Answer Angel: Let's go back to the classics

Ellen Warren, Tribune News Service on Aug 19, 2025

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Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Looking back on the pants and jeans trends in the past years, we have been put in skinny jeans, low-rise muffin top jeans, ripped and torn jeans, and now the clown pants and jeans.

And we buy them.

Most of these looks are not good on everyone. When are we going back to classic, straight-leg tailored pants? Why do we keep on buying what designers push on us and tell us are cool and the latest thing?

--Christine V.

Dear Christine: Your question made me take a hard look at the pants in my closet, and I would say that right now more than half of them have been sitting there unworn for over a year for the very reason you point out — changing trends that encourage us to buy new things as fashions change. We push the old thing(s) to the back of the closet.

But, in fact, right now we are in an interesting style period where, at least as far as pants are concerned, anything goes. Bell bottoms, skinny jeans, mom jeans, barrel pants, cargos, capris(!) and yes, even “classic, straight-leg tailored pants” are in style. Some of them are just old styles repackaged in new names.

Your thoughts made me take another look at those old styles at the back of my closet. They easily could pass for the “new” styles we’re seeing. Dust off those oldies.

And if you can’t find the classics, I assure you that there are plenty of stores, online and at the mall, that do carry the classics you’re looking for: Talbots, Ann Taylor, Eileen Fisher, Chico’s and lots more, including the designer ones that most of us can’t afford. They might be marketed with different names than you’re used to, but they’re out there.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I’m seeing men wearing dress shoes without socks. I went to a summer wedding recently and while the bride and her many bridesmaids were wearing traditional outfits, the groom and many of the male guests were wearing leather “dress shoes” (mostly slip-ons) without socks.

When did that become OK? And, isn’t it uncomfortable? Am I hopelessly out-of-style to consider socks essential when attending social events?

--Stephen A.

Dear Stephen: Dress shoes without socks have been a warm weather menswear style for some years now. Correction: without visible socks. Some time ago, men — like their female counterparts decades ago — discovered no-show socks that made their feet more comfy in any shoes. For even the highest of high-end events (like weddings) men have been wearing their good shoes — especially slip-ons — with socks. You just can’t see them.

This is not to say that socks are passé. Never. Like the classic, tailored straight-leg pants mentioned above, you will not be called out for being hopelessly unfashionable for continuing to wear socks with your shoes! And keep in mind that patterned, colorful men’s socks are one way for men to show a little whimsy and still be appropriately dressed for any occasion.

Go wild. Go sockless. It’s all OK.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: The Amazon brand Pinzon sheets were my go-to choice for sheets — well-priced and always crisp after many washings. It is time for me to replace some old ones and I was saddened to discover they have been discontinued. What would be a good substitution for these sheets?

--Jo Ann S.

Dear Jo Ann: This question comes up often not only with respect to sheets but to a huge range of products that either have disappeared or aren’t like they used to be. Then comes the dread search for a substitute.

I’m with you on the sheets issue. Pinzon was great. But they’re gone. My current best substitute is Linen Home 100% cotton (or “washed cotton”) percale sheets (they’re not linen despite the brand name), which are amazingly well-priced and on sale when I checked ( amazon.com, 4-piece queen set $30.99; king set $44.99).

When you find sheets you love, buy multiples if you can afford to. My favorite brands seem to change or discontinue their products way too often, like the Pinzons we favored and can no longer find.

Angelic Readers

I was puzzled by some drugstore brand cotton buds (usually called Q-tips) that were shaped like tiny paddles but readers tell me they have lots of uses. B.R.T writes, “I believe those are to be used as eye shadow applicators.” Karen C. uses them for “nasal issues.” From Ellen: "I found that the pointy ones from a variety pack are great for removing small bits of mascara and eye liner that go astray without disrupting the rest of my eye makeup. They’re much more effective than traditionally shaped Q-tips."