Ms. Issa said she has noticed a "demure but confident spring" in her step since she started to wear kitten heels over the past year.

WSJ: The New Heels: Sweet and Low-Down

By waiting for the bruisers to wear themselves down, Duffy could step into the middle of an altercation and avoid getting hit.

FORBES: Up From the Pits

His response, in 1999, was to step back from his ready-to-wear design duties, handing the reins to one of his young designers in order to focus on a new project: A-POC, which stands for A Piece of Cloth, a revolutionary seamless tubelike fabric.

WSJ: Progressive Dress | Designer

Today, President Obama will take another step to help fulfill our obligation to those who wear the uniform of the United States when he signs legislation to create a pair of tax credits for businesses that hire veterans.

WHITEHOUSE: Our Top Stories

And people have gone a step further, creating a range of colourful signals with the clothes they wear.

ECONOMIST: Smell, vision and genes: More colour, less odour | The