Choose your own chic with pants style
Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
I’ve recently seen some extremely widelegged pants/bell bottoms. Are they back in a big way, and can I still wear my skinny jeans?
— Lynda L.
Yup, wide — even huge — leg pants are very popular now, especially for warm-weather wear. Buykud.com has a nice selection, and I just bought a fun pair in blue and white striped cotton (like a man’s shirt fabric) at H&M for $21.99. But, like you, I don’t want to give up my skinny jeans. And I won’t. It took me too long to find some that are flattering. Good news is that anything goes.
And another pants style question …
Dear Lynda: Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
When are pleats in pants coming back? All these men are wearing these skintight pants, and if you’re not thin as a rail you look like an idiot.
— Dan M.
I’m not sure where you’re shopping, but I see plenty of men’s pants with pleats in stores and online. Just one example: Lauren Ralph Lauren with pleats on sale at Macy’s for $54.99. (60 percent off!) The problem is that you might think those pleats conceal your stomach. But, actually, the pleats blob out and make your stomach look bigger. If you’re not rail thin, you’re better off with a flat front (but not skintight) pant.
Dear Dan: Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
I was at a very classy wedding recently. The guests were what you might call “beautiful people,” wearing gorgeous clothes and looking like fashion models. Many of the men were not wearing socks with their expensive shoes. What is up with that? To go sockless, do I have to be tall, dark and handsome, or can I be short, pasty and ordinary? Where’s the line? How beautiful do you have to be to get away with not wearing socks to a wedding?
— Jason E.
If you’re going to make a statement and not wear socks with your nice dress shoes, you better own your ankles! By that, I mean you’ll need to feel totally comfortable with the look, not hesitant or worried that you’ll be the only guy at the party without socks. And you should be making a fashion
Dear Jason:
statement with the rest of what you’re wearing — not a 10-year-old suit you just pulled out of the back of your closet. If you were wearing the most au courant thing in your wardrobe and you were concerned that onlookers would be saying, “Where are his socks?” give this look a pass.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
I work in a lovely boutique that sells unique clothing and accessories. The store is expensive, and I get a substantial employee discount that enables me to wear the clothes to work — sort of a walking advertisement. My best friend’s mom came in recently, pointed out several items, asked me to buy them using my discount and said she would write me a check (for the lower amount) when she picked them up at my place. I like my job and respect my boss. I think this is tantamount to stealing from my employer. Your advice please?
— Honest Hannah
It is stealing. You’re right. The mom has put you in an awkward position, which is unfair to you, but you’re stuck with the problem now. Simply tell her in the nicest possible way that your boss has a strict policy against this and that you’d be fired if she found out that you gave the mom access to your discount.
Dear H. H.:
Angelic readers
Judy H. writes, “Puffy under eyes? Embarrassing? Inconvenient? Painful? This used to happen to me without warning when I traveled on business, stayed overnight in unfamiliar cities, ate foods whose ingredients and preparation were big unknowns, etc., etc. (I am highly allergic to stuff that I am not even able to identify!) The answer: tea bags.
“Most hotel rooms have coffee and tea stations for in-room convenience. (If they do not, a quick cup from the dining room will bring what is needed.)
After steeping the tea bag for a few minutes, even after enjoying the cup of tea, squeeze the tea bag until almost all of the water is removed. Then lie on the floor, face up, with your head resting on a padding of newspaper and a towel on top of the papers. Next, the damp tea bag is laid under the eye on the swollen skin. (Two tea bags, one for each eye.) After lying there for five or 10 minutes, the swelling will have disappeared. (The tannic acid in tea does the job.) Rinse off the face, and apply moisturizer. When the puffiness has disappeared, the under-eye skin may look a bit wrinkled. But, after standing up and moving about, the undereye area ‘absorbs’ the wrinkles and looks normal again.”
Reader rant 1
From Sandy P.: “After shopping this weekend for a dress to wear to an evening summer wedding, I wonder, why, oh why, are so many plus-size dresses sleeveless? Looking in the ‘regular’ sizes, I found many lovely dresses with short sleeves. But most of the plus size were sleeveless. Don’t designers, manufacturers and store buyers realize we don’t want to show our upper arms?”
Reader rant 2
M.P. writes, “I’d like to know who designs restrooms in department stores, restaurants etc. The women’s restroom invariably has those massive rolls of paper encased in plastic or metal and placed so low that one needs to be a contortionist to reach the paper (if you can find the end) and the paper is so thin it repeatedly tears when pulled. And this continues to be done in recently remodeled restrooms! (Target!) Designers and contractors — listen up! If you must use those giant rolls, place them higher!”
Now it’s your turn
Send your questions, rants, tips, favorite finds — on style, shopping, makeup, fashion and beauty — to answerangelellen@ gmail.com.
Ellen Warren is a freelancer.