Is there an expiration date on long hair?
Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
I’ve always had long hair, 5 or 6 inches below my chin, and a well-meaning friend has suggested that I’m getting too old for this look. (I’m 55.) Lately I’ve been wearing it in very loose curls (I use a big roller curling iron). It is a style I’ve seen on Kathie Lee Gifford on the “Today” show, and I think it’s flattering on her — and me. Should I cut my hair or ignore my friend? My husband is indifferent and says the whole issue is my call.
— Liz A.
Well it certainly IS your call on what you do with your hair! But since you asked for my advice, I would suggest you take a really hard look in the mirror — on both a good hair day and one not so good — and ask yourself if you think you’re using your longish hair to make yourself look younger. If the answer is yes, I’d say your friend could be right. Kathie Lee is 65 and has the luxury of the best hair stylists New York has to offer. I think she’d look better (and maybe more youthful, if that’s her goal in this ageist world) if she had shorter hair. Let me give you another example: I was binge-watching the new season of “House of Cards” and found myself scrutinizing actress Patricia Clarkson, who brilliantly plays diabolical Jane Davis, President Claire Hale Underwood’s White House roomie. Jane’s flowing blond hair is a distraction, I think, and gives the impression of someone trying for a more youthful look that isn’t flattering. (BTW, Clarkson turns 59 in De-
Dear Betty:
cember.) I get more hate mail about my hair than anything I’ve written, so consider that when deciding if I’m the right person to give advice on your hair choices.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
I’m going through interviews for med school, and I don’t know what to wear or where to shop. Any suggestions?
— Meredith L.
I put your question to a female doctor who interviews med school applicants. Here’s what she told me, which, I think, applies to any woman applying for a professional job. “Wear something that is not a black, blue or gray suit with a neutral blouse and pearls! I interview a dozen women
Dear Meredith:
in a row, and a bright blouse or a memorable necklace will help you stand out.” As for where to shop, try Express, Ann Taylor or Nordstrom for the best selections I’ve found of moderately priced interview separates and jewelry that is not crazy but not just a string of pearls. Also popular although a little pricier: J. Crew and Banana Republic.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
On my Facebook feed, I keep getting these ads that say, “The ONLY sweater you’ll need this year ... The Cashmere Fisherman Sweater.” OK, I bit and went to the site. It’s a nicelooking sweater, but $395! (Or a handy four payments of $98.75). My question is who pays $400 for a sweater? Not me! Could it possibly be worth that much?
I checked out the photo, and that is a good-looking sweater. But I’d prefer four sweaters at $100 apiece, wouldn’t you? Or better yet, eight at $50 apiece. The $400 sweater in the photo looks like a warm heavy knit, but I bought a similar cashmere one for $60 at a consignment shop. To answer your question, the women buying the
$400 sweater are, perhaps, the same women who might buy a $5,000 Chanel purse.
Dear Frugal:
This question keeps coming up …
Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
I have been to a few weddings this year and have noticed that the younger women do not wear panty- hose with their dresses. I don’t know if I should or shouldn’t be wearing them! Please help!
— Bev K.
Do what makes you most comfortable. Hosiery is not a must, but many women, young and old, don’t like the feel of their shoes on bare feet or the look of their bare legs.
Dear Bev:
Angelic Readers 1
In a recent column, reader Kathleen R. wrote of donating her late husband’s unused cancer meds to Doctors Without Borders. But an email from that charity says, “We don’t accept in-kind gifts like medical equipment, drugs, food, or other materials for our operations. Here’s why: A huge part of what makes Doctors Without Borders so effective at saving lives is our ability to respond rapidly. After decades of experience, we’ve developed specialized, pre-packaged kits that are ready to go at a moment’s notice. These tried-and-true materials can get into the hands of our teams much more efficiently than if we had to manage screening, sorting, and packing different types of supplies.”
Angelic Readers 2
Susan D-P. writes, “In your column, Maria P. lamented that most of the young girl bras at Target had padding. I hope that she’ll look at this another way. I also bought my daughter her first bras recently at Target. They all had thin, removable padding. My daughter sees this benefit of the padding: not to enhance her breasts, but to prevent nipple showthrough. To her, nothing is more embarrassing than having boys in school remark about that. The padding in the Hanes bras is quite thin, and achieves the desired effect without a lot of enhancing.”
Reader Rant
In case you doubted that people have strong opinions about women’s hairstyles, Dianne P. writes, “There is not a face in the world that looks good with hair in a center part! Please tell women to just move the part by even 1⁄ of an inch
4 and their face will change dramatically! Diane Keaton in ‘The Book Club’ is a perfect example of a bad center part!”
Now it’s your turn
Send your questions, rants, tips, favorite finds — on style, shopping, makeup, fashion and beauty — to answerangelellen @gmail.com.