A couple of oldies make comebacks
Dear Answer Angel: My mom told me that when she was a teenager, girls would sleep on hair rollers with brushes inside them that were murderously uncomfortable. I thought today’s hair styles had left that all behind.
But when I was at the salon recently I was stunned to see women of all ages sitting with rollers in their hair. I asked my stylist about it and he said women, especially younger women, increasingly are asking him for rollers instead of curling irons and blow drying. He said he didn’t know why. Do you? — Blanca T.
Dear Blanca: For the bouncy waves of longer hair that is increasingly popular on runways, red carpets and among style trendsetters, women are returning to tried-and-true hair rollers. Among the reasons is an effort to reduce hair-sizzling heat damage caused by curling irons and blow-drying.
And another oldie that’s enjoying a comeback ...
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I know Louis Vuitton is supposed to be the height of high-end fashion. But a recent ad for the brand features a stylish (?) young woman wearing white high heels with white opaque hose. I can’t stop thinking of the horrid Nurse Ratched from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” The ad caught my eye, but surely this isn’t high fashion? Or is it? — Ellie A.
Dear Ellie: It kind of is, Ellie. Matching hosiery to the color of your shoes is having a high-style moment and that includes the white on white combo. It’s true that the unicolor look elongates the leg. And, that’s a plus. There was a time when nurses (Ratched included) were expected to wear white stockings and shoes with their starched white uniforms. White on white also was a popular look in the ’60s.
To me, the white on white doesn’t look right and is distracting, but other uni-color combinations (for instance black on black and navy on navy) are easier to take and achieve the longer leg illusion.
Way back in history — 2015, that is — vogue.com headlined, “White Boots and White Tights Are a Surprisingly Perfect Winter Pair,” so like everything else in fashion, styles come and go. This one won’t be around much longer. Until next time.
Angelic readers
More readers clamor to be heard on the topic of comfortable bras for well-endowed women like Nancy A., who pleaded for help finding a wire-free bra that lifts and separates. “Ruby Ribbon (rubyribbon.com ) is what this woman needs to have great support and no underwire,” writes Peggy S.
Maria D. praises Underscore Fashion Plus Comfort Lace Trim Unlined Wireless Full Coverage Bra No. 306497 (jcpenney.com, on sale for $16.99). Mary Ann M. says, “I have been wearing Bali Double Support Lace Wireless Bra No. 3372 (bali.com, on sale for $19.99) for years with no problems. They hold their shape and separate and ‘wear like iron.’” Carol K. likes Truekind bras (truekind.com).
From Beth W.: “Glamorise brand WonderWire Front-Closure Bra, Style No. 1245 (glamorise.com). Broad straps, comfortable cup, actual comfortable and effective underwire. The front closure actually lifts and separates with the hook lying flat. It’s $59 and holds up well.” Cathy B. agrees: “I have worn Glamorise bras for many years and find that no matter how I move, my bra and ‘the girls’ stay put.” Pat T. says, “The Natori bras are the very best.”
From Rosemary S.: “In my experience, there has to be an underwire to get the lift and separation that Nancy A. is looking for. My all-time favorite bra is Wacoal’s T-Shirt Bra. There are two definitive, non-smooshing, separate cups. It is an extremely comfortable underwire and as an added bonus, the STRAPS NEVER SLIP! Worth its weight in gold!” (From Ellen: They also have a wireless version, wacoal-america.com). Roselle M. is a fan of Easy Comforts Style Cross and Shape Bra (easycomforts.com, 2 for $14.99).
Reader rant
Marlene K., who lives in North Dakota, is angry about a question that appeared in this column: “I take offense! The topic was about wearing no-stretch jeans. Your reader Lucie M. wrote: ‘I’m 65 years old with a good figure but I won’t wear jeans anymore. After age 50 they look best on farmers.’ Does she even know any farmers? Does she think all farmers wear them? My husband and I were farmers for over 50 years and neither of us ever wore jeans! He wore gabardine slacks for work in the fields and with cattle. They are cooler and more flexible than jeans. In the winter he wore insulated coveralls over them. I have never owned a pair of them.
“Today many men and women of all sizes and ages wear jeans . ... People wear them to meetings, to the beach, to sports events, to dances and even to church. They are worn in all states. Shame on that woman for thinking like that. She needs to get out more.”