All in All, Overalls Are All Right
Dear Fashion Police: What is your opinion of bib overalls? I think they look great on small children (i.e. Dennis the Menace), on Henry Fonda in “The Grapes of Wrath” and on Drew Barrymore, but not so great on nonfarm-working adult men and women. Particularly unflattering are the short pants bib overalls, which remind me of lederhosen, another garment best left to people under 15.
--OVERALL, NO OVERALLS
Dear Over: We agree that overalls look cute on small children and were appropriate on Henry Fonda, but Drew Barrymore? Why does she get immunity?
Anyway, for the most part, we’re not enamored of big, baggy overalls on adults. However, there are some exceptions: We don’t mind them on men with well-defined pecs who wear them without shirts. We appreciate them for those PMS bloat days when it seems as if someone has implanted an NBA regulation basketball in our stomachs. And those short-alls on women don’t bother us a bit--in fact, a great pair of legs can make them look quite cute and, according to some men we know, sexy.
But as for the big baggies, they definitely rate higher on comfort than on sexiness. Anyone out there have opinions on this? But of course you do. Let’s hear them.
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Dear Fashion Police: I am writing about the “career wear” skirts I’ve seen by makers such as Liz Claiborne, Jones New York and Talbots. The skirts are in beautiful materials and colors but are wrap-around! I am a fortysomething professional woman who travels frequently. What use do I have for a skirt that’s liable to fly open at the slightest breeze or miscalculated movement? I expect to be able to sit comfortably and walk briskly down a sidewalk or airport concourse without clutching at my skirt.
--NOT ENRAPTURED
WITH THE WRAP
Dear Enrap: We stopped buying wrap skirts some 15 years ago when we realized we didn’t want the world to know what kind of underwear we were wearing. Our motto for getting dressed is: Once we put it on, we don’t want to have to think about it. That includes grabbing your skirt every few minutes.
You could try pinning the skirt, but that’s never worked for us--it restricts movement and destroys the line of the garment.
But if you like the look of a wrap skirt, you can have it. Some designers have wised up to the clutching phenomenon and created mock wrap skirts, which look like the regular kind, but are made with a false panel in front. This gives the look of a wrap skirt without the potential for disaster.
So when you’re looking through clothing racks and spot a wrap skirt, don’t dismiss it until you lift up the front piece.
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Dear Fashion Police: Bathing-suit manufacturers should realize that not everyone who buys a suit is a teenager who can wear suits cut up to there, and also with inadequate support. It gets difficult to find the kind of suit you feel comfortable wearing. I live in an active senior community, and there are at least 100 ladies who either swim or attend water aerobics on a regular basis.
--PAST THE BIKINI AGE
Dear Past: Don’t think that age is the only factor in not wanting to wear those frighteningly ultra-high-cut swimsuits. Plenty of women of all ages don’t feel comfortable in them.
But don’t despair, and don’t stop taking those water aerobics classes. When shopping for a suit, try one of those stores that only sells swimwear, such as Canyon Beachwear (which has several locations in Southern California). They tend to stock a variety of suits.
Also, check out the Lands’ End catalog ([800] 356-4444 or https://www.landsend.com). The company offers a “Tugless Tank” that has a moderately cut leg and either a shelf or a soft cup bra. It’s also sized for regular, short or long torsos, comes in sizes 4 to 18 and is available in seven colors. There are matching shorts and skirts for even more coverage.
The catalog also offers many other styles with that lower-cut leg, as well as a skirted suit.
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* When reporting or preventing a fashion crime, write to Fashion Police, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or fax to (213) 237-0732. Submissions cannot be returned. No telephone inquiries, please.
