Fashion-forward sweater styling for fall season
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: With fall upon us, I need sweater advice. I have crew neck sweaters and V-neck sweaters. What are the rules regarding the shirt underneath, i.e., collared shirts, button-down or not, crew neck shirts, etc.; what about colors: what shirt color best complements sweater color; should shirts be solid colors or patterns, based I guess on sweaters being solid or pattern? I want to know it all.
— Gerome J.
Dear Gerome: You’re overthinking this shirt/ sweater thing. Anything goes. I surveyed a bunch of high-end fashion ads and here’s some of what I found: Prada shows a black men’s button dress shirt with a white tie topped off with a speckled orange and brown crew neck sweater. Gucci styles a white-striped gray V-neck sweater with a white men’s dress shirt and a classic blue striped tie. French Vogue dissected men’s fashion trends for fall to include a Marni leopard print shirt under an oversize beige crew neck. Bright pink sweaters atop a colorful (orange!) men’s dress shirt is another combo I came across.
And there’s always the classic white or gray crew neck T-shirt under any sweater, including an oversize cardigan. Similar unlikely combos work just as well for women, so spread the word.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: OK, this is not one of life’s major issues right now but little things loom large with so much pain all around us. Without lipstick I look washed out. To state the
obvious, wearing a mask covers the very area that I’ve always counted on to brighten my face (and pick up my spirits, which I need now more than ever in this pandemic). What am I supposed to do now? Just forget the lipstick and feel plain Jane?
— Judy F.
Dear Judy: If it’s any comfort I think many of us are feeling plain Jane at this point in our coping with COVID. I’m presuming that there are times and places that you don’t wear a mask — if only when looking at yourself in the mirror. So, wear lipstick then. If you’re removing your mask to eat or drink (with appropriate distancing or whatever rules you’re following where you live) there’s a lipstick opportunity. Mask requirements are offering you the opportunity to experiment with eye makeup, which can go a long way to brighten up your “washed out” feeling. I for one always wear lipstick under my mask because … just because.
Angelic Readers
After recently outlining my misgivings about thrift
store shopping in the pandemic — close quarters, used clothing, recently tried-on items for sale — I’ve been besieged by shoppers and thrift store volunteers who say I’m overly cautious. A small sampling:
Diane K. says: “Methinks you are way too cautious about returning to thrifting. It is as safe as grocery shopping and much easier to keep a 6-foot distance! Like everything else, be careful! Washing your hands and any clothes you might buy should be plenty of protection.”
From Carol F.: “I still shop at stores that donate earnings to charity. However, I buy the clothes, wash them at home, then try them on. If they don’t fit I donate them back to the charity store to be sold again. Helping the charity is why I shop there so my system helps twofold.”
Now it’s your turn
Send your questions, rants, tips, favorite finds — on style, shopping, makeup, fashion and beauty — to answerangelellen@gmail .com.