Dear Answer Angel: I have a nice collection of vintage and thrift store T-shirts. The necklines are my problem. They are kind of stretched out from age and frequent wear.

Is there any way to “shrink” the necks of these shirts? Even a little?

--William R.

Dear William: I haven’t actually had this problem with my T-shirts, so I consulted a friend who, like you, also collects vintage Ts. First off, he says, you can’t restore them to like-new condition. However, you can tighten them up. Here are some options:

--Bunch up the collar and put a rubber band around the bunched up area; dip the bunched collar in boiling water (NOT the whole shirt) for one to two minutes; let it cool; gently wring out wet collar; place shirt flat on a towel and shape collar; dry thoroughly with hair dryer on gentle or low setting or iron on low.

--As above but remove rubber band then dry in clothes dryer on low.

--Place shirt on flat surface; dampen collar by spraying with water; re-shape collar; use hair dryer on low or medium, adjusting collar to desired shape until dry.

--Shape collar by “pleating it” (like a pleated top of a curtain); rubber band pleated collar; dip in hot or boiling water one to two minutes; place shirt flat on towel, shaping collar; apply iron to collar but do not dry completely; air dry flat.

--Same as above but dip into ice water instead of hot/boiling water.

For future purposes never store t-shirts on hangers. That could be contributing or causing the stretched out collars in the first place. Instead, fold them flat and stack on a shelf or in a drawer.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I just returned from a vacation and have vowed never to over-pack again. In the future, it is definitely carry-on only for me. I am disgusted with airlines’ price gouging on checked luggage. Then, I'm waiting an eternity to get it at baggage pickup. (For trips over Thanksgiving and Christmas the luggage wait was close to an hour!) Do you have any advice on streamlining what to pack?

--Sophie T.

Dear Sophie: Here’s a method that lots of travelers swear by: 5-4-3-2-1. It’s all over the Internet so it must by great, right? Well it doesn’t really address my needs but it is a good start -- with personal variations. (Mine include an unseemly and bulky number of hair products, gobs of costume jewelry and a full-size heating pad.)

Here goes: Five tops, four bottoms, three pairs of shoes, two dresses and an “accessory set.” That is the catchall “one” in the 5-4-3-2-1 formula, and it includes “jewelry, sun glasses and hat.”

How about, scarves, prescription pills, over-the-counter meds and creams, other toiletries including makeup? What about exercise/running top and bottom; a swimsuit and/or a warm coat? This numbers game is a good way to practice mix-and-match dressing and self-control.

Put the leftover stuff in the “personal item” that fits under the seat (and takes up all your foot room). And some airlines really mean ONE personal item: a purse OR a backpack OR a fanny pack. So, save room in that backpack to jam your purse/fanny pack in there too!

Reader Rant

Gloria M. writes: “Why are so many women choosing a newly popular hairstyle where they wear long lengths of hair—gently curled or straight--being pulled from the sides/back to hang down the front of a woman's shoulders? It's a style that looks rather odd given that we used to wear our hair, if long, down the back where it would normally hang. I've also seen some where the lengths from the inside back are pulled over the front shoulders. Hopefully, this style will soon give way to something else!” From Ellen: In a few years this style — like the pageboy, the beehive, the pixie and so many others — will look odd and out of date. And the next generation will be stunned that anyone would wear their long hair (or long extensions) cascading down the front of a blouse, sweater or dress.

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC