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Answer Angel: Why all the labels?

Ellen Warren, Tribune News Service on

Published in Fashion Daily News

Dear Answer Angel: Watching the victory kiss between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift after the Chief’s AFC championship game, I wondered why anyone as famous (and rich!) as Taylor would want to wear a piece of baggy clothing (a hoodie) with a logo (Louis Vuitton) splashed all over it!

Why be a walking billboard for a luxury brand, unless she was getting paid for it? And, if she was getting paid, surely she doesn’t need the money.

--Emily J.

Dear Emily: Is that a fashion question or … an existential one?

You didn’t mention that she was fully Vuitton-ed in a logo beanie ($550) and black wool gloves ($495) that screamed Vuitton with a huge white-on-black signature Vuitton blossom on the back. She is one of the wealthiest performers in the world so she doesn’t need to shill for any product!

The LV stuff is crazy expensive and whether she pays full price — or any price — super stars aren’t like you and me. Perhaps it's because she likes the perceived high quality or the status signal?

It’s the flip side of another trend, “quiet luxury,” which is insanely expensive stuff like a cashmere baseball cap with no screaming logo of any kind. A kind of no-labels statement: If you know, you know. Most of us don’t know.

And about a hoodie…

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: When did hoodies become a fashion statement? I thought they were just a practical, basic piece of clothes and now they’re all over the place on runways with four- or five-figure price tags. What gives?

--Michelle T.

Dear Michelle: They’re sporty, warm, can cover your head (or not), and can be bought for a few dollars at a thrift store or thousands (see above). What’s not to like? Just like other sporty items — athletic shoes, puffy skiwear — the humble has moved into the high-fashion, high-price category.

 

It is all part of the casual-ization of our wardrobes that’s been trending in that direction for many years, if not decades. When was the last time you saw a man wearing a fedora at a baseball game?

I love my hoodies. They can cover up my hair when it looks hellish and roll around in my car trunk ready for an unexpected cold spell or out-of-control air conditioning at the movies!

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I have been looking everywhere for white lipstick to put over my light shade of lipstick. I don’t have full lips like many women and very, very light lipstick looks great on me. Any ideas? I’ve been using a white blemish stick.

--Janet S.

Dear Janet: Congrats for your creative improv use of the blemish stick!

It has been a long time since we could buy a white lipstick by strolling through most stores’ cosmetic departments. Nonetheless, there are plenty of lipstick brands still producing the elusive white, available online, even if it isn’t stocked at your local drugstore: Sephora (sephora.com, $16), Revlon (buymebeauty.com, $8.99), Lancôme (l’absolu rouge cream lipstick, lancome-usa.com, $35), NYX cosmetics (nyxcosmetics.com, $10) and more.

Angelic Readers

From Miriam K.: “For your reader P.C. who has trouble finding shoes for her small feet, size 4.5 or 5: Kids' shoes are great. The sizing is different. A size 3 kids is usually about a 4.5 or 5 in women’s sizes. This solution works well for me, especially for casual shoes. Toms brand has many of the same designs in kids' sizes as in women’s. Higher-end stores have very dressy children's shoes, some with heels. I have seen children's Manolo Blahniks on websites and have had great luck at Nordstrom Kids." Gayle H. says, “I also wear size 4.5 or 5. For casual shoes, I shop in the kids' section. Dress shoes are trickier, but I order from Cinderella of Boston (cinderellaofboston.com), which carries women's sizes 2 to 5. Hit their seasonal sales.” Susan W. recommends the Cinderella site too.

Angelic Readers 2

PJ has a suggestion for reader Beth L. who asked about increasingly popular sequin clothing, not just for evening formal events. She recommends well-priced auction and pre-owned clothing sites like eBay, Poshmark and Mercari (ebay.com, poshmark.com, mercari.com ): PJ writes, “For an upcoming cruise I wanted a more dressy option. I went on eBay and found a dressy black jumpsuit with a gold sequin top. The seller noted size and several measurements. I bought it and when it arrived, it fit perfectly. I paid $7.99 for the outfit! The shipping cost me more than the jumpsuit. I am ecstatic.” From Ellen: I asked PJ to send me a photo and now I am ecstatic for her. It’s awesome and a steal.


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