Answer Angel: Let it go!

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Why do older women think that longer hair makes them look younger? Not true!

Thanks for listening.

--Harriette E.

Dear Harriette: I dispute your conclusion that growing long hair is the “older” woman’s effort to look younger. And that it doesn’t work. I guess today’s column should be headlined: “Let It Go!” Women grow their hair long for a wide array of reasons. Choosing how to wear your hair is one of the most personal style decisions a woman makes. Perhaps she grew her hair to celebrate completing chemo. Can’t afford a stylist? Maybe she just doesn’t care? Or, simply put, a haircut is at the very bottom of her to-do list.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I was out for drinks at happy hour at a new, fancy restaurant that opened near me and I almost choked on my delicious half-price lobster cevice! I saw a pretty young woman who had a fashionable slinky slip dress on, midi length with athletic socks at mid-calf and gray New Balance running shoes. Oh, my word!!! I heard that look was trending. Is it?

--Judith F.

Dear Judith: What you happened upon was indeed a trend — one so silly that it has stirred up strong and even nasty debates on the Internet.

One headline labeled it “a sock war.” This “war” has pitted Gen Z (born roughly 1997 to 2012) against the older millennials (1981-1996 or so). An online comment from Heidi Z. sums it up nicely: “Taking an interest in the length of other peoples socks is just too much to ask of us with adult responsibilities….”

You don’t specify but I am betting that the young woman you mentioned was wearing Nike Dri-FIT crew socks (6 pairs, amazon.com, $28) that are especially popular with the 22 and under age group. For the uninitiated: Crew socks hit the leg above the ankle, from an inch or two all the way to mid-calf.

Millennials (many are the kids of baby boomers) supposedly prefer shorter socks from no-see to just covering the anklebone. (That would be my preference although definitely not for cocktails, worn with gym shoes and a slinky dress.)

Take a deep breath. Like all fashion trends, this too shall pass.

Angelic Readers

From Barbara G.: “In a recent column you mentioned hand washing underwear (and other clothing) on vacation to save packing space. I've done this for years. On a recent trip to Europe, my roommate thought I was nuts for doing this. I go a step further and carry cut up dry detergent sheets in a small plastic bag. Works great.”

Alice S. writes: “A while back a reader wrote you about not being able to find a discontinued Cover Girl eye pencil that worked for gray hair. I liked that one, too. I tried a couple of others, supposedly for gray hair, but they were more like a charcoal gray and too dark. I just bought Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer Deluxe in ash brown. It’s the closest I've come to what I want and it works for me. It is $13 at Ulta (ulta.com; amazon.com, $13).

Reader Requests

From Ellen: By popular demand, I’m starting a new column feature asking readers to help other readers find a fashion, beauty or makeup product—or any consumer item--they have been looking for but just can’t find. You all are my best resource on so many issues that I know you will come through. When possible, please include a link to the product you’ve located.

Jackie C. writes: “I have a European bed (no box spring) with a mattress approximately 12 inches high. I love bamboo sheets. Several years ago the sheets would fit just fine. However, now all the bamboo sheets I find are for 18- to 20-inch mattresses. I purchased a set, but unfortunately the fitted sheet is too big and the top sheet drags on the floor. Are there still any bamboo sheets that will fit a 12- to 14-inch mattress (queen size bed)? You are my last hope."

From rsl:“Is there an actual perfume with staying power that smells close to the scent of other Jean Naté products like After Bath Splash and After Bath Splash Mist?”