If Stretchy Becomes Baggy, Fabric Is Probably Guilty
Dear Fashion Police: I work at home and often spend all day sitting at the computer. I’ve been wearing cotton pants with some Lycra in them because that little bit of stretch is very comfortable. But lately I’ve been noticing that when I get up the pants are stretched out and very baggy around my hips and thighs. It’s not very flattering, and I feel self-conscious if I have to go out in public. Any suggestions?
--IT’S A STRETCH
Dear It’s: Pants with stretch are certainly a godsend to those who like their clothes trendy and comfortable. Textile manufacturers are able to add a bit of stretch to fabrics without making them look like stretch pants of old--i.e. those unflattering polyester things. Unfortunately, after a few wearings, and especially if you’re sitting for hours at a time, sometimes the fabric doesn’t snap back to its original shape, leaving that bagginess.
The solution is to choose a fabric such as woven rayon, Tencel (a kind of rayon), or a blend, which have fluidity and drape and hang in such a way that they tend not to bag. Look for wide-leg styles that will give you comfort.
We found a few casual styles that should work for you. J. Jill has Tencel Cottage Pants in a relaxed cut with a slightly low waistline ($79), rayon crepe cropped pants with an elastic and drawstring waist ($69), and ribbed Tencel trousers with full legs and an elastic back waist ($65.99). All are at www.jjill.com, or call (800) 343-5700.
Eddie Bauer offers Tencel drawstring pants that are wrinkle-resistant with an elastic and drawstring waist ($49.99, www .eddiebauer.com, or call [800] 625-7935).
At Coldwater Creek we found rayon pants in a small print that have a side zip and elastic waist ($54, www.coldwatercreek.com, or call [800] 510-2808).
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN: Back to school, that is, that time-honored tradition when parents everywhere brave malls, discount warehouses and department stores looking for stylish, affordable clothes for their children. It’s been a while since we’ve done an informal survey of how moms and dads are planning their shopping strategies, so we thought we’d put some questions out there again:
* Do you have a specific shopping strategy in terms of which stores to hit and how much money to spend? Is it different from previous years? If so, how and why?
* Have you done research by going online, reading catalogs or looking at ads to get a definite idea of the kinds of clothes you’ll be shopping for, or will you see what strikes your fancy when you’re in the stores?
* Have you found the selection of back-to-school clothes acceptable in terms of styles and cost? If not, what would you like to see changed?
* How much say do you let your children have in choosing their school wardrobes?
* How many of you pray that your child’s school will opt for uniforms so you won’t have to face this taxing annual ritual?
Along with your scintillating comments, please include your name, the city in which you live and a phone number where we can reach you. We’ll let you know the results.
FROM THE FASHION POLICE BLOTTER: Last week we offered some tips on how to wash dark clothes to minimize fading; this week you gave us a few more. One reader said that quilt soap, used for washing quilts, also helps prevent clothes from fading. It can be found at quilt and fabric shops.
Another reader suggested re-dyeing faded black clothes in a washing machine using black Rit dye and, of course, following the product’s instructions. She adds that after dyeing the items she runs the empty machine on a wash cycle and adds soap and bleach to clean it out. You should wear rubber gloves and old clothes while doing this. Be aware that some l Laundromats forbid dyeing clothes.
Two readers reported good results with Woolite Dark Laundry Fabric Wash, a new product that claims to minimize fading.
Thanks to all who contributed ideas and comments.
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Write to Fashion Police, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles CA 90012, fax to (213) 237-4888, or send e-mail to jeannine.stein@latimes.com.
