Search for Shoes Giving Her Blues
Dear Fashion Police: I recently bought a pair of classically tailored, lined linen pants that are almost navy. They’re not dark enough to be confused with black, but they are a dark, rich blue. I will be wearing these pants for work, where there is an upscale business-casual look, but I am also on my feet a lot, so I want to be comfortable. I am looking for a flat or almost flat loafer-type shoe.
What is an appropriate shoe color for dark blue pants? It has been impossible (so far) to find a matching blue, or even one that comes close. The ones I’ve seen are too light or too gray. I often see blue pants sold with a brown belt. My pants did not come with a belt, but is a brown shoe OK? Or do I have to resign myself to black?
--FEELING THE BLUES
Dear Feeling: Come here. Closer. Look deep into our black letters. Repeat after us: Pants and shoes don’t have to match exactly. Pants and shoes don’t have to match exactly.
You could keep looking for that precise shade of blue until the proverbial cows come home, but life is too short, don’t you think? A pair of shoes in a slightly darker shade--more like a true navy--would be fine. Just make sure the color is in the same family--in other words, it looks like a darker version of your pants. It shouldn’t read purple or aqua or gray. If you’re having trouble finding even that, get as close as you can. We don’t want you exploring every shoe store in the northern hemisphere looking for the right shade of blue.
We found a few pair for you online, all in navy, although you’ll have to see them in person to decide if they’ll work. Eddie Bauer (https://www.eddiebauer.com, [800] 426-8020) has casual loafers for $55. Macy’s Web site (https://www.macys.com, [800] 289-6229) offers Easy Spirit “Treasure” moccasins for $69 and at Via Veneto Shoes (https://www.viavenetoshoes.com, [702] 369-7414) we found a pair of Bally’s “Tempest” loafers for $175.
All those were found in about five minutes, so we’re sure if you did a more extensive search you’ll be able to find more.
A brown or black shoe wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if you wore a jacket or blouse that is predominantly brown or black, but we still prefer blue. Another color is going to create a choppy effect and draw attention to your feet instead of creating a streamlined look.
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Dear Fashion Police: I am a 44-year-old woman who was born with a port wine stain birthmark on my left leg. It covers most of the front of my leg from my waist to the bottom of my foot. With summer here, I would like some way to hide or camouflage my leg at the pool or beach. The ideal solution would be a bathing suit with legs, but I have yet to find one. Do you have any suggestions?
--BEACH BOUND
Dear Beach: We haven’t seen a bathing suit with legs since the 1920s. Well, actually, we didn’t see them in the 1920s because we weren’t around then . . . never mind, you get the point.
But we don’t think you have to wear pants at the beach this summer. You can wear a sarong or pareo (large pieces of lightweight, colorful fabric) around your waist to add some coverage over a swimsuit while on the beach or around the pool, but they’re going to have to come off once you hit the water.
Two heavy-duty cover-up creams, Covermark and Dermablend, offer products that they say cover port wine birthmarks and are waterproof. Covermark is available at: https://www.covermark.com, or call (800) 524-1120. Dermablend is available at J.C. Penney stores, or call (800) 442-4643.
A Covermark spokesperson said there are no special application techniques for using the product on a large area. However, she suggested not using an oil-based moisturizer before applying the cover-up since that could prevent the cream from adhering to your leg. Also, allow about 15 to 20 minutes for it to dry before getting dressed.
Since we haven’t had firsthand experience with either product, we’d love to hear from readers who have. Do the products really stay on in water? Do they blend well with your skin tone? Are they difficult to apply? Must they be reapplied? If so, how often?
More information on birthmarks, including how to cover them up, can be found at: https://www.birthmarks.net.
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WEB SITE ALERT: Are you pregnant or nursing and having trouble finding clothes that suit your needs? There’s a new Web site that might help: One Hot Mama (https://www.onehotmama.com; (800) 217-3750). Their online store features everything from lingerie to swimwear to evening gowns, plus accessories, and prices are reasonable. There are cute, casual and sexy tops and dresses with hidden openings for nursing, and lots of different maternity styles. The site also has advice, discussion boards and links. As we’ve said before, since we’ve not ordered from this site, caveat emptor, which translates into: We’re only responsible for telling you about it.
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Write to Fashion Police, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, fax to (213) 237-4888, or send e-mail to socalliving@latimes.com.
