Sense and stylability

Jane Austen and her witty, sensible heroines are back in style, a trend most recently marked by the release of "Becoming Jane," a fictionalized retelling of Jane Austen's young life starring Anne Hathaway. Despite the two centuries since her writing, the characters remain as modern and relevant today as they must have been back then. The most memorable versions of Austen's novels are the BBC's "Pride and Prejudice" starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, the most recent version starring Keira Knightley, "Emma" with Gwyneth Paltrow and "Sense and Sensibility" with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. Our favorite though? "Mansfield Park" with Frances O'Connor and Alessandro Nivola. To get the look of a Jane Austen heroine without looking like you're dressing up for Halloween, try a dress or shirt with an empire waist and pink blush to achieve a rosy glow similar to the one brought on from the first rush of love. And, of course, don't forget to keep your sense of humor at life's many twists and turns.