It’s called the peep-toe bootie. This model, the Rasta by L.A.M.B., features a small toe opening with an artful cutout to show some top-of-the-foot skin.

Piperlime

FASHION

Show your toes this fall

These boots are made for baring — a little toe, that is.

For summer lovers who just can’t embrace autumn styles yet, consider the peep-toe bootie a transitional model.

With an ’80s vibe, designers have created this twist on the shoe bootie that was last year’s must-have item. Now, with heels chunky or slim, in black leather or head-turning purple suede, they come with a small toe opening or with lots of artful cutouts that show some top-of-the-foot skin.

“They have the cool factor because they’re leather, they’re sleek and have a lot of hardware like studs and grommets,” says Michelle McCool, fashion director of Cosmopolitan magazine, which features the booties in its September issue. “They’re edgy and modern.”

And while you may be wondering what exactly this shoe is, Gregg Andrews, a fashion director for Nordstrom, likens it to a hybrid of the classic peep-toe pump, the gladiator sandal and the bootie.

“It’s sort of the merging of three great shoe styles into one,” he says.

McCool adds: “You get more bang for your buck.”

The bootie will keep your look current while adding a touch of sex appeal, she says. “The openness of the toe makes it sexy. And most of them are on a high heel, and that’s sexy.”

While feet still are likely to be bare in the booties right now, you don’t have to put them away when the temperatures cool. Add tights or leggings, and wear them through the colder months.

And the really good news? There were even more peep-toe booties on the runways during the recent New York Fashion Week previews of next spring’s styles.

“Open-toe booties seem popular as the rush to wear a total boot does not play well with our global warming,” says Candy Pratts Price, executive fashion director at Style.com. “Also, I believe the gladiator sandal was so popular that it is slowly evolving into a boot with still some openness.”

They work well with jeans (skinny or boyfriend) and leggings, and give a new look to the little black dress, says Jennifer Gosselin, Piperlime’s vice president and general manager. They can even take you to work.

“They look great with a pencil skirt to spice up office attire while still staying appropriate,” Gosselin says. You can add a blast of color with blue or purple suede; for a more conservative look, wear the booties in a rich fall color, like brown.

Wearing the same color tight or legging and bootie, like black, makes your legs look longer, as will wearing a shorter cut boot, he notes. “Very few women can wear a hemline, a leg and a shoe of different colors,” says Nordstrom’s Andrews.

And when it comes to how many toes to bare, the styles range from just a small peep toe to a full open front where four or five toes can be seen. “This bootie — there’s a sophistication to it,” Andrews says. “That little flash of skin makes it very alluring.”

HOME

Bleach is still bleach

Q: Have they done something to bleach, like ban an ingredient? It doesn’t work nearly as well as it used to. It doesn’t smell like it used to, either. I have a plastic jug of Clorox and a jug of Food Club bleach. Neither works like bleach used to.

A: I haven’t noticed any change in either smell or effectiveness, but I posed your question to David Kellis, public relations manager for Clorox.

Chlorine bleach is basically just a 6 percent solution of sodium hypochlorite, and “that hasn’t changed in a long, long time,” Kellis said. It can’t change, because bleach is a disinfectant and is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, he said.

He wondered whether you might be using scented bleach. It doesn’t have the same smell we associate with cleanliness from our childhood, so you may think the bleach is less effective.

It’s also possible the bleach is old. Bleach starts to lose some effectiveness after about six months, Kellis said.

HEALTH

Improve your reflexes

Quick reaction times are important in sports, driving and everyday life. While genetics play a role in each person’s ability, there are ways to hone your skills:

Throw against a wall. Toss a tennis ball or a small “super ball” — one of those high-bouncing, rubbery toys — and try to catch or dodge it as it returns. Over time, move closer to the wall or throw harder.

Be a goalie. Have someone try to throw an object past you while you block with your hands. Indoors, you can use a soft ball (a Nerf, for example) or even a pillow. The other person can move closer or further away depending on how you do.

Pick up a racquet sport... Tennis, racquetball, squash and ping-pong all require quick reflexes.

... or a martial art. Karate and similar classes are great for hand-eye coordination.

Play catch. Any type of ball will do. Some baseball players paint different letters or colors on each ball and try to call those out as it speeds toward them.

Run in an unfamiliar place. Grab a buddy and hit a wooded trail you’ve never seen before, where you have to react to obstacles and changing terrain with every step.

Strengthen peripheral vision. Focus on a distant object and work to expand how much you can see off to the sides. You also can quickly alternate looking at a far object and a near one.

Act like a kid. Play a fast-paced video game, learn to juggle or play with a yo-yo.

Live healthfully. Without nutritious foods, plenty of water, regular exercise and a good amount of sleep, the brain gets sluggish.

FOOD

Little risk from mercury

Q: A friend of mine told me that certain foods made using high fructose corn syrup may be contaminated with mercury. Why isn’t the FDA doing something about it? — V.W., Philadelphia

A: You’re referring to a study published in the Jan. 26, 2009, issue of Environmental Health that found mercury (a known poison to the brain and nervous system) contamination in 9 out of 20 foods containing high fructose corn syrup.

High fructose corn syrup has largely replaced cane sugar in many foods we eat every day, ranging from soft drinks to ketchup. Representatives from the Corn Refiners Association say that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) manufacturers stopped using mercury in production years ago.

Why would mercury be used at all? Apparently, some HFCS manufacturers used a mercury-based caustic chemical to separate corn starch from the corn kernel.

FDA’s press officer, Michael Herndon, said his agency “takes mercury contamination very seriously” but he does not believe that the study in Environmental Health provides “any specific information or sufficient analysis to reach the conclusion that there is any appreciable risk from this potential exposure from mercury.”