Answer Angel: Worse than capri pants?

Ellen Warren, Tribune News Service on Jun 2, 2025

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Dear Answer Angel Ellen: There’s actually a worse style than capri pants: cropped pants with wide legs. Wide-leg cropped pants look like something you’d wear in a folk group that dances to sea shanties.

I tried to find dress pants for summer from my usual online stores. Almost all styles were capri-length (ending mid-calf) with flared legs. The other options are regular-length long pants with very wide legs. Really a bad look — especially for petites like me. At one of my usual vendors, all the regular length pants had very wide legs (formerly know as bell bottoms).

From reviews I read, I’m not the only one who returned pants because the very wide legs were too wide — especially not adjusted to a smaller profile for petites. Aaarg! What is going on?

--Suzan B.

Dear Suzan: You’re right. The style you are writing about is even less flattering than classic capri pants that have straight legs that also end at mid-calf.

My years-long beef with capris is that they make our legs look shorter and stumpy. I didn’t think it was possible, but these flared ones that are all over stores and online are even less flattering than regular capris. And, some are from high-end labels like The Row and Rohe, which, oddly, calls its version “scuba trousers.” But the flared ones also are showing up at mall stores like Banana Republic and elsewhere.

Another not-flattering twist on the classic straight-leg capris are tight over-the-knee capri-length pants that fit almost like yoga/exercise tights. Neither of these variations is flattering. By any name, they are a bad look for just about anyone except tall, lean models. Steer clear!

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I have two cats with two kitty litter pans placed in a guest bathroom. We use a very good kitty litter but we still get some smells after they use it. Any suggestions about covering up the odor or masking it?

--George D.

Dear George: My beloved aging dog presents me with plenty of problems, and when it is 20 degrees outside I often wish she would use a litter box instead of the walks outdoors. Cats are not my area of expertise but a search of the internet turned up plenty of litter-makers claiming their magical products would solve your problem. I also came upon “25 tips to Eliminate Odor of Cat Litter Box” (petmarvel.com). Some of the tips were obvious (change litter often; wash out the litter box regularly) but some are worth a try, especially natural cat litter deodorizers. Readers: Let me know your best solutions to this widespread pet problem.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: My partner and I are attending a formal event. He will be wearing a tuxedo so he wanted to buy some “dressy” shoes. He came home with some velvet shoes with a flat bow on the front. He says they’re stylish. I say they look like bedroom slippers. Who is right?

--Emma T.

Dear Emma: You both are right.

Some eveningwear men’s shoes do look more like traditional bedroom slippers than high-fashion footwear. On the other hand, here’s a headline from fashion bible wwd.com: “Ballet Flats for Men.”

And check out men’s fashion icon actor Colman Domingo’s red carpet footwear to convince you that anything goes in this category. Patent leather with bows, aka opera pumps? Check. Velvet or suede slip-ons in black or colors like a rich, royal purple. Louis Vuitton gold leather boots. Monogrammed loafers with gold custom embroidered monograms or a coat of arms.

And yes, there are plenty of men on best-dressed lists who go sockless with their fancy shoes. Some even wear sneakers or high tops to black-tie soirees. I’m hoping your partner gets some favorable comments on his choice of those velvet tuxedo shoes.Angelic Readers

From Robin S.: “As a seamstress I would like to offer a bit of advice to anyone questioning alteration prices. Please do not buy the cheapest wedding dress online! Many times I am remaking the entire dress because the fit is terrible! Inexpensive fabrics are harder to work with as well. Take the time to find something that fits your body, not just a pretty dress that may look deceptively nice on a model.”