FASHION HUES OF YOU IT'S HER PARTY AND SHE CAN COLOR CHART YOU IF SHE WANTS TO.

You call yourself fashion-savvy and you've never been color charted?

Jill Kirsh, a former soap opera actress, has put a new spin on the '70s phenomenon of color charting (based on your hair, skin, eye and teeth color) with color-swapping parties. Not only does she bring piles of color drapes to see which shades make the client sparkle (and which don't), but guests are encouraged to bring fashion rejects from their closets to trade with others. And once charted, guests get made up in Kirsh's custom makeup and then get to try on artsy costume jewelry and accessories in ``their colors.''

``Think of it as sort of like a QVC party in your own home, and you get the idea,'' says Kirsh, who has hosted parties for Girl Scouts, actors, attorneys and even some local Kaiser hospital physicians.

A frequent guest on the talk-show circuit, Kirsh also has had an opportunity to observe stars up close and personal. Says Kirsh, ``Jay Leno looks great in navy or charcoal with white, but sick in camel, while David Letterman looks bad in gray. And Pat Sajak looks awful in burgundy.'' Zeroing in on women celebs, Kirsh has observed that Joan Rivers looked great at the Emmys in navy, but looks old and haggard in cranberry and pale lavender; while Courteney Cox Arquette is stunning in royal blue and purple, but boring in beige. She also adds that the infamous green Versace gown Jennifer Lopez wore to the Grammys and the stark white ensemble she wore to the recent MTV Awards overpowered her. ``They were great for her natural, more exotic coloring, but since she's lightened her hair and makeup she needs to wear earth tones. On the other hand, she was going for shock value and it worked,'' Kirsh says.

Party packages start at $50 a person for groups of six or more. For more information, call the Color Co. at [phone].

- Barbara De Witt

SHOPPING

< What men need

HELP TYING IT ON: Thanks in part to Regis Philbin, ties are back. So, give your man a subtle hint and a good laugh with Thomas Fink and Yong Mao's new book, ``The 85 Ways to Tie a Tie'' (Broadway Books; $14.95).

The authors, who are Cambridge physicists, have traced the evolution of the knotted neckcloth from the 17th century to its contemporary form. In the book's 144 pages are instructions for 85 knots with names like Nicky, Pratt, Cavendish and Balthus. There's also a chapter devoted to the Windsor, which the authors tell us was not designed or even worn by the Duke of Windsor, but an American invention favored by Frank Sinatra.

A LITTLE GROOMING: OK guys, even macho Lakers coach Phil Jackson gets his hair color-enhanced, so there's no shame in a little manly grooming.

That trendy women's cosmetic company Philosophy has taken a subtle approach with their new line of men's products. In its familiar packaging with dictionary definitions on the bottle are The Common Man shaving cream, The Power Shower deodorizing wash and The Afterglow, a smoothing gel. Products start at $25, and shy types can order items online at www.beauty.com.

- B.D.

BEAUTY

Holiday 'do's and don'ts

Frederic Fekkai, the charming Beverly Hills stylist to stars such as Brooke Shields, Liv Tyler, Salma Hayek and Claudia Schiffer, says the season's newest 'dos are inspired by the 1920s and '40s.

``Charlize Theron's short layered bob with finger waves in the film 'Legend of Bagger Vance' will probably start a major trend, but it's the long soft waves worn by Lauren Bacall in 'The Big Sleep' that will have the most universal appeal,'' he predicts.

Those finger waves, by the way, look best on an oval-shaped face, says Fekkai, and are accomplished by drying the hair with a small round brush, then pinning the hair in soft pin curls; drying, then styling with your fingers. And for the Bacall style, it's basically the straight style we've been seeing all year, except it's got a side part and a gentle wave that turns under on the ends.

For more beauty tricks, check out Fekkai's first book, ``Frederic Fekkai: A Year of Style'' (Clarkson Potter; $35). The French designer who now has his signature style on cosmetics, sunglasses and leather goods, welcomes readers into a world of glamour that's based on natural beauty rather than Hollywood glitz. He gives the real scoop on personal beauty, with details on how to shape your brows, what colors of nail polish look best with different skin tones and shoe styles, and when to decide to stop coloring your hair and go gray gracefully.

- B.D.

CAPTION(S):

7 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 3 -- color) Jennifer Lopez is overpowered in stark white, while Jay Leno looks best in navy or charcoal, according to color expert Jill Kirsh, far right.

(4 -- color) no caption (``The 85 Ways to Tie a Tie'')

(5 -- color) no caption (Philosophy - men's products)

(6 -- color) no caption (``Frederic Fekkai: A Year of Style'')

(7 -- color) THERON'S ``BAGGER VANCE'' DO