Hair rollers make comeback
Ellen Warren
Answer Angel
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 hairstyles 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-andtrue hair rollers. Among the reasons is an effort to reduce hair-sizzling heat damage caused by curling irons and blow-drying.
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. Matching hosiery to the color of your shoes is having a high-style moment, and that includes the white/white combo.
It’s true that the uni-color 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/white also was a popular look in the ’60s.
To me, the white/white doesn’t look right and is distracting, but other uni-color combinations (for instance black/ black and navy/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 wirefree 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, #306497 ( jcpenney.com, on sale for
$16.99). Mary Ann M. has been “wearing Bali Double Support Lace Wireless Bra #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 #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.”
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).