Dear Answer Angel Ellen: What’s the new black? Is it still black?
— P.J.
Dear P.J.: Black will always be the go-to color choice.
Here’s why: It’s slimming. It doesn’t show dirt. It’s the perfect blank canvas for your colorful accessories (which can totally change the look).
That said, the fashion dictators (designers, magazines, style blogs, etc.) can’t just repeat the same old “buy black” dictate every season. That would not make their advertisers happy, because they want you in a buying frenzy at all times. That’s why you’ll read that orange, or neon green, pastel pink or crimson, aubergine, cobalt, charcoal or sand (aka red, purple, blue, gray, tan) are the new black.
Don’t believe it. Black is back. Actually, it never went anywhere. And for those of you who want to argue that black is not actually a color (or white for that matter too), check out colormatters.com for all sides of that topic and more than you could ever want to know. Executive summary: The answer is not black and white.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I am searching everywhere for a bra that is unlined. … I do not need or want to emphasize my chest. I cannot seem to find an unlined, wire-free bra for the life of me.
Furthermore, I would love to find this same sort of bra I am searching for in a T-back, that can be worn with tank tops. If you can guide me to any of the above, you will be my hero for life!
— Desperate
Dear Desperate: You’re looking in the bra department, and you should be shopping in the athletic clothing area, because what you’re looking for is a sports bra. Many models come in the racer-back (T-back) style. Glad it was so easy to be your hero!
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: How important is it to use products from the same manufacturer? For example, soap, toner, moisturizer, all by different companies, is that OK? Same with shampoo/conditioner — how much can/should you mix it up?
— Mixed Up
Dear Mixed Up: Beauty product companies want you to be true to their brands, and it’s easy to understand why.
Whether we’re talking about drugstore brands like Maybelline or department store franchises like Chanel, of course they want you to use their stuff for everything from mascara to eye cream to foundation. That’s why they’ll argue that their various products work together to emit radiance from your every pore. So, the argument goes, you’ll get the maximum benefit if you stick with their products and only theirs whether on your face, body or hair.
Yes, I know plenty of women devoted to their products — especially in a skin care regimen — who wouldn’t think of mixing brands. They believe that these potions need each other to work to the max, and that’s OK. But, to answer your question, “How much can/should you mix it up?” You can and should mix brands as much as you want. My testing has shown that cheaper products are often as good if not better than the ones that cost a fortune.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I always wash a new garment before I wear it. Is this really necessary?
— Ms. D.
Dear Ms. D.: Washing a new garment before you wear it is not necessary. I’ve never done it in my life. It’s unnecessary, that is, unless you’re phobic about germs. If you’re concerned that someone has tried it on before you in the store and you’re worried about her germs, by all means wash the heck out of it. Or dry clean it. (It’s unlikely that online purchases have been touched much by human hands or tried on, so even the fussiest among us don’t have to wash them first.)
One reason to wash a new garment before you wear it? If you’re concerned that the manufacturing process wasn’t too sanitary or think the store has bugs, such as hard-to-see, difficult-to-eradicate bedbugs. But, if you’re skeptical about the cleanliness of the store, you probably shouldn’t shop there anyhow. If you’re shopping in thrift and consignment stores, many experts say to wash or dry clean everything before you wear it. For shoes, bags and accessories, wipe them down with rubbing alcohol or Lysol and toss them in the freezer for a while. The Internet has plenty of cleaning tips for thrift finds. Maybe I’m flirting with disaster, but if I get a great find at Goodwill or the like, I wear it immediately. I can’t help myself.
Angelic Readers
More Top Picks Best Spring Reverb Pedals
From Jan: “I am responding to a woman’s plea for help with eyebrows. I, like you, use the Maybelline blond eyebrow pencil, which has been touted to work with all coloring. In addition to that, after a makeover with Estee Lauder, I purchased an eyebrow shaping brush. It is a small, stiff, angled brush to use with any color brown eye shadow you think would work. This brush allows you to actually make/shape an eyebrow that looks natural, as opposed to drawn on with a pencil. It is a little bit pricey, but when I lost mine on the train, I did not hesitate to purchase a new one (Eyeliner/Brow Brush 20, $25, esteelauder.com). After decades of plucking my eyebrows into barely there, I feel I finally have the definitive eyebrow.”
Reader Rants
“I went to a beautiful concert hall last night to see a famous performer. You would think, with the ticket prices and this being something special, that people might at least not wear old torn jeans. I mean not just young people. I’m not saying you have to get all dressed up like we used to for flying on airplanes — but jeez at least put on some khakis and take off the backward baseball cap. Am I an old whiner, or do people just not care or not own anything but jeans?”
— Pamela from Punta Gorda
Shop, drop, get help
Send your rants and questions — on style, makeup, shopping, fashion and beauty — to [email protected].