What are you wearing?

Sometimes a chance comes along and you have to grab it. The chance this time was to talk to well-dressed couple I’d never met about what they’re wearing.

The Forkners, Justin, 30, and Michelle, 24 — were kind enough to indulge me with their cute coupledom. Michelle, who came to Indy from New Orleans, lost 90 percent of her clothes to mold after Hurricane Rita. Justin, who spent years in the Army, is working his way out of the uniformed lifestyle. The two shop together, and look for clean lines and clothes they’ll wear often and for awhile.
The Forkners have been married about three years, proving that the couple that shops together is the couple that sticks together. “Whenever we shop, it’s a mutual agreement,” Michelle says.

Here’s what they’re wearing.

Justin

Style points: “I have two color families — shades of blue or shades of black or gray.”

Shoes: “I don’t know — whatever the store Carson Pirie-Scott used to be.”

Pants: Gap.

Sweater: Banana Republic.

Shirt: Gap. “I either have shirts from Gap or Express,” he says.
Red shirt: It’s basis of an 8-year-long feud with his best friend. He says it’s his, she says it’s hers, and the shirt custody battle is ongoing.

Michelle

Shoes: Antonio Melani. “I’ve had them for a few years now. When you have good shoes you like to hold onto them forever.”

Jeans and undershirt: Gap. “Their style is neutral and very clean.”

Overshirt: Wet Seal.

Jacket: Gap. “I saw it from afar. I fell in love with it, but it was way out of my price range. Finally, someone said I should shut up about it because someone said I would get it as a birthday present.”

Clutch: Valerie Stevens.

Back tattoo (Michelle has three, all representing elements of Jewish culture): She got the “tree of life” tattoo as a way to protect Justin when he was deployed to Afghanistan. (Yes, Michelle’s mom did freak out about the tattoos. “There was a lot of Jewish guilt involved,” Michelle says.)

Jewelry: “I’ve never really worn a lot of jewelry.” Michelle’s disk necklace, from Justin, reads “I am my beloved and my beloved is mine.”

MAGIC THREE

. Martha Stewart is pretty amazing; she takes a craft and masters it. That’s why “Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts” is such a good resource. The beautifully illustrated book has a wide array of crafts to try and techniques to learn. In hardcover, this book is worth every penny of the $35 list price.

2. MAC’s Viva Glam special edition shades are in stores starting in April. Choose from two shades of lipstick or two shades of lipgloss (all $14 each). Every penny of the sales goes to the MAC Aids Fund, to support men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS. More info at www.maccosmetics.com or at the MAC store in the Fashion Mall.

3. Positivity is the new black. With their upbeat T-shirt messages, Indiana-based Optimistic Apparel gives you plenty of chances to be fashionably positive. You can also submit your own T-shirt ideas; winners get $5,000 to split with a charity. Learn more at www.bringthehope.com.