Dressing a little bit country

DRESSING A LITTLE BIT COUNTRYIf you go to the Rascal Flatts concert on Friday, take a close look at their outfits.

The country-meets-rock-'n'-roll look comes, in part, from J.C. Penney via stylist John Murphy.

Before he was dressing stars, Murphy was a pre-med student at the University of Minnesota. Once the Wisconsin native realized he didn't want to be a doctor, he explored creative careers and has been working with the band since 2001.

To give the band a cohesive look, Murphy dresses them in similar color schemes, making sure each outfit fits the individual's sensibilities. "JoeDon [Rooney] has a classic rock kind of vibe. Jay [DeMarcus]'s look is more casual -- he likes checks and cool art tees with straight-leg jeans. Gary [LeVox] is more country-western, so we embellish his clothes with rhinestones, nailheads and grommets," said Murphy.

The guys will often wear shirts by JF J. Ferrar and Irreverent. It's a look that's easy to copy.

"There's no shortage of plaid and that vintage western look," said Murphy, who suggested that dressing like a star might require a few simple tailoring tweaks. "Put darts in the back of shirts or take in jeans to give you that tough confidence and make you look better."

Hair raiserAfter proving her hairstyling prowess on the Bravo reality show "Shear Genius," Tabatha Coffey has gone on to show salon owners how to clean up their acts on "Salon Takeover," also on Bravo. In her new book "It's Not Really About the Hair," the native Australian reveals the origins of her direct and honest approach.

Check out the atmosphere: Look at how clean the salon is and how you are greeted. "If you go in and it's filthy, they truly don't care about the clients," said Coffey.

Get a consultation: Talk to your stylist, whether it's your first visit or your 100th. "A good hairdresser should always have a conversation," said Coffey. Be honest about how often you can afford to come in and how much time you have to style your hair so that the stylist can give you a cut that will work for your life.

Bring in a few photos: While hairdressers usually don't want to be barraged with celebrity photos, bringing in a few examples can help guide them. "A lot of times, if you bring in someone like Kim Kardashian, you want the lifestyle or the face, not the hair," said Coffey. "With a few photographs, there might be a theme -- a side-swept bang. Then the stylist can help interpret the right haircut, following face shape and hair texture."

Speak up: If you aren't happy with a cut, say something right away so it can be fixed. Even if it takes you a few days to decide you don't like it, call and let your stylist know. "With any service you're paying for, you obviously want to be happy," said Coffey.

Don't overdo your 'do: Women tend to overdo it with products and styling, said Coffey. "You can't get any blonder than me, but we women overabuse our hair with color, products and flat ironing," she said. "Hair can't look good when it's in bad condition."

Where: Nordstrom Court at Mall of America, Bloomington.

What: Coffey will autograph her new book, "It's Not Really About the Hair: The Honest Truth About Life, Love, and the Business of Beauty."

Pick of the week: The Shirt, $88, the-shirt.comAs seen on Oprah, Rochelle Behrens invented a button-down shirt that prevents that pesky peekaboo gap. The updated version includes an extra hidden row of buttons to help keep the placket flat. You can wear the classic style, available in white and other colors, and not worry about flashing anyone.

Romona Keveza trunk show: The bridal designer's Couture and Legends lines for fall and spring 2011 will be available.

Through Sat., L'atelier Couture Bridal, 493 Selby Av., St. Paul, 651-602-9492.

1 to 4 p.m., Galleria, Edina, 952-929-0469.

Free massages at Extrados: Book a facial for 30, 60 or 90 minutes and receive a massage for the same time increment for free.

Through Jan., 4279 Sheridan Av. S., Mpls., 612-920-0051.

Semiannual sale at Max's: Save 30 to 80 percent on select jewelry, decor and chocolates.

Through Jan. 29, Excelsior & Grand, 3831 Grand Way, St. Louis Park, 612-922-9405.

Through Jan., Excelsior & Grand, 3700 Grand Way, St. Louis Park, 952-567-7399.

Covered's clearance sale: Denim, dresses, sweaters and accessories are 30 to 80 percent off.

Through Jan., 1201 Lagoon Av., Mpls., 612-825-1610.

Suit Up sale: Suits are an additional 25 percent off the marked down price. After discount, suits are $75 to $225, shirts are $49 and ties are $29.

Through Jan., 1440 W. Lake St., Mpls., 612-824-0562.

• sglassman@startribune.com