HOT TIPS : ULTRA-CLASSY BLOOMINGDALE'S DRESSING FOR DEBUT.

Byline: Barbara De Witt 

Bloomingdale's is racing the clock for its much-anticipated opening in mid-November at Fashion Square mall in Sherman Oaks. Bulldozers and workmen are still all around the store, but Miz Hot Tips got a sneak peek at the fab new interior and got the scoop on what shoppers will find when the doors open Nov. 16.

Forget the dark wood columns and ornate gold glamour. This new store in the former Broadway is bold, bright and Southwestern flavored. There's heavy use of light wood counters, plenty of mirrors that make the building seem even bigger than its 200,000-plus square feet, and a few bright red counters for trendy items.

The store has a contemporary mood that's much like Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, with an eclectic mix of flooring materials. Fans of the New York-based store will find many similarities, including the designer boutiques and the B-Way, which is a black-and-white tiled path to the fragrance and cosmetics counters.

What's new: open-stock cosmetic counters where shoppers can reach for their own mascaras and creams instead of waiting for a sales clerk behind the counter. And women who want a makeover won't sit in a chair in the aisle; the new Bloomies will have semi-private makeup stations for the artists to work.

You'll also find a spa for facials and massages, a wine bar and a cafe, and a bunch of designer boutiques that are new to the Valley, store manager Gale Snyder said. Among them are special purse departments for Judith Leiber, Gucci and DKNY, as well as an Armani clothing boutique and an Isaac Mizrahi island. Shoppers can look forward to a special golfer's shop, a Vera Wang bridesmaid salon, a large department dedicated to size 14+ clothing for women, and an awesome Barbie Doll department where you'll find Bloomie's own Barbie dressed by Calvin Klein.

Snyder says the store will have numerous daily events, from cooking demonstrations to fashion shows, as well as stuff to keep the kids entertained.

Silver rush: On a recent stroll through the Promenade Mall in Woodland Hills, Miz Hot Tips spotted Mel & Di's, a new jewel of a shop with nifty silver-toned accessories like engraved business card cases for $15 and cigarette cases for $25.

A lingering scent: Every year there's a new fragrance to try and buy, but in order to make room for them on the shelves, old ones are removed. If you've got your nose up in the air over long-gone favorites like Babe, check with the perfume police at Fragrances Unlimited who specialize in locating discontinued scents. For more information, call [phone].

Keep it clean: Miz Hot Tips is talking about laundry, and all those nasty little stains that reflect your messy lifestyle. You know, like lipstick on your collar, parrot poop on your shoulder and hot fudge on your tie? To take them off in a hurry, call the Wisk hotline at [phone] for quick tips.

A real brow raiser: Brows are big this year, especially the slender, arched kind that require a little artistry with tweezers and makeup brushes. To get your eyes properly ``framed'' there's a new product called Instant Brows that features a peel-off stencil by Fran Wilson Creative Cosmetics. Each package contains six sets, priced at $3.20 each at drug stores. Although the instructions say you can use an eyebrow pencil, you'll get a much more natural effect with a special eyebrow brush and a powder eye shadow in your hair shade.

Bacteria-beaters: OPI, the company known for outrageous nail polish colors, now has a spray disinfectant called NAS 99 which stops bacteria from growing under your nails (especially acrylic types). It's $7.50 at JC Penney salons and other nail boutiques.

MEMO: Hot Tips appears every Saturday. If you have a hot tip on a new product or place, write to Barbara De Witt, Daily News Features Department, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91365-4200.