In style briefs

Target ups ante

Target keeps upping its style ante with limited-edition additions such as the hot line from Proenza Schouler, nominated for this year's women's wear fashion award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The latest debut is the Rafe for Target accessories collection, which re-interprets its pricey uptown-meets-downtown handbags and shoes at less than $50. Look for great summer straw and linen bags and sassy flip-flops.

For guys, the Keanan Duffty for Target clothing line, referencing the London punk-rock circuit, is inspired by Duffty's own days as a musician. Look for multi-patterned shirts with colorful button details, plaid shorts and graphic T's.

'Glow' is new tan

Nothing says summer like tanned, golden skin, but in this day and age of SPF 50 sporting a real tan is just plain irresponsible. Still, blatantly faking one is outdated and can look silly.

To achieve a beautifully bronzed glow, swap your fake-bake palette of browns and peachy-gold makeup for subtle, gradual self-tanners that flatter skin of every shade.

Here are a few tips:

• Even the lightest shades of bronzing powders have a tendency to look too dark, too matte, too opaque, too metallic or too orange when applied. Nars Sparkling Pressed Powder in Gold Rush ($30) provides radiance without the extra color. This low-watt powder blurs pores and wrinkles, absorbs oil and gives eyelids a clean sparkle so you don't need shadow.

• Tinted lip balms in peachy-pink or golden nude shades add just enough color and volume to look fresh but not makeup-y. Neutrogena Soothing Lip Sheers SPF 20 in Sparkling Nude ($9) does the trick and has a peppermint flavor.

• Fresh High Noon FreshFace Glow ($36) is a hydrating tint with botanicals that renders dry skin immediately sunny and dewy. If you like more coverage, mix it fifty-fifty with your foundation.

• Shiseido Daily Bronze Moisturizing Emulsion for Face/Body ($35) is one of the subtlest self-tanners. It contains a reduced level of the active ingredient, DHA. The effect is like bumping up your light-reflecting foundation a shade -- just enough to blur discolorations -- and it won't cause elbows, knees or brown spots to overtan.

• Revlon Bare It All Lustrous Lotion in Peachy Tease ($15), a cross between primer and a highlighter, comes close to giving "experienced" skin that lit-from-within look you see on 18-year-olds in cosmetics ads. Think of it as your personal retoucher in a tube. You can blend it under your foundation or wear it over sunblock for extra glow.

Fashion 'Idol'

Maybe Sanjaya Malakar's performances annoyed you, but you adored the Pumas he sported on his final week on "American Idol." Learn more about the shoes and other clothing worn by the Idols at StarStyle.com.

Each week the site gives details about "Idol" clothes, offering brand names and places to shop. Highlights have included Melinda Doolittle's sexy black pumps, Blake Lewis' natty argyle sweater and Lakisha Jones' sultry bead-waist dress.