A Practical and Stylish Mom Ensem? No Sweats!
Dear Fashion Police: I am a stay-at-home mom with two young children. I’ve gotten into a jeans and T-shirt rut. Do you have any alternatives that are practical (i.e. washable) and more fashionable? I’m 5 feet tall and a size 4 petite. Leggings with big tops are not too flattering on me.
-- LI’L MOM
Dear Li’l: It’s so darned easy to get into those unstylish ruts, isn’t it? We applaud you for recognizing that you need to break free. We’re also glad you came to us before descending even further--into the sweats and T-shirt rut, from which sometimes there is no escape.
Since you’re probably incredibly busy during the day, you want clothes that are easy to move in, but presentable enough for going out. We suggest pants with some stretch to them, such as a cotton/Lycra blend. They have the give that you need but won’t hug the body like leggings. Smaller tops and blouses are better proportioned for your size, so look for long-sleeved knit T-shirts, cardigans, and sweaters that are cropped or can be tucked in. Layer them and mix up the colors, textures, patterns and necklines so you don’t get bored with your wardrobe.
Come spring, add some capri pants for another look. And don’t discount skirts. Full skirts aren’t as restrictive as you might think. Choose a mid-calf length, and look for waistbands with elastic insets.
All the clothes we’ve described shouldn’t be hard to find, even in petites. Check places like Gap and Old Navy, as well as junior departments for such basics as pants and cardigans.
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Dear Fashion Police: I will be getting married this coming February. I found a dress that I love. It’s sleeveless with a sequined bodice and an A-line skirt. My question concerns gloves. I have seen people wearing sleeveless dresses with long gloves that come up above their elbows. Is it proper for me to wear gloves (I’m getting married in a church) and if so, how do I handle the part of the ceremony that calls for my fiance to place the wedding ring on my finger? Do I take my left glove off at that point?
Also, do I take the gloves off before I arrive at the reception? And also, is it proper for me to remove my veil after I get to the reception?
--A BRIDE IN (G)LOVE
Dear Bride: It’s perfectly fine for you to wear gloves at your wedding, but we have to warn you what this entails.
Your fiance must put your wedding ring on your naked finger. Since it would take about an hour to get a past-the-elbow glove off, experts recommend making a slit in the glove, on the underside of the ring finger, at the seam, so you can slip off just that part. If you decide to do this, we strongly recommend practicing several times before the ceremony. Otherwise you might have some great footage for one of those “funniest video” TV shows. By the way, you can wear your engagement ring on your right hand, under the glove, during the ceremony.
Remove the gloves at the reception, since all eating and drinking should be done glove-less.
As for the veil, if yours is a long one, you’ll probably want to remove it for the reception. Discuss the logistics of this beforehand with the person doing your veil and with your hairstylist. You don’t want to be yanking out hairpins while everyone waits for you. If it’s just a short, poufy veil that won’t end up in the wedding cake frosting, you can probably leave it on.
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From the Fashion Police Blotter: A couple of weeks ago, “Concerned Grandmother” wrote for advice on where to find clothes for her granddaughters, ages 8 and 13, who, she said, are “a bit overweight.”
We provided some solutions for the teenager and asked readers for more suggestions. As usual, you came through. We are indebted.
Several people mentioned Sears and JCPenney, both of which offer fun, fashionable large-size clothes for girls.
The Girlfriends L.A. catalog offers cool, hip clothes and accessories for teens in a range of sizes. Some of the clothes go up to an XXL, or size 19/21, which translates into a 47-inch bust, 39-inch waist and 49-inch hips. For a catalog, call (800) 617-4352 or visit their Web site at https://www.gfla.com.
Lands’ End has plus sizes for girls on some items. Their size 16P (XL) fits girls 62 1/2 inches tall with a 36 1/2-inch chest, a 30 1/2-inch waist, a 39-inch hip and a 59-inch torso. For a catalog, call (800) 356-4444 or contact their Web site at https://www.landsend.com
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