Dear Answer Angel Ellen: How do I look good on a massive highway billboard in my town wearing a T-shirt promoting a charity? After I was honored at a recent event, the charity asked me to appear on a billboard! OK, Answer Angel/fashionista: Big earrings? Bracelets?? Necklace? Watch?? Jeans?? Glasses or not?
— Need help pronto
Dear Needy: Angel’s first opportunity ever to act as a stylist for a billboard photo shoot. Whoa! I think you want to look exactly like yourself, only better. If you wouldn’t feel like yourself without glasses, then by all means wear them. If your hair is hard to manage, think about splurging and getting it blown out for your big day. But be sure to tell the stylist you want it done in your everyday look, only more so. (Hair stylists are notorious for not listening to their clients, so if you’re worried you’re going to walk out of there looking like you’re going to the prom, skip this step or do a trial run the week before.) Makeup: Even if you usually don’t wear it, do it this time. When your head is 8 feet tall, flaws will be, uh, amplified. Get a friend or a professional (perhaps one at a department store makeup counter) to apply matte foundation to kill facial sheen, neutral eye shadow and neutral lip gloss. And don’t skimp on the mascara. But remember, you’re going for a natural look. Jeans are fine. Whatever makes you feel most comfortable. For jewelry, don’t overdo it. Wear eye-catching but not crazy-glitzy hoop earrings and you’re good to go. Oh, one more thing: Wear a T-shirt-appropriate bra with smooth cups so there are no chest lumps or bumps, if you get my drift.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I am looking for a filler for my crow’s feet. I have tried every product that I could find on the market. Nothing seems to work. I even spent $170 on Genucel, a stem-cell cream that is supposed to do the trick. Please help.
— Louise G.
Dear Louise: I have always believed — based on experience and common sense — that there is no cream that is going to make your (or my) wrinkles disappear — or even diminish. A while back I did a test of 13 anti-aging creams, serums and eye potions at prices ranging from $15.99 to $285, and there wasn’t that much difference among them, and none of them did much good at all. I told Washington, D.C., dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi about my findings (that over-the-counter creams were a bust) and she replied, “You are correct. Eye creams are helpful for moisturization, but wrinkle reduction requires Botox (or other neuromodulators) and/or laser.” My sister Claire, an M.D., swears by Retin-A, but it requires a prescription and has some side effects including sun sensitivity. You might decide it’s not worth the bother or the cash.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: With fall approaching, I’m wondering if you have suggestions for how to take lighter-weight summer dresses and skirts into fall. Is it OK to wear a heavier-weight jacket over a sleeveless dress or top? Is layering a long-sleeved knit top or turtleneck under a sleeveless dress acceptable? Is it OK to wear tights with a lightweight sleeveless dress?
— Cooling down
Dear Cooling: Yes, yes and yes. A jacket is a great idea for taking summer clothes into fall. Layering is a solution too (think long-sleeve T under a sleeveless dress; chunky sweater). Tights, especially nubby ones with boots, are great for transitioning summer wear into cooler temps. Remember, there are no rules. Experiment!
Angelic Readers
Many women wrote me that they had the same problem as reader Vicki, who developed an extreme scalp reaction to conventional hair dyes but doesn’t want to stop coloring her hair. Jan W. recommends temporary hair color Goldwell Elumen that she buys on amazon.com: “I could sell this product door to door. …The color is beautiful and no burning and itching.” Deb L. says Wella brand color solved her allergic reaction (amazon.com). Patty F. says try not washing your hair for 24 hours before coloring or put a little honey in the color before application. Patt suggests Ion Sensitive Scalp developer (sallybeauty.com), which can be used with your usual hair color. Joan uses one or two packages of Sweet’N Low mixed with her color: “No more burning and stinging.” Clairol Perfect 10 Nice ‘n Easy (drugstores) solved Susan H’s scalp itch. Christine W. recommends paraphenylenediamine- (PPD) and ammonia-free Madison Reed color (madison-reed.com). Barb S. and Grace have had good luck with Love Your Color by CoSaMo (cosamousa.com) which has no PPD, ammonia or peroxide but washes out in six to 12 shampoos. Hair salon manager Jean D. had the same scalp problem as Vicki and researched until she found Original & Mineral (originalmineral.com) which is free of ammonia, PPD and resorcinol. Nina M. says using Nioxin Scalp Therapy (nioxin.com) in the final rinse prevents itching and “works wonders.” Finally, Carol K. gave me a good scolding for not telling Vicki to embrace her gray hair and also included sites with information on “nontoxic coloring options” such as bit.ly/hairdyeinfo.
Reader Rant
I’m guessing that a lot of readers will say “amen, sister” to this rant from Nancy D: “When will the style of too-small-clothes go away? Pants that are cropped look like ‘flood pants.’ Jackets that are too tight-fitting and cut too short look sloppy and outgrown. And men’s suits make them all look like Pee Wee Herman. It’s getting ridiculous out there. I’m praying for high-waist, loose fitting, comfortable clothes again. Pants with a flattering silhouette, not pants that emphasize muffin tops. Feminine blouses that give you room to breathe. And shoes that you can run in if you have to run for your life. It’s been a long dry spell.”
Stop, drop, get help
Send your questions and rants — on style, shopping makeup, fashion and beauty — to answerangel@tribune.com.
