Underwear that may help prevent visible panty lines

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: As I’ve gotten older and flabbier, I’m finding that when I wear pull-on pants, leggings, jeggings, jeans, etc., you can see the lines from my underwear. Spanx work somewhat, but you can still see the line. Is there something you or your readers can recommend?

— Barbara H.

Dear Barbara: Ahh, the annoying VPL! That’s “Visible Panty Line,” and it is an issue no matter how old or young, flabby or fit you are. The tighter the clothing, the more likely you are to have this problem.

(Can I take just a minute to whine about the word “panties” — used much more often by men, most of whom do not wear panties and probably don’t understand it’s a cringey term? As my friend and former Chicago Tribune colleague Louise Kiernan wrote long ago, “‘Panties’ just sounds salacious. Panties are lacy, filmy, schoolgirl naughty. ‘Underwear’ is a neutral term.”)

Barbara, what you need is seamless underwea r— and there are many brands and styles to choose from. Byrdie.com lists two dozen “Best Seamless Underwear That Feel Like Second Skin.” Here are the top choices:

„ Best Overall: Calvin Klein Women’s Invisibles Hipster (calvinklein.us, on sale, $10.50)

„ Best Overall Runner-Up: Seamless Universal (yourparade.com, $8 and up)

„ Best Budget: Fruit of the Loom Women’s Seamless

Panties (amazon.com,

multipack $12.48 and up) „ Best Value: Commando Butter High Rise Panties (wearcommando.com, $32)

Other considerations: Many of us are wearing underwear that’s too tight because of the sizing of women’s underpants. Make sure you’re in the right size. Too tight and you’re asking for panty lines, especially around the legs. Also, stay away from cotton, which tends toward heavier seams. Thongs are a good bet, but lots of us think they’re crazy uncomfortable. And, of course, you can wear no underwear at all, or affix only a slim disposable pantyliner to your leggings, etc.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen:

I am so sick of trying to rethread the drawstrings in my sweatpants (and other pants) that get swallowed up in the abyss of the waistband in the wash — despite the knots I tie on the end of the strings to prevent this. Is there a solution to keep the drawstrings in place? While I’m

on the topic, when I tie a bow on the drawstrings while wearing them, the strings often are made of slippery material and I constantly have to retie them. Or, I double-knot them and then when I go to the restroom, it’s “OMG, I’m stuck in my pants!”

— Sandi C.

Dear Sandi: The solution is a bit of plastic called a drawstring toggle, aka cord lock, spring toggle or stopper. They come in oneor two-hole options and can be used on an array of garments like the drawstrings on hoodies and coat hoods and shoestrings. And they are low-cost. Amazon.com sells 100 of them for under $10, or pick them up at fabric and sewing stores for minimal cost.

Now it’s your turn

Send your questions, rants, tips, favorite finds — on style, shopping, makeup, fashion and beauty — to answerangelellen@gmail. com.

DREAMSTIME The tighter the clothing, the more likely you are to have the ever-annoying VPL (visible panty line).