peach along with hyacinth and grass jasmine, are fresh and invigorating, like early spring days. But when it mingles with your own body oils on a hot day at the beach, it’s intoxicating. The eau de parfum spray is $100. Saks Fifth Avenue.

CHANEL No. 5: If you love Chanel No. 5 but are looking for something lighter to wear in warm weather, try this new aerosol body spray. Its effects are more fleeting than those of the perfume, but the overall effect says summer. $60 for 5 ounces at Sephora.

ABOVE FROM FAR LEFT, REPLICA MUSIC FESTIVAL: Maison Margiela’s Replica Memories Collection is a family of scents designed to evoke personal memories. Each bottle has a label (similar to that found on the designers’s clothing collection) with text describing the scent, its provenance and style. When I saw “Woodstock 1969” on the label, I couldn’t help but want a whiff. Notes of cannabis and incense will take you back to the that summer. Replica Music Festival, an eau de toilette, is $126 for 3.4 ounces at Sephora.

L’EAU de L’EAU: I’d keep Diptyque’s spicy, fresh L’Eau de L’Eau cologne in the fridge and spritz it on during hot, steamy days for cool, great-smelling relief. For 3.4 ounces, $98 at Nordstrom.

JUST LIKE HEAVEN: An unexpected floral-plus-citrusy scent from Tory Burch, who usually favors the former. Just Like Heaven is an extrait de parfum  with rhubarb, mandarin, hyacinth and some vanilla. Because of its high concentration of oils, expect it to last from dawn to dusk. $108 for 1.7 ounces at Nordstrom.

JICKY: One of my best pals told me that when she lived in Paris, she had discovered Guerlain’s Jicky. Proust was said to have worn it, along with Brigitte Bardot, Colette and Empress Eugénie. “Summery, sophisticated, uncommon and very French,” was my friend’s assessment. It didn’t have the same transformative effect on me, but that’s the thing about fragrance—it smells different on everyone.  One ounce of the eau de parfum is $350 at Neiman Marcus.

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I WAS PAINTING in my second-floor art studio, trying to decide between yellow and pink, when I heard—and then saw—a huge flatbed truck rumbling down our quiet little country lane. He must be lost, I thought. But then to my surprise, the truck backed into our driveway. My husband was downstairs, and I heard him go outside and say to the guy, “Are you looking for something?” He replied, “I’m here for the Audi.” And so began our descent into either The Twilight Zone or Hell—take your pick.Turns out they come for your car after 90 days with no payment. At least that’s what the Repo Man said; I had no idea since I have never had a car repossessed. Hey, I never even saw the movie. What this had to do with us was a mystery, as Mitch and I looked at one another and then back at the guy, shrugging and saying, “What the heck are you talking about?”

“The 2018 Audi A4, this one right here,” Repo Man said, standing a foot away from the vehicle under discussion. “I’ve got to take it.”

Suddenly I realized that I had not received even one bill for the car since we leased it last April.  As the family bookkeeper I saw them all and paid them all, always on time or certainly within a reasonable grace period. But one thing I did not do was ever write a check for a bill I didn’t get, and I hadn’t gotten any for my beautiful new Hunter Green 4-door sedan with the luscious Chocolate Brown leather interior. Sure, we wrote a check at the dealership when we leased the car, but since then, nothing.

“So, you just show up without warning?” I asked Repo Man. “Pretty much,” he mumbled, head down and avoiding eye contact. “I just get my list in the morning and go out and get the cars.”

“This is ridiculous!” Mitch said. “We pay our bills. Don’t we?” He looked to me for assurance. “If we get them,” I said.

Eventually, after 35 minutes of listening to VW Leasing in Liberty Heights, Illinois tell me dozens of times how important my call was to them and that a customer service representative would help me as soon as possible, a woman named Jenny asked in a chirpy voice how she could help. All of a sudden nauseous and a bit faint, I handed the phone over to Mitch and poured myself a glass of tomato juice, straight.

Jenny insisted they had been billing us. “Then you must have the wrong address,” Mitch said. They didn’t. “So where are the bills?” Mitch asked. “You tell me,” Jenny answered. Meanwhile, all this time the poor Repo Man was standing outside in the driveway.

I went out and asked him if he wanted anything—a glass of water, or coffee, or maybe some tomato juice? My offer of tomato juice made him burst out laughing, and suddenly he changed from a threatening, bearded, tattooed, scary biker-looking dude with big biceps into a nice young man with no upper teeth. “It’s just my job,” he explained. “Don’t take it personal.”

Back inside, Mitch was finally making progress with Jenny. He had convinced her we were not deadbeats and she agreed to take our car payments for the last three months over the phone. (Mitch threw in a fourth just for good measure.) Jenny said to tell Repo Man he was free to leave, but he hung around for awhile, answering my questions about his job: Did he like it? “You meet a lot of different types—some nice, some not so nice.” Did anyone ever come after him with a gun? “That’s what you hear, but not around these parts.” Had he ever had any trouble at all? “If they give me attitude, I just take the car and leave.”

After a while we shook hands and Repo Man got into his truck and drove away, leaving my Audi in the driveway. In retrospect, I was glad we hadn’t given him any attitude.

—Andrea Rouda

Andrea Rouda blogs at The Daily Droid.